Introduction
Translation is more than words, it is go beyond and to know about language, culture, linguistics, history among others.
At its core, translation is when you transfer the meaning of a written text from one language to another. While the translator will choose just one method for the whole text, there are a number of techniques that can be used for individual words and phrases. By carefully choosing the right technique, the translator can convey each linguistic element in the most accurate way.
Here are ten common translation techniques that we can use to translate your document and achieve the best translation.
Task
Direct Translation Techniques:
These translation techniques are used when the concepts and structure of the source language can be used in the target language.
1. Borrowing:
Borrowing is where words or expressions are taken directly from the source text and carried over into the target language. This technique is often used when there is no target language equivalent, such as food or clothing, and can help to preserve the cultural context of the source text.
Example: Café (French), hamburger (German), kimono (Japanese) and kimchi (Korean)
2. Calque (loan translation):
This is the literal translation of a phrase from one language into another, coining a new term in the target language. In other words, this is the literal translation of a borrowed word.
Examples: SL. Football TL. Fútbol SL. Flyweight TL. Peso mosca
SL. Bullfight TL. corrida de toros SL. High resolution TL. alta resolución
3. Literal Translation
When using literal translation, each word is translated directly. The target text must be idiomatic and retain the same word order, meaning and style as the source text.
This technique can miss the nuances of the original text, and is only possible with languages and cultures that are extremely close.
Example: SL. The team is working to finish the report. TL. El equipo esta trabajando para terminar el reporte.
SL. How are you? TL. ¿Cómo está usted?
Indirect Translation Techniques:
Indirect or oblique translation techniques are used when the two languages and cultures are further apart. These techniques change structural and conceptual elements in order to preserve the meaning and nuance of the text.
1. Transposition
Transposition involves a shift from one grammatical category to another, while still preserving the meaning. This translation technique is often necessary between languages with different grammatical structures.
Examples: SL. I´m sure Paul will be here late TL. Estoy seguro que Paul tardará en llegar.
Sl. That won´t be often enough. TL. Eso no sería con demasiada frecuencia.
2. Modulation
This involves a change of perspective, adjusting what has been written in order to express the same idea and preserve the meaning. This translates the text in a way that conforms to the natural patterns of the target language.
Examples: SL. "at snail´s pace" TL. "a paso de tortuga.
SL. Travelling wave TL. Honda progresiva
3. Equivalence/Reformulation
Similar to modulation, this allows you to preserve the meaning of an expression, name or proverb by finding a target language equivalent.
When translating difficult phrases such as idioms, the translator needs to understand the meaning behind the idiom (or cliche, or proverb, etc). This technique works when translating idioms, sayings, or advertising slogans, titles of movies and songs.
Examples: SL. I like to hangout with my buddies. TL. Me gusta parquear con mis pasieros.
SL. It´s apiece of cake! TL. ¡ Es pan comido! ¡Es chicha de piña!
4. Adaptation:
Is when something that is expressed in one culture is expressed in a completely different way in another culture. This is often used when translating text such as poetry or advertising. It involves changing the cultural reference when a situation in the source culture does not exist in the target culture.
Examples: SL. Estaba tan asustado como si hubiese visto a la tulivieja. TL. He was so scared, as if he had seen the rougarou.
SL. He drinks moonshine as water. TL. Bebe chirrisco como quien bebe agua.
5. Compensation:
Is when something simply cannot be translated, so the meaning is offered somwhere else withing the text, requires a deep knowledge of both languages in question.
Examples: SL. You are my boss. TL. Tú eres mi jefe/ usted es mi jefe
6. Addition:
According to Gerardo Vasquez Ayora, addition technique consists in adding words to the translation in the target language in order to improve what it is said in the source language.
Example: SL. Cuando tienen un nuevo producto agrícola, envían a los campos vendedores que hablan de los beneficios de los productos y reparten panfletos. TL. When they have a new agricultural product, they send to the field sellers that talk on the profits of the products and deliver brochures.
7-Omission:
This technique acts in the opposite direction as compared to addition and it is used to ensure a greater degree of what is called compression, that is, reducing the redundancy of the text by omitting words that can be easily restored from the context. In other words, it is to cut words from the context.
I. Classify if the following expressions or sentences are BORROWING, CALQUE,
LITERAL OR TRANSPOSITION. 60 PTS.
|
SENTENCE OR EXPRESION |
TYPE OF TRANSLATION |
|
1-Pizza-Pizza |
|
|
2- She likes eating hamburger- Le gusta comer hamburguesa. |
|
|
3- They have the ball- Ellos tienen la pelota |
|
|
4-Online- en linea |
|
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5- Ketchup-Ketchup |
|
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6-I have a dream- Yotengo un sueño. |
|
|
7-The students actively participated-Los estudiantes participaron activamente. |
|
|
8-Club-Club |
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9-AN interesting book- Un libro interesante |
|
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10- football- balompié |
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11-Avatar- Avatar |
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12-Flyweigtht- peso mosca
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|
II. Translate the following cultural terms. Write the translation techniques that you used to give sense to the text. (Free) 15 PTS.
1. Through an archway we return to the Plaza de Santo Domingo, formerly the
Market, site of royal ceremonies, tourneys, executions, bullfights, and other
celebrations.
2. As well as the joy and color of fiestas such as the «Caballos del Vino» or
«Wine Horses» and Moors and Christians celebrations.
3. El miércoles concluyen los Carnavales con el desfile del Entierro de la
Sardina.
III. Read the statements and underline the correct answer. 25 PTS.
1. Maybe you’re right / Tal vez no te equivoques is an example of:
a. Transposition
b. Equivalence
c. Modulation
2. Translation technique used when words are taken from one language to another
without any translation.
a. Literal
b. Borrowing
C. Transposition
3. Example of literal translation:
a. Ella fue a nadar / She went swimming
b. en un abrir y cerrar de ojos / in the twinkling of an eye.
c. Un cibernauta usa Internet para explorar / A cybernaut uses Internet to explore
4. Example of transposition technique:
a. Ella fue a nadar / She went swimming
b. en un abrir y cerrar de ojos / in the twinkling of an eye.
c. Un cibernauta usa Internet para explorar / A cybernaut uses Internet to explore
5. Translation technique which involves moving from one grammatical category to
another
without altering the meaning of the text.
a. Transposition
b. Borrowing
c. Calque
.
Process
The translating procedures, as depicted by Nida (1964) are as follow:
Technical procedures:
analysis of the source and target languages; a through study of the source language text before making attempts translate it;
Making judgments of the semantic and syntactic approximations.
Organizational procedures:
constant reevaluation of the attempt made; contrasting it with the existing available translations of the same text done by other translators, and checking the text's communicative effectiveness by asking the target language readers to evaluate its accuracy and effectiveness and studying their reactions .
Evaluation
These are the activities that we as teachers are going to apply to assess students
|
Activity |
Pts |
|
|
Classify expressions |
60 pts. |
|
|
Translate cultural terms. |
15 pts. |
|
|
Underline the correct answer |
25 pts. |
|
|
.Total: . .
|
100 pts |
Parameters
- Correct use of the translation technique.
- Learn translation techniques.
Conclusion
In conclusion each method discussed above achieves a slightly different effect. However, this end result can be achieved through different combinations of various translation techniques. In general, we recognize two main types of translation techniques: direct translation techniques and oblique translation techniques.
Credits
Types of Translation Techniques and Methods
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Iniciooblique+translation+techniques&form=PRHPC1&src=IE11TR&pc=HCTE
What are the main techniques of translation?
https://www.intertranslations.co.uk/what-are-the-main-techniques-of-translation/
Translation procedures, strategies and methods
by Mahmoud Ordudari
https://translationjournal.net/journal/41culture.htm
10 Translation Techniques To Give You A Sense Of The Scope
https://asialocalize.com/Blog/translation-techniques/