Tamara I.Leontieva Lectures on Translation Theory

1. Tamara I.LeontievaLectures on Translation Theory Department of Cross-cultural Communication and Translation Study Foreign Languages Center Vladivostok State University of Economics 2008

2. MODALITY and TRANSLATION Modality is a semantic category indicating the degree of factuality that the speaker (or writer) ascribes to his/her message. A message can be a statement of facts, a request or an order, or s/th that is obligatory, possible or probable. “Modality is the soul of the sentence. There is noutterance without modality”(Ch.Bally).

3. 3 Types of Language Units toExpress Modal Relationships - 1 I. Modal verbs: 1) I can see the English coast already. 2) Can you hear me? 3) Why shouldyou say it? 4) What difference can it make? Translate the sentence “You should see him”.

4. 3 Types of Language Units toExpress Modal Relationships-2 II. Modal words and word groups: – Were you really in earnest when you said that you could love a man of lowly position? – Indeed I was. But I said might. III. Mood forms

5. Subjective: The attitude of the speaker towards reality. E.g.: “It mayrain today,” he said. His companion looked at the sky. “Well, it might”. Commonly, subjective modality expresses evaluation and uses various linguistic means. Objective: “…the attitude of any utterance towards reality” (A.I.Smirnitsky). Modality of assertion: There are 31 days in March; of admission: Come war, comedeluge…; of confirmation:Why!All cats are gray at night. Subjective and Objective Modality

6. Translation of Modal Verbs “may”, “might” • She walked slowly to the door, but the colonel stopped to say a word to a Swiss who might havebeen a local attorney (the function of conjecture). • “Is this a new edition, then?” “Yes, sir. The fifth. It might be a novel the way it is selling” (the function of conjecture). • Due to unhealthy conditions in the American fertilizer industry my health was badly injured and I might have lost my sight (the action was on the verge of happening).

7. Translation of “will” and “would”with a perfect infinitive 1) The reader who has carefully studied the previous chapters will haveobtained a fairly good knowledge of the poet’s tragic fate. 2) My honorable friends will have heard the tremendous news of Cherepkov’s claims to become the Mayor of Vladivostok again. 3) I’m sure you will have analyzed different approaches to translation of “an interpreter’s false friends”.

8. The usage of “should” in subordinate clauses • Мне очень жаль, что ваша дочь так непочтительно ведет себя с родителями. • Она возмутилась: да как он смеет не замечать ее! • Мне неприятно, что вы так сердитесь на моего друга. • Тренируйте это умение каждый день, чтобы не забыть моих объяснений.

9. Follow the Translation • I am sorry that your daughter should be so impolite with her parents. • Shefelt indignant that he should pay no attention to her. • It’s distasteful to me that you shouldbe so angry with my friend. • Practice this skill every day lest you shouldforget my explanations.

10. Translation of Modal Words NB! Note should be made that modal words and adverbs are several times fewer inEnglish than in Russian. Why do you think this is? Q.: What do the following modal words express? Perhaps, probably, evidently, seemingly,allegedly, etc. A.:They express the attitude of the utterance towards reality = objective modality (for illustrations see the next slide).

11. Translation of ModalWords OFFER YOUR TRANSLATIONS! 1) She is allegedly included in the list of those going abroad. 2) Evidently, the choice of Vladivostok citizens is not in favor of the present mayor. 3) He is obviouslyout of town these days.

12. Means of Expressing Subjective Modality By the verb of the utterance: say, tell,announce,declare, report and the like: 1) Prince Andrew is reported to elope with an Australian singer. 2) They announce Israel to misbehave towards Palestinian terrorists. 3) Mass media sources do not say anything about the fate of President Bush’s cat Erny. The cat is alleged to run away and turn into a stray animal.

13. Translation of Russian modal words “якобы”, “будто бы” With the help of the English verbs claim,pretend, allege and the like: 1) Она сказала, что яякобыне вернул книгу. She allegedthat I had failed to return the book.2) Батька Лукашенко заявляет, что он якобы печется об интересах жителей Белоруссии.  Old chap Lukashenko pretends to defend the interests of Byelorussia citizens.

14. Polysemantic modal wordsindeedand in fact • Adversative function (в действительно-стиже):He was trying to convince everyone of his innocence, in fact he was not quite sure of it himself. • Additive function (более того): Whistler’s mother immediately set about finding him a place in the locomotive works at Baltimore. Mr.Ross Winans, the owner of the works, was a friend, indeeda relation, and the opening was a good one.

15. Weasel Words Definition: in the English language these are words and expressions possessing a limiting function like Russian restrictive words and word collocations, e.g.: по-своему, in a way, c позволения сказать,в некоторомсмысле, so to say,etc. E.g.: 1) He is talented in a way. 2) Her French is brilliant so to say.

16. Weasel Words Origin: “Weasel” is a small predator which kills its victim and drinks its blood or sucks eggs leaving empty shells  weasel words also “kill” the meanings of the words they stand by in this way restricting the action, its tensity, some quality or results, etc.

17. LITERATURE 1. Романова С.П., Коралова А.Л. Пособие по переводу с английского на русский. - М.: КДУ, 2004. - С.125-132. 2. Прошина З.Г. Теория перевода (с английского на русский и с русского на английский язык). - Владивосток: Изд-во Дальневост. ун-та, 2002. - С.170-175.