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Application of Translation Theory to non-literary texts

Application of Translation Theory to non-literary texts . Belinda Maia Universidade do Porto. Translation Theory. Linguistic theories - at different levels: general lexicon terminology syntax and semantics sentence organization and word order text organization. Translation Theory.

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Application of Translation Theory to non-literary texts

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  1. Application of Translation Theory to non-literary texts Belinda Maia Universidade do Porto

  2. Translation Theory • Linguistic theories - at different levels: • general lexicon • terminology • syntax and semantics • sentence organization and word order • text organization

  3. Translation Theory • Literary theory • Cultural studies • Philosophy • Translation Studies • function of original • function of translation • context of translation process

  4. Reality! • Literary translation does not earn one a living! • Literary translation accounts for about 5% of translation done annually in the world • Real-life translation is very varied

  5. Questions • Is real-life translation boring? • Consider the semantics of Bore/Boring • How does one become interested in anything - and everything? • How far do translation curricula prepare one being interested in everything?

  6. A suggestion • ROBINSON, Douglas. 1997. Becoming a Translator: An Accelerated Course. London and New York: Routledge. 

  7. Translation - the User’s view • Robinson (1997:6) – External knowledge: • “A non-translator (especially a monolingual reader in the target language who directly or indirectly pays for the translation – a client, a book-buyer) thinks and talks about translation from ouside the process, not knowing how it is done” but knowing a good translation when s/he sees one

  8. User’s priorities • Reliability • Timeliness • Cost

  9. Textual Reliability • What does the client want? • Literalism • Foreignism • Fluency • Summary • Commentary • Summary-commentary  • Adaptation • Encryption

  10. Points to ponder • Think about the different circumstances of translating: • a letter • an agenda for tomorrow’s meeting • advertising copy • instruction manual • a tender • an academic textbook

  11. Points to ponder • Consider why different users want different types of translation • Consider how translators are / should be responsible for interpreting their client’s requirements • Refer back to translation theory

  12. Translator reliability 1 • Reliability with regard to the text • Attention to detail   • Sensitivity to the user's needs • Research • Checking and Revising

  13. Translator reliability 2 • Reliability with regard to the client: • Versatility • Promises • Friendliness • Confidentiality • Hardware and software

  14. Timeliness • Consider time needed to translate from: • The user's points of view – yesterday! • The translator's point of view – approximately 10 pages per day? • Consider importance of team work • Consider using machine (assisted) translation

  15. Cost • VERY IMPORTANT! • BUT – consider differences of opinion between User and Translator as influenced by their different perceptions of the work

  16. The translator’s view • Robinson (1997:6) – Internal knowledge: “A translator think and talks about translation from inside the process, knowing how it’s done, possessing a practical real-world sense of the problems involved, some solutions to those problems, and the limitations on those solutions”

  17. Who are translators?Adapted from Robinson (1997:26-7) • Do you think you want to be a full-time translator?  • Do you understand why ' translators and (especially) interpreters all have something of the actor in them'? • Would you describe yourself as 'voracious and omnivorous readers' and 'hungry for real-world experience'? • Do you pay attention to how people use language all about you? • How multi-lingual and multi-cultural are you?

  18. Professional Pride and Enjoyment • Do you agree that 'most people ...  would rather take professional pride in a job that pays less than get rich doing things they don't believe in'? ( Robinson (1997:26-7) • Reliability > Do you think that professional pride in reliability should override personal considerations? 

  19. Professional pride • Involvement in the profession • What do you know about translator associations in Germany and Europe? • How do you think you can make contact with other translators? • Raising the status of the profession • Is this necessary in Germany?

  20. Ethics • Would you translate texts: • You find offensive? • You disagree with religiously, politically and morally? • That are sexist? • That are anti-environmental? • ETC.?

  21. Speed & Project Management • How fast do you translate/ word-process? • What alternatives are there to word-processing? • Have you experience of Project Management? • What other considerations need to be taken when you consider speed of work?

  22. The process of translation

  23. Working with people • Do you prefer to work: • Alone at home? • In an office with a team? • In a ‘virtual’ team? • Would you like administrative or public relations work in a translation company? • What does such work entail?

  24. Using technology • Can you use: • Sophisticated Desktop Publishing software? • Translation memories? • Terminology databases? • Translator’s Workbench? • Machine translation?

  25. Acquiring culture • Describe your cultural interests. • Do you follow the international news on the radio or television? • Do you read serious newspapers? • What are you reading at present? • Describe your favourite books. • Do you often read non-fiction? If so, what?

  26. Exploring knowledge • When asked to do specialized translation, what do you do? • Buy a specialized dictionary or glossary? • Ask the client for their terminology database/translation memory? • Consult the specialist on the terminology? • Collect and use specialized corpora? • Acquire specialized knowledge on the subject?

  27. On-line information resources • Dictionaries, glossaries • On-line databases – e.g. CELEX, EURODICAUTOM etc • Corpora • Translator’s pages • Specialized sites

  28. Terminology researchRobinson (1997:158)

  29. Localization • Localization = Translating software BUT it involves: • Translation • IT knowledge • Project Management • Teamwork • See Esselink (2000) for more details

  30. Multimedia & Translation • Sub-titling • Dubbing • Voice over • Hypertext • Webpages

  31. Translation Theory and Reality • Would you agree that an appreciation of translation theory: • will improve a translator‘s ability to respond to a client‘s needs? • will make the process of translation more interesting? • will contribute to the translator‘s self-respect?

  32. Bibliography • ESSELINK, Bert. 2000 A Practical Guide to Localization. John Benjamins • MAIA, Belinda, Johann Haller & Margerhita Ulrych. 2002. (eds.) Training the Language Services Provider for the New Millennium. Porto: FLUP. • ROBINSON, Douglas. 1997. Becoming a Translator: An Accelerated Course. London and New York: Routledge. 

  33. Links • HLT Central: http://www.hltcentral.org/page-83.shtml • European Commission • http://europa.eu.int/comm/translation/theory/index_en.htm • ETC.

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