THE TRANSLATION OF COLLOCATIONS

Collocations can be defined in terms of the tendency of certain words to co-occur reguloarlly in a
given language (Baker, 1992: p.47). Differences in the collocational patterning of the source and
target languages create potential pitfalls and can pose various problems in translation. Some of
these problems are more difficult to handle than others. The following are some of the more
common pitfalls and problems that are often encountered in translating non-literary texts. Where
applicable, examples are given of strategies used by professional translators to overcome the
problems under discussion.
a

The engrossing effect of source text patterning.

Translators sometimes get quite engrossed in the source text and may produce the oddest
collocations kin the target language for not justifiable reason. For example, it is unacceptable to
translate break the law into Spanish as: romper la ley; the common collocation being: infringir la ley.
Although it is also possible to say quebrantar la ley it is not as common as infringir la ley.
Confusing source and target patterns is a pitfall that can easily be avoided once the translator is
alerted to the potential influence that the collocational patterning of the source text can have on
him/her. A good method of detaching oneself from the source text is to put the draft translation aside
for a few hours. One can then return to the target text with a better chance of responding to its
patterning as a target reader eventually would, having not been exposed to and therefore influenced
by the source-text patterning in the first place. At any rate, translators are well advised to avoid
carrying over source-language collocational patterns which are untypical of the target language,
unless there is a very good reason for doing so.
b

Misinterpreting the meaning of a source-language collocation

A translator can easily misinterpret a collocation in the source text due to interference from his/her
native language. This happens when a source-language collocation appears to be familiar because
it corresponds in form to a common collocation in the target language.
For example, a translator who renders run a car as drive a car fast (lo corre) would be
misinterpreting run in this context. To run a car in English means to own, use, and be able to
maintain a car financially. So a better translation into Spanish would be mantener un auto.
Taking account of collocational meaning rather than substituting individual words with their
dictionary equivalents is therefore crucial at the first stage of translation, that is when the translator
is interpreting the source text.
c

The tension between accuracy and naturalness.

In rendering unmarked source-language collocations into his/her target language, a translator

ideally aims at producing a collocation which is typical in the target language while, at the same

time, preserving the meaning associated with the source collocation. This ideal cannot always be
achieved. Translation often involves a tension a difficult choice between what is typical and what is
accurate. The nearest acceptable collocation in the target language will often involve some change
in meaning. A certain amount of loss, addition, or skewing of meaning is often unavoidable in
translation; language systems tend to be too different to produce exact replicas in most cases. The
degree of acceptability or non-acceptability of a change in meaning depends on the significance of
this change in a given context. Accuracy is no doubt an important aim in translation, but it is also
important to bear in mind that the use of common target-language patterns which are familiar to the
target reader plays an important role in keeping the communication channels open. The use of
established patterns of collocation also helps to distinguish between a smooth translation, one that
reads like an original, and a clumsy translation which sounds foreign.
In the following example, the translator opted for naturalness at the expense of accuracy. The
change in meaning involved is not significant enough to justify cluttering the text with additional
explanations or using untypical target collocations:
Source text (The Independent)
Tiny Rowland is a crisper writer than Peter Wright and has an even stranger story to tell.
Target text
Tiny Rowland escribe mejor que Peter Wright y adems su historia es ms original
Crisp writing is clear, concise writing. The collocation suggests approval and so does the translation
into Spanish. The target version however is more general and loses a bit of its original meaning.
d

Culture-specific collocations

Some collocations reflect the cultural setting in which they occur. If the cultural settings of the
source and target languages are different, there will be instances when the source text will contain
collocations which convey what to the target reader would be unfamiliar associations of ideas.
For example, baked beans would translate into Spanish as porotos en salsa de tomate.
Note that the translation of culture-specific collocations involves a partial increase in information.
This is unavoidable inasmuch as unfamiliar associations of ideas cannot simply be introduced in a
target text without giving the reader some hint as to how to interpret them.

Source: In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation (Mona Baker, 1992)