O.B.

Baeuko, 2011
YK 8142: 330: 001.4
LINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF THE ECONOMIC TERM SYSTEM
O.B. BABEHKO, xanuam qinonoaiunux nayx
Posannuymo ocuoeui meueuui e aanysi npoqeciuo mepuiuonoai,
auanisykmicn enki euu nepemeopeuun npu nepeknai ua npuknaax
ekououivuo mepuiuocucmeuu.
Hpoqecina mepminonoaiu, moea nu cneianunux ine,
neeinoeinicmu qynxi, esexeieanenmni mepminu.
The rapid progress in our society increases the need for communication
among different language communities. This development requires quick
translations of specialized texts. The growing demand for specialized
translations brings about a large amount of special terminology. This
represents a problem for a translator, who in most cases is not a subject
specialist. To find the correct translation of special terms is a laborious task. A
translator, though, has a major interest in reducing the amount of time spent on
translations and cannot dedicate herself to time-consuming inquiries on term
equivalents.
The problem of developing economic and business terms became
particularly acute in the period of transition from command-based to free-
market economy began. The economic terms came mostly in English.
Although we are able to meet a lot of economic dictionaries nowadays, there is
still a task to create a dictionary which will precisely transmit economic terms
from English into Russian/Ukrainian. In general, lexicographic problems make
an important area of linguistic investigations, being recently marked by the
development of new trends in compiling English Russian/ Ukrainian
economic dictionaries [1].
The theoretical basis of the paper is based on researches by M. Cabre;
D. Crystal; J. Sager; L.S. Barkhudarov (Eapxypapoe P.C.); L. Visson; B. Scott;
K. Kageura; V.S. Vinogradov (B.C. Buuorpapoe); U. Heid and others. These
problems are particularly important for analysing English scientific and
technical terms, their peculiarities and ways of translation into
Russian/Ukrainian. Quick retrieval of terminology is a task which requires
complex cognitive abilities. A terminologist identifies terms because she
understands the lexical and grammatical structure of a language, but most of
all because she understands its semantic organisation and thus is able to map
concepts into words. In cases of uncertainty about the nature of terms and
their difference to non-terms a terminologist relies on answers provided by
theoreticians in the field of terminology.
The discipline of theoretical terminology is concerned with the conceptual
character of terms, the semantic relations among candidate terms, and the
determination of whether concepts are denominated by several terms or
whether terms are denominating several concepts. It is the privilege of human
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beings to deal with these questions. A good theoretical background for a
structural analysis of terms as opposed to non-terms originates from
contributions in the field of language for special purpose (LSP). Studies on
LSP have shown that noun phrases are dominant in LSP texts, while words of
closed word classes are rare. Further, studies on term formation reveal that
terms are mostly noun compounds [2].Translation of specialized language is
quite distinct from the translation of general texts. Specialized translation is
meant to improve the communication among experts of a domain and to
contribute to the distribution of knowledge across language boundaries.
The major problem encountered in specialized texts is the terminology,
which requires specific concepts from foreign languages to be transferred into
one's mother tongue. Before starting to translate, the translator must become
familiar with the terminology of the domain. Usually words are assigned to the
vocabulary of general language while terms form the vocabulary of special
languages, as the following definitions reflect: "The items which are
characterised by special reference within a discipline are the 'terms' of that
discipline, and collectively they form its 'terminology'; those which function in
general reference over a variety of sublanguages are simply called 'words',
and their totality the 'vocabulary'". [3] "Terms, like words in the general
language lexicon, are distinctive and meaningful signs which occur in special
language discourse." [4] To find the aptest equivalents to the terms in question
is often a time-consuming task even for skilled translators. Translators are not
free to define unknown terms which may be too specialized to occur in a
dictionary. They have to search in previously translated documents, on the
internet, or contact domain specialists. Studies show that a translator needs 40
% of the working time for inquiries on unknown terminology. [1]
The main task in terminology consists in building a terminological data
base containing relevant terms. Special languages are subsets of the set of
language as a whole. Among these subsets is also general language. Every
single LSP can be said to "intersect with general language, with which it not
only shares features but also maintains a constant exchange of units and
conventions." [4] Further, special languages also intersect with each other.
Special languages differ from general language particularly in their specialized
vocabulary, or terminology; further in the structural characteristics of sentences
[5]. LSP is understood as a language which "is produced by a specific society
and used by the group of people sharing the same profession or subject." [6]
When talking about special languages one has to be conscious of the
fact that among these subsets of language there are fields which have very
little in common with each other, not only concerning the knowledge required
but also as regards linguistic features. Sager, Dungworth and McDonald
distinguish three fields of investigation of language: the field of pragmatics, of
semantics, and of syntax. These fields are the basis for the description of LSP
and for a classification of special language according to models.
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Languages for special purposes are the items which are characterised
by special reference within a discipline are the 'terms' of that discipline, and
collectively they form its 'terminology'; those which function in general
reference over a variety of sublanguages are simply called 'words', and their
totality the 'vocabulary.
Figure 1: Typology of language of economy
LSP is a language which "is produced by a specific society and used by
the group of people sharing the same profession or subject".
The differences discovered during comparison of some terms in L1 and
L2 on the semantic level are presented by three aspects:
- the divergence in morphological and syntactical structure;
- the divergence grammatical structure;
- the divergence in lexical structure;
- the divergence in lexico-grammatical structure of terms in L1 and L2
[7]
The differences discovered during comparison of some terms in L1 and
L2 on the semantic level (140 terms) (British Telecom Group Annual Report
and Form 2008): the divergence in morphological and syntactical structure;
the divergence in grammatical structure; the divergence in lexical structure;
the divergence in lexico-grammatical structure of terms in L1 and L2
The divergence in morphological and syntactical structure: consumer
demand nofpeufenucku cnpoc; credit rating kpepufuu pefuur;
interest income npoueufuu poxop; parent company rafepuuckan
kornauin.
Lan gu age o f
Eco n o m y
La n gu age o f
Ba n k i n g
La n gu age o f
M a n a gem en t
La n gu age o f
M a n u f a ct u r i n g
La n g u a g e o f
Pa p er - a n d p u l p
I n d u st r y
La n gu age o f Ho t e l
Bu si n e ss
La n gu age o f
Bu i l d i n g
La n gu age o f
Fi n a n ce
La n gu age o f
Tr a n sp o r t
La n g u a g e o f
W o o d w o r k i n g
La n gu age o f
A gr i cu l t u r e
La n gu age o f
M i n i n g
La n gu age o f
Tr a d e
La n g u a g e o f
W h o l esa l e Tr a d e
La n g ua g e o f Ret a i l
Bu si n ess
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The divergence in grammatical structure: riskfigure nokasameni pucka;
capitalmarket piuok kanumana; incometax uanoa ua npuini; salestax
uanoa c npoa; orderinflow nocmynneuue sakasoe; shareturnover
oopom akuu; coverageofliabilities oecneveuue onsamenicme;
BoardofDirectors Coeem upekmopoe.
The divergence in lexical structure of terms in L1 and L2: accounting
convention (literally: npaeuno yxaanmepckoao yvema) uemo
yxaanmepckoao yvema; building of competencies (literally: nocmpoeuue
keanuqukauuu) noeiueuue keanuqukauuu; utilization of losses (literally:
ucnonisoeauue yimkoe) noaaueuue yimkoe.
The divergence in lexico-grammatical structure of terms in L1 and L2:
inventory foeapuo-rafepuanuuue sanacu; maintenance fexuueckoe
ocnyueauue; nominee uoruuanuuu akuuouep (from nominee
shareholder)
Inequivalent terms: custodian - nonevumeni, kacmouau (auk unu
uuan oprauusauun, npuuurakan ua xpaueuue quuaucoeue akfueu unu
ppyrue ueuuocfu); temporary difference - epeueuuan pasuuua a) (pasuuua
repy eenuuuo npuunu no pauuur yxranfepckoro yefa u
uanoroonaraero npuunuk, eosuukakan sa cef npusuauun poxopoe u
pacxopoe e yxranfepckor u uanoroeor yefe e pasuux ofefuux
nepuopax) ) (ofknoueuue anaucoeo cfourocfu cfafuu akfuea unu
onsafenucfea of ux uanoroeo asu); termination income benefit
peueuoe nocoue, eunnaueaeroe no ucfeeuuu cpoka pecfeun
poroeopa; mortgage backed liability onsafenucfea, oecneeuuue
sanoror uepeuurocfu.
Diagramme 1. The divergences of terms (140 terms)Inequivalent terms
Temporary inequivalent English financial terms form about 9,4 % from
the general number of chosen terms. The notion temporary inequivalent by
Nelyubin (Henkuu P.P) [8] seems to be rather precise due to two reasons.
On the one hand, it emphasizes that the lack of equivalent term does not
mean the term cannot be translated but can be solved by using other
19
23
20
40
38
in morphological and
syntactical structure
in lexical stucture
in lexico-grammatical
structure
in grammatical structure
inequivalent terms
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language means in translation. On the other hand, this notion shows the
reason of inequivalence (temporary gap of one of languages in the
development of notion system in a certain sphere) and extra linguistic
prerequisites of its elimination (an overcoming of gap during further
development of professional sphere including international business
communication).
There are two varieties of English terms in the inequivalent terminology:
[8]
1. The terms naming phenomena (notions) absent in Russian
economic sphere:
custodian - nonevumeni, kacmouau(auk unu uuan oprauusauun,
npuuurakan ua xpaueuue quuaucoeue akfueu unu ppyrue ueuuocfu)
temporary difference - epeueuuan pasuuua a) (pasuuua repy
eenuuuo npuunu no pauuur yxranfepckoro yefa u
uanoroonaraero npuunuk, eosuukakan sa cef npusuauun poxopoe u
pacxopoe e yxranfepckor u uanoroeor yefe e pasuux ofefuux
nepuopax) ) (ofknoueuue anaucoeo cfourocfu cfafuu akfuea unu
onsafenucfea of ux uanoroeo asu)
valuation allowance - pesepe no nepeoueuke [ua nepeoueuky],
oueuovui pesepe, pesepe no usueueuue cmouuocmu akmueoe
(cpepcfea, pesepeupyerue us npuunu ua nokpufue usreueuu
cfourocfu akfueoe kornauuu) etc.
2. The terms naming phenomena appeared in Russian economic
sphere but yet did not form a separate category in conceptual structure
correspondent to professional sphere. In this case, the undifferentiation of
superordinate concept is the reason of the lack of term in L1:
dilutive securities ueuuie yuaau, paseounkue kanuman;
group voting aonocykue akuuu apynni (kounauu);
mortgage backed liability onsamenicmea, oecneveuuie sanoaou
ueeuuuocmu;
parent holding akuuu e cocmeeuuo uamepuucko kounauuu;
termination income benefit eueuoe nocoue, einnavueaeuoe no
ucmeveuuu cpoka ecmeun oaoeopa.
It is significant that terms of the second aspect in L1 do not have the
equivalent term yet there exists a pre-term, i.e. an equivalent recommended
by bilingual dictionaries. This preterm constitutes a combination of terms and
current lexical units. Although the equivalent transfers the meaning of the
notion in L1 system it does not answer the demands made to terms: it does
not indicate the superordinate concept in L1 system, is not characterised by
conciseness, structure invariability, and semantic unity. Thus, the diversity of
notion systems in both languages illuminated by extra-lingual factors makes
unbiased conditions to inequivalence beginnings [8].
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Ways to translate inequivalent terms: selection of Russian term or
current word (or word combination) with close meaning; transcribing,
transliteration; descriptive (explanatory) translation.
In this article the researchinto some peculiarities of scientific and
technical texts translation was conducted. This issue is of a great interest for
the intercultural communication.The contrast of English and Russian financial
terminology was demonstrated and the possibilities of equivalence
consummation during translation of scientific and technical texts terminology
were suggested.Further research may be conducted on the basis of other
foreign languages.
References
1. J. Sager, D. Dungworth, P.F. McDonald English Special Languages. Principles and
Practice in Science and Technology, Wiesbaden: Oscar BrandstetterVerlay, 1980, 2-35
2. B. Boguraev, Ch. Kennedy Applications of term identification technology: domain
description and content characterisation, Natural Language Engineering, Cambridge
University Press, 1998, 17-44
3. J. Sager A Practical Course in Terminology Processing, Amsterdam, Philadelphia,
John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1990, 19-73
4. M.T. Cabre Terminology: Theory, Methods and Applications, Amsterdam,
Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publishing company, 1999, 56-121
5. J.S. Justeson, S.M. Katz Technical terminology: some linguistic properties and an
algorithm for identification in text, Cambridge University Press, 1995, 9-27
6. K. Kageura Towards the theoretical study of terms a sketch from the linguistic
viewpoint, Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing company, 1995, 239-257
7. -ukuneeckan P.H. Hekofopue rparrafueckue u nekcueckue fpypuocfu npu
nepeeope aurnuckux uayuo-fexuueckux fekcfoe: yeuo-refopueckoe nocoue//
-ukuneeckan P.H., 2-e usp., M.: Hsp-eo Poc.yu-fa ppyu uapopoe, 2002, 174 c.
8. http://www.homeenglish.ru/(15.02.09)
Paccuompeui ocuoeuie meueuuuu e onacmu npoqeccuouaniuo
mepuuuonoauu, auanusupykmcn uekomopie eui npeopasoeauun npu
nepeeoe ua npuuepax akououuvecko mepuuuocucmeui.
Hpoqeccuonanunau mepmunonoauu, usmx nu cneuanunmx
ene, necoomeemcmeue qynxu, esaxeueanenmnme mepmunm.
The article deals with the main trends inthe professional terminology,
examines some of the transformations in the translation using the examples
of economic term system.
Professional terminology, LSP (language for special purpose)
divergence of functions; inequivalent terms