Initiation into Translation

1st year
2011 - 2012

Translation techniques: Universal types

Dumitriu, R. 2002. Theories and practice of

translation. Iai: Institutul European

Vinay, J.P. & J. Darbelnet. 1996. Comparative

Stylistics of French and English. A methodology for
translation. Amsterdam/ Philadelphia: John
Benjamins

Molina L. and A. Hurtado Albir. 2002. Translation

Techniques Revisited: A Dynamic and Functionalist
Approach in Meta: Translators' Journal, vol. 47 no.
4, pp. 498-512

Translation techniques: Universal types

Translation technique vs translation

strategy vs translation method

Method: refers to the way a particular

translation process is carried out in terms of the
translators objective, i.e., a global option that
affects the whole text.

interpretative-communicative (translation of the

sense), literal (linguistic transcodification), free
(modification of semiotic and communicative
categories) and philological (academic or critical
translation).

Strategies: are the procedures (conscious or

unconscious, verbal or nonverbal) used by the
translator to solve problems that emerge when
carrying out the translation process with a
particular objective in mind.
Translators use strategies for comprehension
(e.g., distinguish main and secondary ideas,
establish conceptual relationships, search for
information) and for reformulation (e.g.,
paraphrase, retranslate, say out loud, avoid
words that are close to the original).

Techniques: procedures to analyse and

classify how translation equivalence works.
They have five basic characteristics:

1) They affect the result of the translation

2) They are classified by comparison with the
original
3) They affect micro-units of text
4) They are by nature discursive and
contextual
5) They are functional.

Translation techniques: Universal types

Loan transfer/ Borrowing

To take a word or expression straight from
another language.
1.

lobby, soft(ware), computer, internet,

glamour, fashion, etc

miting, fotbal, hochei, etc

2. Loan translation/ Calque

Literal translation of a foreign word or
phrase; it can be lexical or structural

iron curtain, Autoservire

Suntem devastai de aceast

pierdere.

3. Literal translation
To translate (a word or) an expression
word for word

We play handball.

Psrile zboar.

4. Transposition
To change a grammatical category.

In the early 19th century

Jean successfully dealt with the situation.
It is popularly believed that...

5. Modulation
To change the point of view, focus or cognitive
category in relation to the ST.
dress rehearsal
repetiie general
take French leave
clear ones throat
as white as a sheet
as old as hills
vechi de cand lumea
She is rather plain.Nu e prea frumoas.

6. (Established) Equivalence
To use a term or expression recognized (by
dictionaries or language in use) as an
equivalent in the TL.

Nu se auzea nici musca

La Patele cailorWhen pigs fly
You could have knocked me down with a
featherAm rmas masc/ lamp

7. Adaptation
To replace a ST cultural element with
one from the target culture.

Baseball

Mmliga

8. Explicitation
To introduce details that are not
formulated in the ST: information,
explicative paraphrasing.

tefan cel Mare the (famous)

Moldavian prince tefan cel Mare
(Stephen the Great)

9. Description
To replace a term or expression with
a description of its form or/and
function.
sherry cobbler
butur din vin de Xeres, lmie i
zahr

10. Generalisation vs
11.Particularisation
To use a more general or neutral term
vs
To use a more precise or concrete term.

Ghieu > window

Window > ghieu

12. Linguistic amplification vs

13. Linguistic compression
To add linguistic elements vs
To synthesize linguistic elements in the TT.
No way! > n niciun caz!
n niciun caz! > No way!

Aixela, J. F. 1996. Culture-Specific

Items in Translation in Translation,
Power, Subversion. Alvarez & Vidal
(eds.). Clevedon: Multilingual
Matters, pp. 52-78, apud Dimitriu,
2002