Филологические
науки / 6. Актуальные проблемы перевода
Артамонова К. С., Диль К. В.
Карагандинский государственный университет имени
Е. А. Букетова, Казахстан
Lexical features of translation of texts
on construction
The necessity of professional translation in modern
world is evident in all spheres of life, and construction is not an exception.
The high-quality translation of texts on construction is necessary both for
owners of construction companies and for ordinary people wishing to read a
competent translation of an instruction to construction materials. Oral
translation is even more demanded in the sphere of construction. Often, oral
translation is necessary during business negotiations; with its help the process
of signing contracts becomes considerably easier.
Nowadays translation of construction texts becomes widely
required due to the economic development and attraction of foreign investors in
the field of construction. Technical translators working in various foreign
companies, due to the increasing volumes of translations, are forced to solve various
problems arising while translating. These difficulties are caused by the fact
that the level of knowledge in the given theme does not correspond to the
desired, particularly, lexical features of construction texts translation have
not been investigated enough. In this respect, studying the peculiarities of construction
texts translation as one of the types of informative translation is of current
importance.
A.V. Feodorov defines translation as:
1) a process in the form of a mental act and consisting
in the fact that a speech product (a text or an utterance) arisen in one – source
– language (SL) is recreated in another – target – language (TL); 2) the result
of this process, i.e. a new speech product (a text or an utterance) in TL [1].
A.V. Feodorov points out that there are two
general aspects of all kinds of translating activity:
1) the purpose of translation is to convey to the
reader (or the listener), who does not know the SL, the given text as closely
as possible (or with the content of an utterance);
2) to translate means to express truly and
completely by means of one language what has been expressed earlier by means of
another language.
Real translation activity is carried out by
translators in various conditions; the texts being translated are various in
subjects, language, genre; translations are carried out in the written or oral
forms; there are different requirements to translators concerning accuracy, completeness
of translation, etc. Certain kinds of translation require special knowledge and
skills from the translator.
V.N. Komissarov suggests two basic
classifications of translation types: the first is based on the character of
the texts translated, and the second on the character of speech actions of the
translator during the process of translating. The first classification is
connected with the genre-and-stylistic features of the original text, the
second – with the psycholinguistic features of speech actions in the written
and oral forms. In the genre-and-style classification of translation, depending
on the genre and stylistic features of the original, two functional types of
translation - aesthetic (literary) translation and informative (special)
translation are distinguished [2].
Informative translation is translation of
texts with the basic function of reporting any data, information transfer; thus
the artistic or aesthetic effect on the reader is excluded. All materials of
scientific, business, political, social character belong to such texts [3].
Hence, translation of texts on construction may be referred to the second type of translation according to the
genre-and-style classification. In informative translation, subtypes of
translation differ on the basis of the subject matter of the texts translated
and belong to various functional styles of the source language. Thus,
functional-stylistic features of original texts define the special features of such
texts translation.
L.K. Latyshev distinguishes three types of
texts: pragmatic texts (focused on the content), texts focused on addressing or
appealing and artistic texts (focused on the form) [4].
To the type of the texts focused on the
content, L.K. Latyshev refers press accounts and comments, reports, commercial
and business correspondence, goods specifications, operational manuals of
technical devices, patent descriptions, diplomas, official documents,
educational and special literature of all types, researches, reports,
treatises, special texts of the humanities, natural sciences and technology.
L.K. Latyshev notes that “in the texts
focused on the content, the important thing, first of all, is the appropriateness
of the form for expression of the given content and its ability to produce the
necessary effect; while in the texts focused on the form, first of all, the
form including aesthetic and creative aspects is important. A text focused on
the content is analyzed in respect of the conventional relations determined by
semantics, grammar, and stylistics and taking into account its translation in
another language.”
Different researchers define the language
of the texts focused on the content differently: the science language, special
language, language for special purposes, professional language, etc.
The special subjects and special purposes
of communication make experts use the professional language which practically
isn't connected with the national identity of its carriers and should not
depend on a socioeconomic formation, ideology and mentality.
In the field of construction, pragmatic texts
(focused on the content) of scientific-technical and official styles are used.
Within the limits of each functional style, there are some language features
which considerably influence on the process and result of translation.
For example, lexical and grammatical
features of scientific-technical materials and, first of all, terminology and
special vocabulary in scientific-technical style. The style of business
documents has definite purposes of communications, general for the given style laws
and language characteristics. First of all, the specific terminology and
phraseology prevail, and the characteristic feature is the academism of means
of expression which accelerates the process of phraseological units formation, which
are typical for this style. Academism of means of expression underlies other feature
of English official documents, i.e. presence of a significant amount of archaic
words and expressions.
T.A. Kazakova lists informativity among
the prominent features of scientific-technical style (content-richness), as
well as logicality (strict sequence, accurate connection between the basic idea
and details), accuracy, objectivity, understandability and clarity [5].
T.A. Kazakova distinguishes the following
features of scientific-technical texts:
1) use of scientific and technical
terminology and so-called special vocabulary;
2) words and word-combinations which do
not possess the property of a term to identify concepts and objects in a certain
area, but are used almost exclusively in the given sphere of communication,
selected by the narrow circle of experts, habitual for them, allowing them not
to think about the way of thought expression and to concentrate on the subject
matter;
3) prevalence of clichés;
4) not only terminological and special vocabulary
is used in scientific and technical materials; there are a lot of general words
used in any functional style. While translating such lexical units the
translator of scientific-technical literature faces with the same difficulties
and applies the same techniques to their overcoming as translators working in
other areas.
In the widest sense of the word,
construction is a kind of human activity aimed at creation of buildings,
engineering constructions (bridges, roads, airdromes), and facilities accompanying
them (engineering networks, small architectural forms, garages, etc.). Nowadays
construction represents a difficult and many-sided process combining technical,
economic, legal, and social aspects. The basic stages of construction are land
allotment, designing, project coordination by authorities, process of erection
of a building or a facility, putting into operation. Experts who participate in
working out and realization of construction projects should create effective
mechanisms of planning, budgeting, document circulation, timely delivery of
building materials, logistics, safety on a workplace, etc. Besides, it is
necessary for them to take into account ecological consequences of the work.
Based on the purposes and plans of
construction, translation of the following types of texts is necessary in the
field of construction:
1) Organizational part of construction:
contracts, correspondence with contractors and supervising bodies, reports of
meetings, the HR department documentation (duty regulations, resumes,
explanatory notes), formal notices and management orders; feasibility reports;
2) Technical part of construction:
specifications, drawings, rules and descriptions of an order of work, method statements,
operational manuals of monitoring instruments, installation of heating systems,
ventilation, air-conditioning;
3) Material support of construction:
orders for delivery, descriptions of products and materials, including safety
passports, reports of inspectors, audit and test plans, and punch lists;
4) Health, safety and environment:
materials for courses and instructing of the personnel, rules and instructions,
safety rules; projects on estimation of environmental influence, descriptions
of actions for preservation of the environment, correspondence with supervising
bodies;
5) Construction as a technical science:
scientific and popular scientific articles and books, textbooks.
Hence, special language of construction is
a verbal language with use of non-verbal means (pictures, drawings, schemes and
etc.); language with a constant, traditional tendency to its
internationalization which carries out epistemic, cognitive and communicative
functions [6].
Within the limits of the translation
process description, translation transformations are considered to be ways of
translation which the translator can use while translating various original
texts when dictionary equivalents are absent or can't be used in a certain context
conditions. Depending on the character of SL units which are considered initial
in transformations, translation transformations are subdivided into lexical and
grammatical. Besides, there are complex lexical and grammatical transformations
where transformations either concern lexical and grammatical units of the
original simultaneously, or they are interleveled, i.e. carry out transition
from lexical units to grammatical and in the reverse order.
The basic types of lexical transformations
applied in translation process include the following translation techniques: transcription
and a transliteration, calque, lexical-semantic replacements (specification,
generalization, modulation) [5].
Transcription and transliteration are ways
of translation of a lexical unit of the original by reconstruction of its form
by means of TL letters. Transcription is reproduction of the sound form of a foreign
word, and transliteration is reproduction of the graphic form (alphabetic
structure). The most popular technique in modern translational practice is
transcription with preservation of some elements of transliteration. As
phonetic and graphic systems of languages considerably differ from each other,
transfer of a SL word form in a target language is always rather conventional
and approximate: designer – дизайнер, tender - тендер (торги), adhesive - адгезив (связующее вещество); связующее (вещество), связующий материал. Basically, the most wide-spread element
of transliteration in English-Russian translation is transliteration of some
unpronounceable consonants and reduced vowels: Bonatti - Бонатти; EXXON MOBIL – ЭКСОН МОБИЛ, Монтажспецстрой - Montazhspetsstroy.
Calque is a way of translation of a
lexical unit of the original by replacement of its components – morphemes or
words (in case of set phrases) – by their lexical equivalents in the TL. The
essence of calque consists in creation of a new word or a word combination in the
TL by copying the structure of the initial lexical unit. That is what a
translator does translating “panel construction” as “панельное строительство”; “stage construction” as “поэтажное строительство”, and “industrial construction” as “промышленное строительство”. Quite often transcription and calque are used
simultaneously in translation process: transnational – транснациональный; logistics – логистика.
Lexical-semantic replacements are ways of
translation of lexical units of the original text by using the TL units in
translation the meanings of which do not coincide with meanings of initial
units, but can be deduced from them by means of certain type of logical
transformations. The main types of such replacements are specification,
generalization and modulation (semantic development) of the meaning of an initial
unit.
Specification is replacement of a word or
word combination in the SL which has a wider figural-logic meaning with a TL
word or word combination with a narrower meaning.
Client shall provide Contractor’s
instructor and translator with Astana airport pick-up service on their arrival
and see-off on their departure. - Заказчик встретит инструктора и переводчика исполнителя в аэропорту г. Астаны в день прилета и проводит инструктора и переводчика в аэропорт г.
Астаны в день вылета.
In this case the specification technique
has been applied: the English verbal word combination with wide figural-logic meaning
is conveyed by Russian verbs with narrower meaning “встретит и проводит.”
...on the arrival… and ...on the
departure... while translating into Russian the given adverbial constructions the
technique semantic addition was used “в день прилета” and “в день вылета.”
Generalization is replacement of a SL unit
having a narrower meaning with a TL unit with a wider meaning, i.e.
transformation opposite to specification. The equivalent created expresses the generic
concept including the initial subnotion:
While performing the Services, the Contractor
will maintain control over its employees in an independent manner. - В период предоставления Услуг, Исполнитель обязуется осуществлять независимый контроль над своими работниками.
Generalization was applied in translation
of this sentence for achieving an adequate translation corresponding to the
norms of the Russian language because, if syntactic assimilation had been made
here, translation would have been inappropriate according to the norms of the Russian
language.
Modulation, or semantic development, is
replacement of a word or word combination in the SL with a unit in the TL the
meaning of which is logically deduced from the initial unit meaning. Most often
the meanings of the correlated words in the original and translation appear to
be connected by cause-and-effect relations:
The Client shall provide an appropriate
class-room in Karaganda and the required training aids such as TV and
multi-system VCR, Laptop, LCD projector, whiteboard and markers as well as
daily two 15-minute coffee breaks for the whole period of training. - Заказчик предоставит на весь период обучения соответствующее классное помещение в г. Караганда и необходимые вспомогательные учебные средства, такие как телевизор и мультисистемный видеомагнитофон, ноутбук, мультимедийный проектор, письменную доску и маркеры, а также организует по два ежедневных 15-минутных перерыва на кофе.
A lexical transformation has been made in the
Russian sentence:
- modulation, i.e. conceptual development “...а также организует по два ежедневных 15 минутных перерыва на кофе...” for achieving an adequate
translation.
So, lexical transformations are applied
for achieving a higher degree of equivalence in translation of texts on construction.
The basic types of lexical transformations include transcription and
transliteration; calque and lexical-semantic replacements (specification,
generalization, modulation). The peculiarities of lexical transformations in
translating texts on construction are caused by the genre-stylistic features of
such texts which belong to the informative texts category and reflect the specificity
of scientific-technical and official styles.
Bibliography:
1)
Foedorov A.V. Fundamentals of general translation theory / – М: Vysshaya shkolal, 1983. – 115 p.
2)
Komissarov V.N.
Theory of translation (linguistic aspects) - М: High School, 1990. - 253 p.
3)
Komissarov V.N., Korallova
A.L. Practical course on translation
from English into Russian. - М: Inostrannaya literatura, 1990.-398 p.
4)
Latyshev L.K. Course on translation (translation equivalence
and ways of its acheiving). - М: Mezhdunarodniye otnosheniya, 1981.-247 p.
5)
Kazakova T.A. Theory
of translation (linguistic aspects). - SPb: Soyuz, 2000. - 296 p.
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