Translation Terminology

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Translation Terminology

• Antwerp, November 16th-17th 2006
• Lessius Hogeschool
• Hannelore.lee-jahnke_at_eti.unige.ch

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Specification

• The terminology I mean
• Terminology of translation didactics

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Metalanguage of Translation Teaching
preliminaries

• Why do we need translation terminology?
• In order to offer efficient practical translation
  training
• In order to enable the translator to defend his
  choice
• In order to teach translation in a proper way

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Historical background of translation terminology

• Several studies
• De Vinay (1952), à
• Delisle (1992) Classification of manuels for
  translation teaching

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Different types of manuals

• A)Translation teaching linked with language
  learning
• B) Didactical instrument to foster translation
  teaching through annotated texts (Vinay/Darbelnet
  1958)
• C) Manuals intended for an initiation to
  translation
• D) Specification between general translation and
  translation for special purposes
• E) Textbooks including revision material

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Classification of these manuals

• Approx. 52 of the existing manuals are linked to
  didactics
• Approx. 48 are more specifically for
  professional translators.
• Some of these manuals cover both categories i.e.
  Vinay/Darbelnet (1958) SCAF

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Some manuals with glossaries

• Roda Roberts (1985)
• Paul Horguelin (1985)
• Jean Demanuelli (1990)
• Mark Shuttleworth et Moira Cowie (1997)

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Problems to be solved

• Too many terms Approx. 1420 !
• Systematize translation terminology in order to
  offer a real scientific basis for translation
  teaching.
• Blaise Pascal (1954577) de nemployer aucun
  terme dont on na auparavant expliqué nettement
  le sens

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Genesis of a book

• Create a team of collaborators specialized in
  translation didactics (8 countries) in order to
  offer a basic book in four languages (English,
  French, German, Spanish) including approx. 150
  items.
• Aim harmonize translation terminology.

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Four subgroups

• Linguistics
• Interlinguistic transfer
• Didactics
• Others

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Terms linked to Linguistics

• General linguistics
• Grammar
• Differential linguistics

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Interlinguistic transfer

• Cognitive processus
• Different types of equivalences
• Linguistic transfert
• Translation strategies
• Discourse
• Rhetoric

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Terms linked to didactics

• General notions
• Translation errors
• Language errors

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Others

• Documentation
• Terminology

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Further Problems

• Translation terminology is not really taught on a
  systematic basis, and
• does not seem of importance to many teachers
• The different terms are not defined in an
  identical way by their authors

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Lack of interest

• Kiraly (199519) Eighteen translation
  instructors were asked What are the specific
  objectives of the translation courses you teach?
  Eleven of them gave no answer at all.
• His conclusion was The instructors in question
  had not given any thought whatsoever to the aims
  and purposes of a course in translation.

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Preliminaries

• Translation terminology exists in the target
  language
• The teacher masters translation terminology
• The teacher trains the students

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Training in a translation class

• Can be best introduced with corrections and the
  evaluation of translations
• Should be used by students to defend their work

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To sum up

• It helps
• teachers to be more clear
• Students for a better understanding
• Translators to defend their way of working
• The profession to be more respected