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The Power of Words

This document contains three texts related to translation. Text 1 discusses the power of words and recommends that translators study words in both languages they know. Text 2 is the preface to the first translation of a book, praising the accurate work of the translation. Text 3 is the preface to the second English edition, noting the increasing acceptance of the author's views and revising the translation. The document provides discussion topics about prefaces and the role of translators.

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Elena Petcu
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100% found this document useful (1 vote)
203 views21 pages

The Power of Words

This document contains three texts related to translation. Text 1 discusses the power of words and recommends that translators study words in both languages they know. Text 2 is the preface to the first translation of a book, praising the accurate work of the translation. Text 3 is the preface to the second English edition, noting the increasing acceptance of the author's views and revising the translation. The document provides discussion topics about prefaces and the role of translators.

Uploaded by

Elena Petcu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS

SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.


INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

UNIT 1
The Power of Words in a Translators Hands

To say that the force of words may be constructive or


destructive is to admit that there is no stronger force to
heighten or to harm the most precious of the gifts Universe
has: humankind! Translators, through their toiling with
words and translations as a result of endless toiling may and
will best reflect the small distance between success and
disaster. Words, their essence and their power have been a
topic of debate for centuries and they have been more
thoroughly analyzed beginning with the second half of the
20th century when semantics, pragmatics, discourse
analysis became well-articulated fields of research and
academic disciplines.
As prospective translators, to fully grasp the force of
words, you are recommended to study at least five words a
day, in the two languages you know and you intend to
master. In your study practice focus on such details as:
- the correct pronunciation(s) of the words on your list
(distinguish between British and American English, if
possible or necessary);
- etymological notes and some possible derivatives;
- examples of collocations of these words with other
lexical units;
- idiomatic structures, sayings and proverbs which
include the words of the day.

1. Suggested readings:
Crystal, D. (1992) The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the
English Language, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press
Crystal, D. (2007) Words, Words, Words, Oxford: Oxford
University Press
McArthur, Th. (1996) The Oxford Companion to the English
Language, Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. Suggested web pages:
www.thefreedictionary.com
www.hallo.ro
www.etymologyonline.com

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

3. Recommended dictionaries
1. *2003. Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Oxford: Oxford
University Press
2. *Oxford Dictionary of Synonyms, Oxford: Oxford
University Press
3. *Oxford Collocations Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University
Press

SECTION A. Translate into Romanian

Text. 1.
WORDS, WORDS, WORDS
What, we may profitably ask, is the simplest measure of
culture in the modern world? Can we estimate it from a
close study of art or literature, or law? Or, does it depend in
the first place upon the general standard of literacy and
education?
Doubtless, it depends to some extent upon all of these
things but it reflects most clearly the degree of liberality
and tolerance exercised by men in their ordinary intercourse
day by day, and the extent of their willingness to allow
freedom of opinion and choice to others.
If we look around us and find that forbearance and
latitude are everywhere apparent in the community in which
we happen to find ourselves, we may fairly conclude that
the standard of culture in that particular society is high. If,
on the other hand, we observe that these same qualities are
on the decline and that regimentation and intolerance are
increasing, no impressive manifestations of art and
architecture, no efficient organization of education and
government, can compensate us for the loss of culture
itself.
The unmistakable hallmarks of culture are liberality and
tolerance.
All languages have the same purpose to
communicate thoughts and yet, they achieve this single
aim in a multiplicity of ways. It appears that there is no
feature of grammar or syntax that is indispensable or
universal. The ways of dealing with matters of number,
tense, case, gender, and the like are wondrously various

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

from one tongue to the next. Many languages manage


without quite basic grammatical or lexical features, while
others burden themselves with remarkable complexities.

Word work and translational creativity

1. Find all the meanings of the following words: culture,


hallmark, and fair.

2. Write a lexical card for and introduce all the words


which may be derived from: literacy, liberality,
wondrous, forbearance.

3. Find the Romanian equivalents for: to spin a yarn, to


speak of the devil, in a manner of speaking. Find two
idioms in English authentic texts.

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

Text 2.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE TO THE FIRST TRANSLATION
Having read the proofs of the present translation of my
work, Die Mechanik in ihrer Entwickelung, I can testify that
the publishers have supplied an excellent, accurate, and
faithful rendering of it, as their previous translations of
essays of mine gave me every reason to expect. My thanks
are due to all concerned, and especially to Mr. McCormack,
whose intelligent care in the conduct of the translation has
led to the discovery of many errors, heretofore overlooked. I
may, thus, confidently hope, that the rise and growth of the
ideas of the great inquirers, which it was my task to portray,
will appear to my new public in distinct and sharp outlines.
E. Mach.
Prague, April 8th, 1893.

Text 3.
THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE TO THE SECOND
ENGLISH EDITION.
Since the appearance of the first edition of the present
translation of Machs Mechanics* the views which Professor
Mach has advanced on the philosophy of science have
found wide and steadily increasing acceptance. Many
fruitful and elucidative controversies have sprung from his
discussions of the historical, logical, and psychological
foundations of physical science and in consideration of the
great ideal success which his works have latterly met with
in Continental Europe, the time seems ripe for a still wider
dissemination of his views in English-speaking countries.
The study of the history and theory of science is finding
fuller and fuller recognition in our universities, and it is to be
hoped that the present exemplary treatment of the simplest
and most typical branch of physics will stimulate further
progress in this direction.
The text of the present edition, which contains the
extensive additions made by the author to the latest
German editions, has been thoroughly revised by the
translator. All errors, either of substance or typography, so
far as they have come to the translator's notice, have been
removed, and in many cases the phraseology has been
4
TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

altered. The subtitle of the work has, in compliance with


certain criticisms, also been changed, to accord more with
the wording of the original title and to bring out the idea
that the work treats of the principles of mechanics
predominantly under the aspect of their development
(Entwickelung).
To avoid confusion in the matter of references, the
main title stands as in the first edition. The author's
additions, which are considerable, have been relegated to
the Appendix. This course has been deemed preferable to
that of incorporating them in the text, first, because the
numerous references in other works to the pages of the first
edition thus hold good for the present edition also, and
secondly, because with few exceptions the additions are
either supplementary in character, or in answer to
criticisms. A list of the subjects treated in these additions is
given in the Table of Contents, under the heading
"Appendix" on page xix. Special reference, however, must
be made to the additions referring to Hertz's Mechanics (pp.
548-555), and to the history of the development of
Professor Mach's own philosophical and scientific views,
notably to his criticisms of the concepts of mass, inertia,
absolute motion, etc., on pp. 542-547, 555-574, and 579-
583. The remarks here made will be found highly
elucidative, while the references given to the rich literature
dealing with the history and philosophy of science will also
be found helpful.
As for the rest, the text of the present edition of the
translation is the same as that of the first. It has had the
sanction of the author and the advantage of revision by Mr.
C. S. Peirce, well known for his studies both of analytical
mechanics and of the history and logic of physics. Mr. Peirce
read the proofs of the first edition and rewrote Sec. 8 in the
chapter on Units and Measures, where the original was
inapplicable to the system commonly taught in this country.
Thomas J. McCormack. La Salle, ILL., February 1902

Ways with ideas or topics for discussion

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

1. Work in pairs, exchange opinions with your partner


about your practice of reading the preface of any
book you intend to read. The following questions
could of help to boost your discussion:

What is this text about?


To what extent is a translator a person entitled to writing a
preface to the book s/he translated?
Is the translator an author or a person moving a message
from one language into another? Give reasons for
your answer.

2. Work in pairs, discuss the two prefaces with your


partner and choose the one you prefer. Argue your
answers in front of your class mates.

6
TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

Text 4.
(a) Translators must negotiate with the ghost of a distant
author, with the disturbing presence of foreign text,
with the phantom of the reader they are translating
for. Translation is a negotiation to such an extent that
translators must also negotiate with publishers,
because a translation may be more or less
domesticated or foreignised according to the context
in which the book is published, or the age of its
expected readers. (Eco 2003: 173)
(b)Semiotics, philosophy and cultural anthropology can
discuss such discrepancies for years but a translator
has continually to face them, here and now and every
day. In doing so translators avoid ontological problems
(unless they are translating a philosophical text): they
simply compare languages and negotiate solutions
that do not offend common sense (and if there are
subtle connections between common sense and
ontology, this is a subject for further philosophical
debate). Translators simply behave like polyglots,
because in some way they already know that in the
target language a given thing is expressed so and so.
They follow their instinct, as does every fluent
bilingual person. (Eco 2003: 182)

Ways with specialisms


In his essay On Linguistic Aspects of Translation
(1959), Jakobson discusses about types of translation.
Match his types of translation in column A to their
possible explanations and exemplifications in column B:

A B
a. Intralingual 1. an interpretation of verbal
translation/ signs by means of other signs of
rewording non-verbal sign systems
b. Interlingual 2. an interpretation of verbal
translation/ signs by means of other signs of
translation proper the same language
c. Intersemiotic 3. an interpretation of verbal
translation/ signs by means of some
7
TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

transmutation language
i) we rephrase an expression or
text in the same language to
explain or clarify something we
might have said or written
ii) when a written text is
translated into music, film or
painting
iii) when a text in an alpha
language is a turned into a text in
a beta language
Text 5.

(a) When a translation domesticates a literary work, it


will be fluent for the reader in the target language;
this is accomplished by altering the text so that
cultural and linguistic references match the target
language culture. These alterations are often
substantial changes. Translators may restructure
sentences to have less drastic variability in length, for
example. Additional words, phrases and sentences will
be inserted into the translation that did not occur in
the original, usually as a means to explain some
cultural content that would be unknown to the target
readers. This gives the appearance that the work was
written in the target language by an author from the
target culture/country.
(Murakami 2013: 56)

(b)The other strategy, according to Venuti, is to


foreignize a work When a translation is foreignized,
the fact that the translation has occurred is apparent.
While the syntax must still work in the target
language to be readable, alterations are kept to a
minimum. If the original piece contains run-on
sentences for artistic effect, the translation will as
well. Cultural references will not be changed to target
language equivalents. This translation method will

8
TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

ensure it is obvious to the reader that the work was


first written in another language. (idem)

Ways with specialisms


Match the English structures with their Romanian correspondents
for each of the examples below, and decide whether they are
instances of domestication (D) or foreignization (F):

English structure Romanian D/


correspondent F
to rain cats and dogs tu his, eu cea
in the day break a fi ocupat pn peste
urechi
to be up to ones a ploua cu gleata
eyebrows in work
to be lying through ones a fi la munca de jos
teeth
to freeze solid cnd se crap de
ziu
you zig I zag a veni de peste
mri i ri
to do the donkey work a mini de nghea
apele
to come from far and a nghea bocn
wide

ADDITIONAL EXERCISES

1. Translate into Romanian:

(a) These two translation strategies are comparable to


the more general free and literal translation
approaches, but are further defined in that it is
specifically the cultural content which is being either
freely altered in order to make it more consumable for
the target readers or more literally transposed to the
translation product. (Murakami 2013: 56)

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

(b)The old terms such as literal, free and faithful


translation are discarded by Nida in favour of two
basic orientations or types of equivalence (Nida
1964: 159): (1) formal equivalence and (2) dynamic
equivalence. [...] Formal equivalence focuses
attention on the message itself, in both form and
content ... One is concerned that the message in the
receptor language should match as closely as possible
the different elements in the source language.
(Introducing Translation Studies : 41)

(c) Dynamic equivalence is based on what Nida calls


the principle of equivalent effect, where the
relationship between receptor and message should be
substantially the same as that which existed between
the original receptors and the message (Nida 1964:
159). The message has to be tailored to the receptors
linguistic needs and cultural expectation and aims at
complete naturalness of expression. Naturalness is a
key requirement for Nida. He defines the role of
dynamic equivalence as seeking the closest natural
equivalent to the source-language message.
(Introducing Translation Studies : 42)

(d)In communicative as in semantic translation,


provided that equivalent effect is secured, the literal
word-for-word translation is not only the best, it is the
only valid method of translation.
(Newmark 1981: 39)

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

SECTION B. Translate into English

Text 6.
Portretul traductorului romn
Prestatorul de servicii de traducere (PST) romn este, de
obicei, traductor independent, autorizat de Ministerul de
Justiie (63% dintre rspunsuri). Aceast stare de fapt (73%
dintre respondeni sunt traductori independeni) coincide
cu statisticile internaionale care indic o preponderen a
traductorilor independeni (75% din numrul total de PST
activi la nivel mondial). PST-ul romn se dedic acestei
profesii cu norm ntreag sau cu jumtate de norm, dup
orele de serviciu (angajat pe post de traductor sau pe un
post fr legtur cu traducerile). Traductorul romn ofer
o gam relativ diversificat de servicii, dar aproape toi
efectueaz traduceri scrise n limba romn sau ntr-o limb
strin, precum i traduceri notariale sau revizia
traducerilor efectuate de teri. Interpreii romni sunt
nevoii, din cauza condiiilor pieei, s ofere i alte servicii,
cum ar fi traduceri scrise. PST-ul romn se ocup n mic
msur cu servicii cu un grad nalt de specializare i
tehnologizare, cum ar fi localizarea, subtitrarea sau
technical writing-ul. Nici n privina alegerii clientelei, PST-ul
romn nu pare s se adreseze unei anumite categorii de
clieni, cei mai muli avnd categorii de clieni foarte
diverse.

Text 7.
Totui, o proporie mai semnificativ a clienilor sunt firme
de traduceri, n timp ce printre clienii direci se remarc
persoane fizice, juridice, notariate, cabinete de avocatur i,
mai rar, instituii publice sau edituri. PST-ul romn i caut
clienii mai ales pe piaa intern, numai o mic parte
activnd pe piaa global. Cu toate acestea, numrul mare
de juctori de pe piaa intern, precum i condiiile de pia,
l determin pe PST-ul romn s ncerce din ce n ce mai
mult s ptrund pe piaa global pentru a-i lrgi baza de
clieni i pentru a obine tarife mai bune. PST-ul romn se

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INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

afl ntr-o constant cutare de clieni noi, aceast strategie


producnd rezultate n anul 2007.

Textul 8.
Astfel PST-ul romn a constatat o cretere uoar a
numrului de clieni, care s-a oglindit ntr-o cretere uoar
a cifrei de afaceri n 2007 fa de aceeai perioad a anului
2006. Se observ c prestatorii care au decis s ptrund
pe piaa global au obinut rezultate pozitive i un numr
mai mic de respondeni au constat scderi ale numrului de
clieni pe piaa extern fa de cea intern. De asemenea,
prestatorii de servicii care se dedic profesiei de traductor
cu norm ntreag au obinut rezultate net superioare celor
care nu pot acorda dect un timp redus acestei activiti.
Aceste rezultate pozitive i ndeamn pe prestatorii de
servicii de traduceri romni s concluzioneze c, n 2007, s-
a nregistrat o cretere uoar a pieei de traduceri interne
i externe fa de aceeai perioad a anului 2006.
Traductorul romn este ncreztor n evoluia viitoare a
pieei de traduceri, considernd c tendina actual de
cretere uoar se va schimba n bine sau se va menine.
Aceste concluzii coincid cu statisticile internaionale care
arat c, la nivel global, piaa de servicii de traducere a
crescut anual cu 5-7%, unele ri raportnd creteri de 7-
10%, i se ateapt ca, n viitor, aceast cretere uoar la
nivel global s se menin n jurul valorii de 7,5%, cel puin
pn n anul 2011. Sectorul de traduceri din rile europene
din zona non-euro a prezentat n ultimii ani o dezvoltare
peste medie, favorizat de fora de munc ieftin, de
costurile sczute, precum i de dezvoltarea economic a
regiunii. Considerm c sectorul de traduceri din Romnia
va urma aceeai traiectorie, existnd un potenial de
dezvoltare considerabil.
(Cobli, C., Tendine de evoluie ale pieei de traduceri din
Romnia, 2008: 20)

Text 9.
Traducerea lucrrii s-a fcut pe baza terminologiei
oficializate n Romnia prin standardele de specialitate; s-a

12
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INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

inut ns seama i de limbajul tehnic utilizat n mod curent


n practica proiectrii i executrii instalaiilor.
Cu ocazia traducerii s-a considerat util s se fac n
limitele convenite cu autorii i Editura Springer - i o
adaptare a lucrrii pentru condiiile tehnice din ara noastr.
Adaptarea a constat n principal n precizarea n text. Prin
note de traductor (N.T.), a principalelor date tehnice
privind caracteristice unor elemente de instalaii i
prevederile unor prescripii de proiectare i de execuie
specifice pentru ara noastr.
.....................................
Dat fiind tradiia lucrrii, s-a cutat s se pstreze forma
de prezentare ct mai apropiat de ediia german i din
aceast cauz s-a pstrat clasificarea tablei de materii din
textul original precum i semnele convenionale ale
elementelor de instalaii, introducndu-se suplimentar
numerotarea tabelelor din text.
(Rietschel/Raiss, Tehnica nclzirii i ventilrii, Ed. tehnic, Bucureti,
1967: 10)

Text 10.
Aproape toat lumea consider azi c un defect
general al discursului public romnesc i mai cu seam al
celui din mass-media e gradul crescut de subiectivitate; se
observ c autorii i stpnesc cu greu propriile porniri,
simpatii i antipatii i nu reuesc dect rareori s gseasc
echilibrul adevratului profesionism, tonul neutru al
informaiei; personalitatea fiecruia este
supradimensionat, vorbitorul este tentat s dea verdicte,
lecii, s cread c opiniile sale sunt de cel mai mare interes
pentru potenialii interlocutori. Comparaia ntre diverse
tipuri de texte publicistice romneti i corespondentele lor
din presa strin e un prilej de a sesiza diferene i de a
ntri opiniile de mai sus.
(Rodica Zafiu, Diversitate stilistic n romna actual, EUB, 2001)

Text 11.
Nevoia de reglementare n domeniu decurge din importana
i necesitatea de a clarifica rolul i locul traductorului i al
interpretului, att n sistemul judiciar, ct i pentru nevoi
13
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oficiale. Meninerea sistemului eclectic existent nu


corespunde situaiei actuale, cnd importana activitii de
traducere i interpretariat a crescut, orice inadverten
putnd afecta buna desfurare a unor activiti n care
intervin tot mai multe persoane ce cunosc limbi diferite.
Activitatea de traduceri i interpretare se desfoar,
n prezent, fr supravegherea i controlul necesare,
ncercrile de a nfiina structuri profesionale asociative nu
au avut rezultate corespunztoare, iar faptul c notarii, prin
Uniunea Naional a Notarilor Publici ncearc s
reglememnteze activitatea de traduceri nu d rezultate,
notarii neavnd autoritatea i competena necesare.
(Extras din Legea traductorilor i interpreilor, Expunere
de motive, p. 1)

Textul 12.
Profesia de traductor autorizat este menionat n legea
200/2004 i n HG 1921/2004 ca profesie liberal
reglementat. Nici unul din cele dou acte normative nu
menioneaz profesia de traductor/interpret, aa cum a
fost introdus la propunerea notarilor publici. De fapt, cele
dou profesii sunt de sine stttoare, avnd norme proprii
de exercitare. Mai mult, cele dou reglementri vorbesc
despre profesii liberale reglementate, dar legea 178/1997,
privind traductorii, modificat i completat prin Legea
281/2004, se refer numai la autorizarea i plata
traductorilor, nu reglementeaz i activitatea acestora,
fapt care face necesar legea de fa. n present,
autorizarea traductorului se d pe baza studiilor filologice
universitare i pe baza unui examen scris organizat de
Ministerul Culturii, pe baza cruia se obine un certificate de
traductor/interpret, lucru absolute incorect, avnd n
vedere diferenele majore dintre cele dou profesii.
n rile care utilizeaz sistemul de traduceri i
interpretariat pe baz de autorizaie, acesta se refer numai
la personae care sunt folosite, n acest scop, de ctre
instituiile judiciare, notari i organe oficiale. La selecie, se
are n vedere nivelul de pregtire al persoanelor respective,
disponibilitatea i capacitatea de comunicare, s aib studii
superioare, de preferin n filologie, eventual i de drept.
14
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Traductorii i interpreii care nu lucreaz n sistemul


juridic, sunt autorizai i funcioneaz pe baza dreptului
comun.
Astfel de reglementri exist n ri ca Frana, Italia,
Irlanda, Spania, Brazilia, Belgia, Olanda, n aparatul ONU,
dar i n ri din Europa Central i de Est.
(Extras din Legea traductorilor i interpreilor, Expunere de
motive, p. 1)

Text 13.
Pe msur ce lucram mpreun cu Tatiana, la versiunea n
limba romn a crii de fa, am avut revelaia urmtorului
fapt: acesta este manualul de leadership al schimbrii
adaptive a educaiei n Romnia! Acum tim cum se face, ca
la carte. Din acest moment, ca membri responsabili i
competeni ai societii, putem orchestra i nfptui eficient
schimbarea adaptiv a Educaiei pe baza unui model solid
documentat, din care invm s gestionm cu succes o
extraordinar provocare de leadership.
Drept pentru care am decis s comit, asumndu-mi-l, un
gest fr precedent pentru mine, n seria volumelor ngrijite
pn acum: acela de a pune explicit aceast carte n
serviciul celui mai complex dintre proiectele transformrii
Romniei de azi, transformarea colii ca sistem. i voi face
acest lucru propunndu-v drept cheie de lectur a
textului lui Dean Williams tema colii pe bune. coala pe
bune nseamn o coal autentic, adic o coal care
cultiv valori, folosete i place.
Fie c ne place sau nu, fie c suntem de acord sau nu,
patru indicatori importani din surse independente ntre ele
plaseaz Romnia n lume i n Europa aa cum ne arat
tabelul urmtor.
(Dean Williams, Leadership real, traducerea Chera Tatiana, pref. De Sta
Marian, Codex, Bucureti 2005: xii)

Text 14.
Privit ca activitate subsumat, terminologia este
frecvent considerat n acelai timp, o activitate necesar
preliminar precum i un sub-produs al traducerii
specializate.
15
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Este evident c un traductor care nu are o anumit


specializare nu are viitor. Dotat cu surse de consultare
terminologic importate sau produse de el nsui, de cte
ori face o traducere specializat, traductorul profesionist
profit pentru a-i mbunti baza terminologic. O baz
terminologic asigur calitatea unei traduceri, n primul
rnd, omogenitatea acesteia. Un text specializat este
extrem de recurent din punct de vedere terminologic. Exist
sisteme de traducere asistat, aa numitele sisteme cu
memorie de traducere, care asigur productivitatea
activitii de traducere, cci asigur posibilitatea echivalrii
automate n limba-int (a segmentelor recunoscute cci
sunt deja consemnate n memorie).
n acelai timp, terminologia este un produs al
traducerii cci traducerea este un loc strategic pentru
neologie (crearea de noi termeni). Traductorii sunt printre
primii confruntai cu noii termeni n limba-surs i cu noile
concepte, pentru care meseria i constrnge s propun un
echivalent (o perifraz sau un neologism). Traductorii sunt
neografi avizai, ei au o contiin lingvistic i aptitudinea
de a forma neologisme corecte. Neologismele create de
traductor apar imediat ntr-un context real de comunicare,
adic mediul care favorizeaz o propagare natural a noilor
termeni.
(Busuioc, Ileana, Mdlina Cucu, Introducere n ,
http://ebooks.unibuc.ro/filologie/terminologie/frameset14.htm)

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

REVISION EXERCISES

1. Translate the following texts in pairs and


discuss with your partner about their degree of
difficulty:

(a) Calculatoarele sunt n mod frecvent folosite la


rezolvarea problemelor tiinifice, tehnice i economice.
Ele sunt capabile s efectueze rapid calculele, s dea
rezultate cu mare precizie, s memoreze o mare
cantitate de informaie i s efectueze calcule lungi i
complicate fr intervenia omului. O imagine a tipurilor
de probleme pe care le poate rezolva un calculator
rezult din urmtoarele exemple.

(b) Autorul Amintirilor a intrat de timpuriu n curentul de


generos patriotism al romnilor bucovineni. El renvie
atmosfera iluminist a primei jumti a secolului al
XIX-lea, creat n jurul unei familii de crturari umaniti
aa cum au fost boierii Hurmuzachi. Cu deosebit
respect i pioenie povestete memorialistul despre V.
Alecsandri, Costache Negri i alii...
(Iraclie Porumbescu 1978: 16)

(c) Categoriile de obiectiv i subiectiv n viaa social au


coninutul i funciile lor specifice n cercetarea i
explicarea fenomenelor sociale, a determinismului
social. Noiunile de condiii sociale obiective i factor
subiectiv se definesc n legtur cu activitatea uman
transformatoare, servesc explicrii structurii societii,
dar mai ales a procesului schimbrii ei prin aciunea
oamenilor.
(V. Popescu, Determinismul social. Obiectiv i subiectiv
n procesul dezvoltrii sociale)

(d) Dac semantica i lexicografia au, din acest punct de


vedere, o situaie oarecum privilegiat deoarece s-a
subliniat necontenit importana contextului (dei nu s-a
aplicat suficient referirea la context ca metod) -, n
schimb n lucrrile de gramatic nu numai c s-a studiat
foarte puin rolul contextului i influena lui
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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

determinativ, ci, ceva mai mult, n gramatici se


amintete rar despre importana contextului.
(Tatiana-Slama Cazacu, Limbaj i context, Ed. tiinific,
1959: 300)

ADDITIONAL EXERCISES

2. Match the English proverbs in column A to their


Romanian equivalents in column B and decide
whether each matching is an instance of
domestication (D), foreignization (F) or full
equivalence (F.E.).

A B D/F/F.
E.
a) There is many a slip 1.n orice zvon este
between cup and i o smn de
lip. adevr.
b) There is a kernel of 2.Vecinul apropiat
truth in any rumour. este mai bun dect
fratele din alt sat.
c) The cup calls the 3.Un mr pe zi te
kettle black. ferete de doctor.
d) An apple a day 4.Multe se pot ntmpla
keeps the doctor ntr-un interval de timp
foarte scurt.
away.
e) A near friend is 5.Rde hrb/ciob de
better than a far- oal spart.
dwelling kinsman.
Answers:

3. Underline the correct word to fill in the blanks


and provide the best translation of the texts
below:

Dei o parte din mulime In spite of


ddu crezare acestor /despite/although a part
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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

vorbe frumoase, cteva of the


sute de nemulumii nu crowd/multitude/mob
se lsar nelai de believed these beautiful
minciunile lui Josephus. words, a few hundreds of
Acetia se apropiar de dissatisfied
casa lui pregtindu-se s- /discontented /deluded
i dea foc. wouldnt leave
themselves cheated/
taken in/mocked by
Josephuss lies. They
came close to his house
Josephus reui s-l atrag getting ready to set it on
n cas pe capul fire/fire it/light it.
turbulenilor. Josephus succeeded in
bringing the
Din ordinul su, acesta fu head/captain/conductor
biciuit pn la snge, i se of the turbulent into the
tie o mn i astfel house.
mutilat fu aruncat n Out of his order he was
mijlocul mulimii care se whipped to bleeding, had
mprtie cuprins de one of his hands cut off
groaz. and thus mutilated he was
thrown in the middle of
the crowd who
dissipated/scattered/sp
read away/ran away
seized with
terror/fear/horror.

Dac un ritm mai Whether/if/that a more


rapid este eficient pentru rapid rhythm is
Cehia, mi se pare normal, efficient/efficacious for
dar nu cred c trebuie s the Czech republic seems
ne comparm cu Cehia normal to me, but I
sau s privatizm att de hardly/dont think we
repede numai ca s fim should compare with the
ca ei. Czech republic or to
privatize that/so soon
Privatizrile rapide only to be like them.

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

au nsemnate efecte Fast/rapid/hasty


sociale de care trebuie privatizations have
inut cont. significant/ meaningful
social effects which
i dac problemele should be considered/
care apar pot fi evitate, kept in mind.
viitorul poate fi mai sigur. And if the problems which
occur can/may be
avoided, the future
may/can be more secure.

De civa ani buni, la For quite a few years/


Universitatea Harvard, some quite long years,
am privilegiul s triesc o at Harvard University, I
experien pedagogic de have/have had the
excepie, din care nv chance/
continuu lecia intens a opportunity/honour/pri
iubirii fa de Educaie, i vilege to be
unde, mpreun cu living/live/share an
mentorii i colegii mei exceptional pedagogic
conjugm n fapt, cu experience/experiment
bucurie, un verb de out of which I have been
cpti: a ne psa. Nou continuously/endlessly/
ne pas de discipolii pe continually learning the
care i avem n grij. i intense lesson of love of
atunci rspunsul lor nu se Education, and where,
las deloc ateptat, la fel together with my mentors
de intens i autentic. and colleagues/ mates,
we actually joyfully
conjugate a
basic/fundamental/
blatantly important
verb: to care. We do care
about the disciples we
have been entrusted
with/held responsible
for/given to work with.
And then their
answer/reply/retort is

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TRANSLATIONS OF SPECIALIST TEXTS
SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE EXCERPTS.
INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

not late/belayed at all,


equally
intense/dense/solid and
authentic.

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