TRANSLATION

MODELS
CLASS 4
DEFINITION OF MODEL:

■ According to Laramée and Vallée (1991), the term "model" is used for "any conceptual
representation or explanation of a phenomenon", knowing that the main difference
between the models for the translation process lies in the acceptance of term
"translation“.
The interpretive model of translation

The Interpretive Theory of Translation known as the "Theory of Sense" was developed by
the researchers (interpreters and translators) Danica Seleskovitch and Marianne Lederer.
In the vision of the followers of the interpretative model, the translation process has three
stages:
■ Understanding,
■ Deverbalization
■ Re-expression of the meaning of the text / speech with the precision that the translator
must adapt to the knowledge of the target audience.
Deverbalization allows then the re-expression of the message in another language, in a
naturally way and adapted to the needs of the receiver of the message. The fact that
different languages have different structures, requires a translation based on the meaning
expressed by equivalence.
The translation approach consists of three steps: "understanding, reformulation and
justification."
The functional model:

■ The Functional School developed another important trend that influenced the
understanding of the process of translation. This current comes from the functional
model of description of the translation process theorized by researchers as Juliane
House or Reiβ and Vermeer (focusing on the types of texts: "operative", "expressive"
and "informative").
■ Translation is considered an act of communication, where the translator's role is to
interpret the source text and translate it into a new version for a new target.
■ In contrast with faithfulness, loyalty is exercised with respect towards the people, also
with respect for the author and represents the result of negotiation among the author, the
receiver, the person who asked for the translation, and the translator.
■ The first analysis that the translator has to perform is to analyse the function of the
target text that consists in presenting the factors to ensure the receipt of the translated
text by a target audience, in a given situation, called SITT ("target situation").
■ The second analysis is that of the source text, performed in two stages :
■ in the first stage, the translator must be aware of the hardware compatibility of the
source text with the requirements contained in the instructions translation;
■ in the second stage, the translator will engage into a detailed analysis with the aim of
understanding the source text while paying special attention to restore the function of
the target text.
The experimental model:

■ The empirical models are developed starting with the 80s and are advanced from the
research based on the observation of "mental mechanisms used in the translation
process“.
■ The basic problem of formulating an adequate theory of translation is the fact that
translation actually takes place in our brains, and we do not know precisely what
actually happens.
Principles of translation:

■ A language is a series of verbal habits that represent aspects of a culture. No one

speaker possesses a complete inventory of the signs and the structures of a living
language.
■ The meaning of a verbal symbol is defined indirectly by all contrastive symbols.
■ Within any symbolic system the context normally contains more information than any
focal term. This means that the different contexts are maximized and the functions of
specific terms are minimized.
■ There are no complete synonyms within a language or between different language. But
such sets of synonyms are normally limited to a restricted set of contexts.
■ All languages and cultures are continually in the process of change, and such changes
occur on all levels of structure.
■ For translators and interpreters probably the most important part of their training is the
thorough knowledge of different referential classes: entities (people, stars, mountains,
rivers, plants), activities (think, speak, walk, swim, dance), states (dead, alive, tired,
happy), processes (die, sicken, degenerate, improve), characteristics (large, small,
attractive), and relationals (and, or, nevertheless, but),
■ Some universal models of discourse are very important for translators and interpreters.
The four most important classes of discourse are narration, description, argumentation,
and conversation.
Translation Techniques / Procedures:

■ The following are the different translation procedures that Newmark (1988b)
proposes:

■ • Transference: it is the process of transferring an SL word to a TL text. It includes

transliteration and is the same as what Harvey (2000:5) named "transcription.“

■ • Naturalization: it adapts the SL word first to the normal pronunciation, then to

the normal morphology of the TL. (Newmark, 1988b:82)

■ • Cultural equivalent: it means replacing a cultural word in the SL with a TL one.

however, "they are not accurate“. (Newmark, 1988b:83)
■ • Functional equivalent: it requires the use of a culture-neutral word.
(Newmark, 1988b:83)

■ • Descriptive equivalent: in this procedure the meaning of the CBT is explained

in several words. (Newmark, 1988b:83)

■ • Componential analysis: it means "comparing an SL word with a TL word which

has a similar meaning but is not an obvious one-to-one equivalent, by
demonstrating first their common and then their differing sense components."
(Newmark, 1988b:114)
■ Synonymy: it is a "near TL equivalent." Here economy trumps accuracy. (Newmark, 1988b:84)

■ • Through-translation: it is the literal translation of common collocations, names of organizations

and components of compounds. It can also be called: calque or loan translation. (Newmark,
1988b:84)

■ • Shifts or transpositions: it involves a change in the grammar from SL to TL, for instance, (i)
change from singular to plural, (ii) the change required when a specific SL structure does not
exist in the TL, (iii) change of an SL verb to a TL word, change of an SL noun group to a TL noun
and so forth. (Newmark, 1988b:86)

■ • Modulation: it occurs when the translator reproduces the message of the original text in the TL
text in conformity with the current norms of the TL, since the SL and the TL may appear
dissimilar in terms of perspective. (Newmark, 1988b:88)
■ • Recognized translation: it occurs when the translator "normally uses the official or the
generally accepted translation of any institutional term." (Newmark, 1988b:89)

■ • Compensation: it occurs when loss of meaning in one part of a sentence is compensated in

another part. (Newmark, 1988b:90)

■ • Paraphrase: in this procedure the meaning of the CBT is explained. Here the explanation is
much more detailed than that of descriptive equivalent. (Newmark, 1988b:91)

■ • Couplets: it occurs when the translator combines two different procedures. (Newmark,
1988b:91)

■ • Notes: notes are additional information in a translation. (Newmark, 1988b:91)

Different approaches to classifying
Translation Techniques:
According to Vinay and Darbelnet (1958):
Stylistique Comparée du francais et de l’anglais (SCFA) was the first classification of
translation techniques that had a clear methodological purpose. They defined seven basic
procedures operating on three levels of style: Lexis, Distribution (morphology and syntax)
and Message.
The procedures were classified as Literal Translation and Oblique Translation.
■ Literal Translation occurs when there is an exact structural, lexical or
phonological equivalence between two languages.
■ Borrowing: A word taken directly from another language
■ Calque: A foreign word or phrase translated and incorporated into
another language.
■ Literal Translation: Word for word translation.
■ Oblique Translation occurs when word for word translation is impossible.
■ Transposition: A shift of word class.
■ Modulation: A shift in point of view.
■ Equivalence: This accounts for the same situation using a completely
different phrase.
■ Adaptation: A shift in cultural environment.
Operative Technical Procedures:

■ Omission is to avoid redundancy and repetition.

■ Displacement and Inversion is where two elements change positions.
Examples:
Strategies at word level:
The following are some examples of strategies used by professional translators.

■ 1. Translation by a more general word (superordinate).

■ SLT: Shampoo the hair with mild WELLA SHAMPOO and lightly towel dry
■ TLT: Lavar el cabello con un champú suave de WELLA y frotar ligeramente con una
toalla.
■ 2. Translation by a more neutral, less expressive word.
■ SLT: Uno de los asistentes, hombre simpático, de verbo ágil, buen conversador, se
hallaba en el uso de la palabra.
■ TLT: One of the guests, a nice man, a gifted speaker, and a good conversationalist, was
speaking.
3. Translation by cultural substitution.
SLT: En el pequeño despacho del Juzgado de Guardia, el juez, con traje negro un poco desgastado, firme y
firme.
TLT: In the small office of the Magistrate's Court, the J.P., wearing a worn black suit, was signing papers.
4. Translation using a loan word (plus explanation).
SLT: Las estelas de "Los Danzantes" en Monte Albán, Oaxaca, fechadas entre 600 y 300 a.C. constituyen en
el Nuevo Mundo el más antiguo registrode aconteceres.
TLT: The stelae known as danzantes (dancers) at Mount Alban in the Oaxaca Valley constitute the oldest
known chronicle (600-300 B.C.) of the New World.
5. Translation by paraphrase.
SLT: Su padre es el legendario cantaor José Reyes.
TLT: His father is the legendary flamenco composer and singer José Reyes.
■ Literal translation images.pptx
Activity 1:
Translate the following text into Spanish.

Original English Paragraph

Carlos and Alexandra go shopping frequently. Alex tries on expensive dresses at the store, but
Carlos does not get angry. Usually, she does not spend a lot of money, but she takes a long time
shopping. Alex goes to the fitting room, she undresses, she tries on several dresses of famous
designers, she looks at herself in the mirror, and she forgets about Carlos. He gets tired of
waiting, sits on a sofa, and falls asleep. While Carlos sleeps, Alex goes to the shoe department
and puts on several pairs of shoes. Then she goes to the perfume and makeup section, and she
buys herself several beauty products. She knows Carlos does not get upset because she does not
spend too much money. Later, Alex says good-bye to the saleslady, and she meets Carlos. He
wakes up. He is surprised because Alex is carrying many packages, and he worries a bit. Alex says
she does not spend too much money, and Carlos calms down. They go to the cafeteria, and they
have an afternoon snack. As usual, it is late, and they decide it is not worth it to go to the men's
department.
THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF
TRANSLATION:
Original English Paragraph

Carlos and Alexandra go shopping frequently. Alex tries on expensive dresses at the store, but
Carlos does not get angry. Usually, she does not spend a lot of money, but she takes a long time
shopping. Alex goes to the fitting room, she undresses, she tries on several dresses of famous
designers, she looks at herself in the mirror, and she forgets about Carlos. He gets tired of
waiting, sits on a sofa, and falls asleep. While Carlos sleeps, Alex goes to the shoe department
and puts on several pairs of shoes. Then she goes to the perfume and makeup section, and she
buys herself several beauty products. She knows Carlos does not get upset because she does not
spend too much money. Later, Alex says good-bye to the saleslady, and she meets Carlos. He
wakes up. He is surprised because Alex is carrying many packages, and he worries a bit. Alex says
she does not spend too much money, and Carlos calms down. They go to the cafeteria, and they
have an afternoon snack. As usual, it is late, and they decide it is not worth it to go to the men's
department.
CORRECTED TRANSLATION:
The "Corrected" Translation

Carlos y Alexandra van de compras (1) [S]frecuentemente[/S] a menudo. Alex se

prueba los vestidos caros (2) en de la tienda (3) , pero Carlos no se
enoja. (4) Usualmente Generalmente, ella no gasta mucho dinero, pero (5), (6) & (7) toma un
largo tiempo de compras se demora mucho tiempo comprando. Alex va al probador, se desviste,
se prueba (8) algunos varios vestidos de diseñadores famosos, se mira en el espejo, y se
olvida (9) sobre de Carlos. Él se cansa de esperar, se sienta en un sofá, y se duerme.
Mientras (10) que Carlos duerme, Alex (11) se va a la zapatería y se pone (8) algunos varios pares
de zapatos. (12) Entonces Después, ella (11) se va a la sección de (13) perfumería y maquillaje,
y (14) se compra (15) para su misma algunos productos de belleza. Ella Sabe que Carlos no
se (16) disgusta enoja porque ella no gasta (17) demasiado mucho dinero. (18) Más tarde Luego,
Alex se despide (19) a de la vendedora, y se (20) encontra a reúne con Carlos. Él se
despierta. (21) Él está sorprendiéndose Se sorprende porque ella está llevando Alex lleva muchos
paquetes, y él se preocupa un poco. Alex dice que ella no gasta (17) demasiado mucho dinero, y
Carlos se tranquiliza.Ellos (11) Se van a una la cafetería, y (22) comen una merienda meriendan.
Como (23) & (24) siempre de costumbre ya es tarde, y ellos deciden que no vale la pena (25) a ir
al visitar el departamento de caballeros.
Source:

Stiegelbauer, L. et al. (2016). Three translation model approaches. Research gate, 12

(3), 45-50.
Nida, E. (2006). Theories of translation. Pliegos de yuste, 1 (4), 11-14.