English Language and Translation II (mod B)Translation Theory and Practice

Module B part 2 – Translation Practice

• Translation into B language/L2 (IT>EN) for tourism

• Link(s) between theory and practice

• Range of activities - take-home assignments - text analysis - preparation and presentation - vocabulary expansion, reformulation, etc.

Module B part 2 – Translation Practice

• Metalanguage - L1/A (Italian); L2/B (English)

- SL/ST and TL/TT - ESP

- Parallel texts

• Key areas to develop further - vocabulary et al.

- grammar (accuracy and correctness) - culture-bound elements and references

AWARENESS OF MAIN FEATURES OF TOURIST TEXTS

Tourist texts…

…”consist of a variety of publications produced by Tourist Boards, city councils and private enterprises to promote

a given locality, its tourist attractions, services and facilities” (Laviosa&Cleverton 2003:59)

Leaflets

Flyers

Magazines

Visitor guides

(booklet and/or

brochure) Descriptive panels

Posters

Tourist texts…

Appellative Informative

* Jakobson and his categorisation of “functions”

Main functions (=)

Wide-ranging language domains (=)

Architecture

History of art

History

Geography

Sports

Gastronomy Culture and traditions

Economics

AIDA

Capture Attention

Maintain Interest

Create Desire

Get Action

Monolingual English dictionary

• Bilingual dictionary: no longer enough

• English monolingual + thesaurus = very useful resources! Use them effectively!

• but…how can I choose the right dictionary?

paperback editions, NOT pocket-sized ones! look at macro/microstructure…

…what about online dictionaries?

English dictionaries

Bilingual dictionaries

Garzanti Linguistica: http://garzantilinguistica.sapere.it/

Hoepli: http://dizionari.repubblica.it/

Monolingual dictionaries

Cambridge online: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

Merriam-Webster online: http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Oxford online: http://oxforddictionaries.com/

• Stylistic adjustments

• Synctactic restructuring

• Lexical simplification

• Cultural adaptation

Tourist texts… IT > EN

Style (≠)

ITA-ST EN-ST

- Impersonal and more formal style - More vivid descriptions and figurative/evocative language, glossy pictures

- Personal and informal style, e.g. use of imperative (more engaging)- More informative

Step into our world and

discover three beautiful

seaside towns and

breathtaking scenery

Enjoy the freedom of touring by

bike…

Lasciatevi emozionar

eda questi vini, dalla loro storia,

dalloro

sapore…

…il Salento è metafora di una felice

adesione della storia

e della natura ai

desideri del viaggiatore

Style (=)

ITA-ST EN-ST

-Thematisation of place and time adverbials (slightly marked)

* Thematisation of object / complement (slightly marked)

- Fronting of non-finite temporal clauses gerund, temp prep + simple/past infin, past participle

- Fronted themes (slightly marked). Adverbials are fairly mobile

* Predicated themes (highly marked) cleft structure

- -ing form, temporal prep+ -ing form

In una posizione privilegiata e proteso verso il golfo di Trieste si erge il Castello di Miramare nobile dimora voluta dall’Arciduca Massimiliano d’Asburgo.

** In uno dei luoghi più incantevoli della Toscana, all’ombra delle maestose Alpi Apuane, si snoda la “Strada del marmo”.

Tre volte bombardato tra il 1943 e il 1945, l’antico edificio è stato letteralmente avvolto dalla nuova architettura

In a prominent positionoverlooking the Gulf of Trieste stands the Castle ofMiramare, the royalresidence built at the behestof Habsburg ArchdukeMaximilian.

** The “Marble Route” wends itsway through one of the mostenchanting places in TuscanyIn the shadow of the majesticApuan Alps.

Bombarded three timesbetween 1943 and 1945, the old building has been literallysurrounded by the new architecture

MARKED STRUCTURES

Il centro storico merita una passeggiata e camminando tra le caratteristiche vie e vicoletti, si può notare che sulle architravi di numerose abitazioni, sono ancora presenti epigrafi settecentesche.

Di notevole importanza naturalistico-ambientale è il lago di Montepulciano…

It is well worth taking a stroll along the characteristicstreets and lanes in the old-town centre, where 18th centuryinscriptions can still be seen on the lintels of many houses.

Of considerable naturalistic-environmental importance is the lake of Montepulciano…

NORMALISED STRUCTURESInteressanti infine le sculture in legno appoggiate ai pilastri della navata centrale, forse opera di Francesco da Valdambrino

The wooden sculptures against the pilasters of the central nave are interesting; they are possibly the work of Francesco da Valdambrino.

Starting at sea-level at Llandudno, this single track line climbs its way up the beautiful Lledr valleys…

Dopo aver avvistato la fertile valle coltivata ai piedi di Luras, il paesaggio intorno a noi

accentua sempre più il suo aspetto accidentato e boscoso…

Syntax: long sentences [I]

Questo agile vademecum dei percorsi gastronomici del Friuli Venezia Giulia, compendio di gusto, storia e tradizione, vuole essere un viatico per chi parte, perché non si dimentichi i luoghi e i sapori della sua terra d’origine,e anche una facile guida per chi arriva per la prima volta, affinché possa gustare, con la mente e con il corpo, tutto quanto gli offre questa regione ospitale.

This easy-to-consult handbook of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s food and wine routes is a compendium of taste and tradition.

It aims to be a guide for those who are leaving, so they will not forget the places and flavours of their homeland.

It is also a handy introduction for first-time visitors, giving their minds and bodies a sample of all the delights this friendly region has to offer.

Syntax: long sentences [II]

Di volta in volta i panorami di Trieste possono essere ricchi dei colori caldi della bella stagione come possono essere impregnati dei grigi dell’autunno e dell’inverno; il mare poi, onnipresente, è per sua natura mutevole e, congiunto ai fattori sopra elencati, favorisce la potenzialità del territorio di essere sempre nuovo e passibile di riscoperte.

The panoramas of Trieste can be rich in the warm colours of summer, just as they can be impregnated with the greys of autumn and winter.

And the sea is ever-present.

Together with the factors mentioned above, its constantly changing nature gives this territory the potential to be ever new, always there to be rediscovered.

Syntax: long sentences [III]

La zona di San Daniele ha una sua aria speciale: riesce infatti a conservare in perfetto stato, da più di cinquecento anni, i codici della Guarneriana, è fondamentale per dare un sapore unico all’omonimo prosciutto e fa in modo che un prodotto semplice, la trota, diventi eccelso come Regina di San Daniele.

The air in San Daniele is very special.

For more than five hundred years, it has perfectly conserved the manuscripts in the Guarneriana library and it is equally crucial for the flavour it imparts to San Daniele’s Prosciutto Crudo (air-cured ham).

That same air makes a simple product – trout – into a delicacy known as the Regina di San Daniele.

Key strategy

Simplify the Italian wording

BEFORE

translating into English

Culture-bound terms

Original English guides

Siena has 17 contrade (districts). Each contrada holds an annual parade and the alfieri, the famous flag throwers, can often be seenpractising in the streets.

Translated English guides (from Italian)

- Convention: translate as much as possible in the target language- Words normally borrowed and used on their own: names of

people, places, local food and wine produce. Other instances of loan words often followed by a translation in brackets.

English translation of Italian culture-bound words

ST TT

Campo dei Miracoli Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles)

…fa la sua comparsa un certo “castello Politiano”

…a certain “Politian Castle” made its appearance

Lago di Montepulciano Lake of Montepulciano

Il Papa Marcello II dei Cervini Pope Marcello II dei Cervini

Chiesa di Santa Lucia Church of St Lucy

Le statue di San Giovanni Battista, Santa Caterina da Siena, San Giorgio e Sant’Agnese

Statues of St John the Baptist, St Catherine of Siena, St George and St Agnes

Ad Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio di deve il progetto rinascimentale del tempio di San Biagio

The design of the Renaissance Temple of St Blaise is owed to Antonio Da Sangallo the Elder

Loan words

ST TT

Nobile da Montepulciano, primo vino italiano ad avere ottenuto il Sigillo di Origine Controllata e Garantita

Nobile di Montepulsiano, the first Italian wine to have obtained the DOC (Controlled Appellation of Origin)

Val d’Orcia Val d’Orcia

Porta al Prato Porta al Prato

Piazza delle Erbe Piazza delle Erbe

Un vino … che nasce da un accurato e paziente dosaggio di uve canaiolo nero, prugnolo gentile, mammolo, trebbiano toscano e malvasia del Chianti

This wine … originates from a painstaking and patient dosing of black canaiolo grapes, gentle prugnolo, mammolo, Tuscan trebbiano and malvasia del Chianti

References

Laviosa, S. & V. Cleverton (2003) Learning byTranslating. A Course in Translation: English to Italian& Italian to English, Modugno: Edizioni dal Sud