GRM 355GRM 355Stunde 9Stunde 9

Chapter 11: Chapter 11:

Scientific & Technical Scientific & Technical Translation.Translation.

Hervey, pp. 133-44Hervey, pp. 133-44

I. The Problem:I. The Problem:

Scientific and technological texts are so Scientific and technological texts are so very unfamiliar for many language very unfamiliar for many language students -> clear illustrations of two students -> clear illustrations of two important points:important points:– 1. The translator must be -- or become -- just 1. The translator must be -- or become -- just

as familiar with the technical terms and as familiar with the technical terms and genre-featuresgenre-features in the TL as in the SL. in the TL as in the SL.

– 2. The problems met in translating specialist 2. The problems met in translating specialist texts include almost all those met in texts include almost all those met in translating in any other genre, specialized or translating in any other genre, specialized or not. not.

II. Inaccessibility of most II. Inaccessibility of most technical textstechnical texts

Most technical texts Most technical texts are relatively are relatively inaccessible to non-inaccessible to non-specialist readers. specialist readers. Ultimately, this Ultimately, this inaccesibility is inaccesibility is conceptual in nature:conceptual in nature:

I don’t get it.

It’s all conceptual, Dude!

Inaccessibility of technical Inaccessibility of technical texts (cont’d)texts (cont’d)

1. the expert in any technical 1. the expert in any technical subject has, over a period of years, subject has, over a period of years, absorbed a mass of practical absorbed a mass of practical scientific & technical knowledge that scientific & technical knowledge that has become part of the general has become part of the general background and so does not become background and so does not become explicit in discussions.explicit in discussions.

Master Yoda, it is not necessary to

explain the Heisenberg Uncertainty

Principle to me, for I have

absorbed a mass of knowledge of

this already.

Hopeless, he is, Obe

Wan…learn much he must, but

hard headed,

hard headed

Inaccessibility of technical Inaccessibility of technical texts (cont’d)texts (cont’d)

2. beyond this 2. beyond this general competence, general competence, there is the there is the knowledge of the knowledge of the individual specialty - individual specialty - shared by a much shared by a much smaller class of smaller class of individuals but still individuals but still often taken for often taken for granted when granted when specialists talk to specialists talk to specialists.specialists.

We may have different specialties, but we all know how

to fight criminals and launder Spandex!

Inaccessibility of technical Inaccessibility of technical texts (cont’d)texts (cont’d)

3. Further dimension: it is not only 3. Further dimension: it is not only the concepts themselves that have the concepts themselves that have to be understood, but also the logic to be understood, but also the logic of the discipline, its method of of the discipline, its method of argumentation, the ways in which its argumentation, the ways in which its concepts relate to each other.concepts relate to each other.

Specialist terminology of Specialist terminology of technical languages technical languages

III.The best place for new translators to III.The best place for new translators to start to become familiar with the start to become familiar with the disciplines concerned is the specialist disciplines concerned is the specialist terminology of the technical languages.terminology of the technical languages.

Tell me, Grasshopper, why

I really should get

more familiar with the technical

language of quantum physics!

IV. Lexical problems < IV. Lexical problems < specialized use of technical specialized use of technical

terms:terms: 1. terms are not used in everyday, ordinary 1. terms are not used in everyday, ordinary

language and are consequently unfamiliar to the language and are consequently unfamiliar to the lay translator;lay translator;

2. terms whose ordinary2. terms whose ordinary uses are familiar to uses are familiar to the translator, but which are manifestly used in the translator, but which are manifestly used in some other, technicallysome other, technically specialized way in the ST.specialized way in the ST.

3. a term may have an ordinary, everyday 3. a term may have an ordinary, everyday sense that is not obviously wrong in the context. sense that is not obviously wrong in the context. This is the most dangerous sort of case. This is the most dangerous sort of case.

Technical LexicaTechnical Lexica

V. Access to up-to-dateV. Access to up-to-date specialist specialist dictionaries and databases is dictionaries and databases is essential for technical translators - essential for technical translators - even if not always a sufficient even if not always a sufficient safeguard, as scientific and safeguard, as scientific and technological fields and terminology technological fields and terminology are constantly developing.are constantly developing.

VI. Two complicating VI. Two complicating factors:factors:

1. minor one: even established 1. minor one: even established technical terms are occasionally used technical terms are occasionally used loosely or informally in technical texts.loosely or informally in technical texts.

2. conceptual problems: knowledge 2. conceptual problems: knowledge gaps may concern the facts known and gaps may concern the facts known and taken for granted - and therefore never taken for granted - and therefore never spelled out; or they may have to do spelled out; or they may have to do with the discipline’swith the discipline’s logic, in particular logic, in particular the relationship between conceptsthe relationship between concepts

Special Characteristics of Special Characteristics of Scientific & Technical languageScientific & Technical language

Scientific and technical language is impersonal: in Scientific and technical language is impersonal: in principle at least, it does not use connotation or principle at least, it does not use connotation or suggestion.suggestion.

It is clear, precise and compact.It is clear, precise and compact. The prime virtues of a translation are accuracy & The prime virtues of a translation are accuracy &

clarity, and consistency is also important.clarity, and consistency is also important. Implications of mistranslation are generally more Implications of mistranslation are generally more

serious in technical translation, where a simple serious in technical translation, where a simple error can cause financial loss or even endanger error can cause financial loss or even endanger structures & lives.structures & lives.

It is often necessary to attach a legal disclaimer to It is often necessary to attach a legal disclaimer to the TT.the TT.

German Textual PitfallsGerman Textual Pitfalls

* On Pp. 138-139 there is a * On Pp. 138-139 there is a discussion of some of the pitfalls that discussion of some of the pitfalls that can "lurk in any German text." What can "lurk in any German text." What are some of these that can cause are some of these that can cause great trouble to an unwary great trouble to an unwary translator? translator?

Working “In-House”Working “In-House”

* The reality of professional translation * The reality of professional translation is such that working "in-house" is often is such that working "in-house" is often the best way to ensure good translating the best way to ensure good translating practice. practice.

Why?: one has to learn the concepts of Why?: one has to learn the concepts of the field in which one wishes to the field in which one wishes to translate, and the way to do this is in translate, and the way to do this is in practice very often the hard way of practice very often the hard way of translating texts against a deadline, translating texts against a deadline, researching as one goes.researching as one goes.

Translation Memory Translation Memory SoftwareSoftware

* (140) How does translation memory * (140) How does translation memory software come into the technical software come into the technical translation process? translation process?

– – Since technical translation is often Since technical translation is often very repetitive; furthermore, it goes very repetitive; furthermore, it goes far towards solving the problem of far towards solving the problem of terminological consistency, and it terminological consistency, and it greatly reduces the human greatly reduces the human involvement in purely repetitive work.involvement in purely repetitive work.

Characteristics of Technical Characteristics of Technical Texts:Texts:

1. The language is usually informative, and 1. The language is usually informative, and often includes expressions denoting purpose or often includes expressions denoting purpose or role, and explanations of method or processrole, and explanations of method or process..

2. Often the passive is used extensively, 2. Often the passive is used extensively, which keeps the style which keeps the style impersonalimpersonal..

3. A third typical feature = the frequent use 3. A third typical feature = the frequent use of compound nouns.of compound nouns.

4. Fourth feature = nominalization = the use 4. Fourth feature = nominalization = the use of a noun that, in the same language or in a TT, of a noun that, in the same language or in a TT, could be replaced by an expression not could be replaced by an expression not containing a noun - avoids complicated verb containing a noun - avoids complicated verb constructions, but involves the supply of a constructions, but involves the supply of a colorless function verb to the nominalized colorless function verb to the nominalized concepts. concepts.

Practical 11.1Practical 11.1 The ST is from a specification of works issued by The ST is from a specification of works issued by

a government agency for a government agency for trunk road constructiontrunk road construction and aimed at prospective contractors. For a study and aimed at prospective contractors. For a study visit by American planners and engineers, you are visit by American planners and engineers, you are asked to provide an English translation. Bearing asked to provide an English translation. Bearing in mind the information supplied in Chapter 11 in mind the information supplied in Chapter 11 (pp. 134-135, 140-141)(pp. 134-135, 140-141) with reference to the ST, with reference to the ST, discuss the strategic decisions that you have to discuss the strategic decisions that you have to make before starting detailed translation of this make before starting detailed translation of this ST, and outline and justify the strategy you adopt. ST, and outline and justify the strategy you adopt. (cf. also (cf. also Practical 5.3Practical 5.3))

Translate the ST into English.Translate the ST into English. Explain the main decisions of detail that you Explain the main decisions of detail that you

made.made. Compare your TT with the professionally prepared Compare your TT with the professionally prepared

TT that I will link for you to the webpage after we TT that I will link for you to the webpage after we have discussed the translations in classhave discussed the translations in class

Pp. 134-135Pp. 134-135

Terms whose ordinary uses are familiar to Terms whose ordinary uses are familiar to the translator, but which are manifestly the translator, but which are manifestly used in some other, technically used in some other, technically specialized way –specialized way –– Kaverne : cavernKaverne : cavern– Röhre : bore (not “pipe / tube / tunnel”)Röhre : bore (not “pipe / tube / tunnel”)– Ausbau : construction, (not “extension / Ausbau : construction, (not “extension /

development”)development”)– Angriffspunkt : application point (“breaking-Angriffspunkt : application point (“breaking-

out or cutting-out point” in a good dictionary).out or cutting-out point” in a good dictionary).

Pp. 140-141Pp. 140-141 Example of “nominialization” – the use of the Example of “nominialization” – the use of the

noun that, in the same sentence in the TT, noun that, in the same sentence in the TT, could be replaced by an expression not could be replaced by an expression not containing a noun.containing a noun.

““Die HerstellungDie Herstellung der Abdichtung und der der Abdichtung und der Innenschale erfolgt abschnittsweise zwischen Innenschale erfolgt abschnittsweise zwischen den jeweiligen Angriffspunkten Nordportal – den jeweiligen Angriffspunkten Nordportal – Kehltal – Flößgraben – Südportal.”Kehltal – Flößgraben – Südportal.”

““The sealing and inner lining The sealing and inner lining will be formedwill be formed in in segments between the North Portal, Kehl, segments between the North Portal, Kehl, Flößgraben and South Portal breaking-out Flößgraben and South Portal breaking-out points. “points. “

Wortschatz: SchalwagenWortschatz: Schalwagen

Ein zweiter SchalwagenEin zweiter Schalwagen

Zuluftstollen = air intake Zuluftstollen = air intake aditadit

““An adit is a type of An adit is a type of entrance to an entrance to an underground mining underground mining operation in which the operation in which the entrance shaft is horizontal entrance shaft is horizontal or nearly horizontal. Adits or nearly horizontal. Adits are usually built into the are usually built into the side of a hill or mountain, side of a hill or mountain, and often occur when a and often occur when a measure of coal or an ore measure of coal or an ore body is located inside the body is located inside the mountain but above the mountain but above the adjacent valley floor or adjacent valley floor or coastal plain.”coastal plain.”

Mining Adit

Abluftkamin = ventilation Abluftkamin = ventilation shaftshaft

Practical 11.2Practical 11.2 The manufacturer's descriptive literature for a The manufacturer's descriptive literature for a

new servo amplifier has been drafted in new servo amplifier has been drafted in German, but is to be issued simultaneously in German, but is to be issued simultaneously in English. You are responsible for the English English. You are responsible for the English version. Discuss the strategic decisions that you version. Discuss the strategic decisions that you have to make before starting detailed have to make before starting detailed translation of this ST, and outline and justify the translation of this ST, and outline and justify the strategy you adopt.strategy you adopt.

Translate the ST into English.Translate the ST into English. Explain the main decisions of detail that you Explain the main decisions of detail that you

made.made. Discuss the professionally prepared TT Discuss the professionally prepared TT

("Startup and Diagnostic Software for Inline ("Startup and Diagnostic Software for Inline Servo Amplifiers") that I will link to the webpageServo Amplifiers") that I will link to the webpage

Contextual InformationContextual Information

Servo amplifiers are typically used to Servo amplifiers are typically used to control small electric motors, e.g. in control small electric motors, e.g. in vehicle braking systems. The ST is taken vehicle braking systems. The ST is taken from Phoenix Contact's Application Note from Phoenix Contact's Application Note 704000 (dated March 2004), a 13-page 704000 (dated March 2004), a 13-page document. The first section is headed document. The first section is headed "Funktionsbeschreibung," and its first "Funktionsbeschreibung," and its first two paragraphs are reproduced on p. 143 two paragraphs are reproduced on p. 143 for translation. The ST has one misprint. for translation. The ST has one misprint.

Phoenix Contact Phoenix Contact ServoverstärkerServoverstärker

2819587 IB IL EC AR 48/10A-2819587 IB IL EC AR 48/10A-PACPAC

Practical 11.3Practical 11.3 It might help to read up some on the more technical It might help to read up some on the more technical

aspects of malaria and the MSP-1 protein molecule: aspects of malaria and the MSP-1 protein molecule: surf the surf the Malaria Website at Brown University Malaria Website at Brown University to get to get some background on this topic from the experts.some background on this topic from the experts.

The ST comes from an The ST comes from an articlearticle published online in published online in 2001 by Die Welt. You are asked to translate it for 2001 by Die Welt. You are asked to translate it for an equivalent-quality English-language newspaper. an equivalent-quality English-language newspaper. Discuss the strategic decisions that you have to Discuss the strategic decisions that you have to make before starting detailed translation of this ST, make before starting detailed translation of this ST, and outline and justify the strategy you adopt.and outline and justify the strategy you adopt.

Translate the ST into English.Translate the ST into English. Explain the main decisions of detail that you made.Explain the main decisions of detail that you made. Discuss the TT that I will link for you here after we Discuss the TT that I will link for you here after we

have discussed the translations in class.have discussed the translations in class.

Contextual Information:Contextual Information:

The article's opening The article's opening section explains that section explains that malaria is on the malaria is on the increase world-wide, increase world-wide, and that for over and that for over thirty years scientists thirty years scientists have been struggling have been struggling in vain to find an in vain to find an effective vaccine. effective vaccine. The extract has two The extract has two linguistic errors. linguistic errors.