TRANSLATION GUIDELINESTRANSLATION GUIDELINESUnder ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4Under ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4

James DirginJames DirginDirector, Test Review and Education DivisionDirector, Test Review and Education Division

DLIFLCDLIFLCMonterey, California USAMonterey, California USA

BILC ConferenceBILC ConferenceVilnius, LithuaniaVilnius, Lithuania

9-12 MAY 20119-12 MAY 2011

GoalGoal

- Establish a matrix for definition and - Establish a matrix for definition and classification of translation skillsclassification of translation skills

- Based on the Interagency Language - Based on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR)/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 Roundtable (ILR)/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 GuidelinesGuidelines

- Combining Proficiency - Combining Proficiency andand Performance Performance for operational use of language in for operational use of language in translation and interpretationtranslation and interpretation

A successful translation is one that A successful translation is one that

…….conveys both the .conveys both the explicitexplicit and and implicitimplicit meaning of the source meaning of the source language into the target language as language into the target language as fullyfully and and accuratelyaccurately as possible…. as possible….

Required Subskills for TranslationRequired Subskills for Translation

* Reading Proficiency* Reading Proficiency

* Writing Proficiency* Writing Proficiency

plus…plus…

* Specific Content Knowledge* Specific Content Knowledge

* Technical Abilities to apply* Technical Abilities to apply - transfer of meaning- transfer of meaning - equivalency between “cultures”- equivalency between “cultures” - congruity judgment- congruity judgment

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0

1

2

3

4

5

AVRNON-NATIVE

AVRNATIVE

FULLBI-LINGUAL

Typical Translator

Reading Comprehension in the Source Language

Writing Ability in the Target Language

Maximum Translation Ability

Adapted from Rachel Brooke’s presentation, ILR Adapted from Rachel Brooke’s presentation, ILR 101, presented at the ILR meeting in June 2009.101, presented at the ILR meeting in June 2009.

FACTORS TO CONSIDERFACTORS TO CONSIDER

MeaningMeaning

Form and content are transferred Form and content are transferred throughthrough

- replacement- replacement- equivalency- equivalency- recreation and/or adaptation- recreation and/or adaptation

Function / Purpose

- Informative -- providing information

- Expressive -- presenting evaluation

- Operative -- focusing on task/mission

PresencePresence

- Translation aspect transparent- Translation aspect transparent

- Translator is heavily “present”- Translator is heavily “present”

OrientationOrientation

Reader OrientedReader Oriented- Aims at readers’ expectations- Aims at readers’ expectations

Text OrientedText Oriented- Readers adjust to the translation- Readers adjust to the translation

Style & Register AppropriatenessStyle & Register Appropriateness

Target language and cultureTarget language and culture

Source concept and factsSource concept and facts

Smooth and target-orientedSmooth and target-oriented

“ “Level” is maintainedLevel” is maintained

Process

(1) read and comprehend the (1) read and comprehend the source language text, and source language text, and

(2) write comprehensibly in the (2) write comprehensibly in the target language, target language,

and…and…

Process (cont.)

(3) choose the best equivalent (3) choose the best equivalent expression in the target language expression in the target language that both fully conveys and best that both fully conveys and best matches the meaning intended in matches the meaning intended in the source language (congruity the source language (congruity judgment) with the required style judgment) with the required style and format.and format.

AVIATION

STRATEGY

Level 5 / Professional Performance LevelCan successfully translate virtually all texts, including those Can successfully translate virtually all texts, including those

where lack of linguistic and cultural parallelism between the source where lack of linguistic and cultural parallelism between the source language and the target language requires precise congruity judgments language and the target language requires precise congruity judgments and the ability to apply a translation methodology. Expression is and the ability to apply a translation methodology. Expression is flawless. At this level, the translator consistently excels in a number of flawless. At this level, the translator consistently excels in a number of specialties, and is generally regarded as one of the arbiters of translating specialties, and is generally regarded as one of the arbiters of translating very high level language by persons competent in dealing with such very high level language by persons competent in dealing with such material. The translation process is completely transparent, that is the material. The translation process is completely transparent, that is the text appears to be capturing all the linguistic and socio-cultural features text appears to be capturing all the linguistic and socio-cultural features and elements of the target language and culture. and elements of the target language and culture.

Can successfully apply a translation methodology to translate texts that Can successfully apply a translation methodology to translate texts that contain highly original and special purpose language (such as that contain highly original and special purpose language (such as that contained in religious sermons, literary prose, and poetry). At this level, a contained in religious sermons, literary prose, and poetry). At this level, a successful performance requires not only conveying content and register successful performance requires not only conveying content and register but also capturing to the greatest extent all nuances intended in the but also capturing to the greatest extent all nuances intended in the source document. Expression is virtually flawless. Can produce fully source document. Expression is virtually flawless. Can produce fully accurate translations in a number of subject fields. When the need arises accurate translations in a number of subject fields. When the need arises to perform in areas outside of specialization, a translator at this level is to perform in areas outside of specialization, a translator at this level is able to reach a successful level of performance given the time necessary able to reach a successful level of performance given the time necessary for acquiring the relevant knowledge of the subject matter. for acquiring the relevant knowledge of the subject matter. 

Level 4 / Professional PerformanceLevel 4 / Professional Performance

Can successfully apply a translation methodology to translate a Can successfully apply a translation methodology to translate a wide variety of complex texts that contain difficult, abstract, wide variety of complex texts that contain difficult, abstract, idiomatic, highly technical, and colloquial writing. Able to idiomatic, highly technical, and colloquial writing. Able to capture subtleties, nuances, and tone and register (such as capture subtleties, nuances, and tone and register (such as official, formal, and informal writing) most of the time. Such official, formal, and informal writing) most of the time. Such texts range from commentary reflecting a specific culture to texts range from commentary reflecting a specific culture to analysis and argumentation. Translations reflect style, register, analysis and argumentation. Translations reflect style, register, and cultural context of the target and source cultural in every and cultural context of the target and source cultural in every respect except highly Linguistic knowledge and familiarity with respect except highly Linguistic knowledge and familiarity with source language norms enable an individual at this level to source language norms enable an individual at this level to translate handwritten documents and other texts that translate handwritten documents and other texts that represent spontaneous expression characteristic of native represent spontaneous expression characteristic of native speakers. Expression reflects native usage and consistent speakers. Expression reflects native usage and consistent control of target language conventions. Can translate materials control of target language conventions. Can translate materials outside the individual's specialties, but may not reach the outside the individual's specialties, but may not reach the absolute subject matter accuracy of the specialist in the given absolute subject matter accuracy of the specialist in the given field. The resulting product is a professional translation which field. The resulting product is a professional translation which may be subject to quality control.may be subject to quality control.

Professional Performance Level 3 Professional Performance Level 3

Can translate texts that contain not only facts but also abstract Can translate texts that contain not only facts but also abstract language, showing an emerging ability to capture their intended language, showing an emerging ability to capture their intended implications and many nuances. Such texts usually contain situations implications and many nuances. Such texts usually contain situations and events which are subject to value judgments of a personal or and events which are subject to value judgments of a personal or institutional kind, as in some newspaper editorials, propaganda tracts, institutional kind, as in some newspaper editorials, propaganda tracts, and evaluations of projects; strategic, political, and military campaign and evaluations of projects; strategic, political, and military campaign policy papers, statements, and publications.policy papers, statements, and publications.Linguistic knowledge of both the terminology and the means of Linguistic knowledge of both the terminology and the means of expression specific to a subject field is strong enough to allow the expression specific to a subject field is strong enough to allow the translator to operate successfully within that field. translator to operate successfully within that field. Word choice and expression generally adhere to target language Word choice and expression generally adhere to target language norms and rarely obscure meaning. The resulting product is a draft norms and rarely obscure meaning. The resulting product is a draft translation, subject to quality control. Able to produce reasonably translation, subject to quality control. Able to produce reasonably accurate translations of conversations that exhibit some complexity and accurate translations of conversations that exhibit some complexity and deal with matters outside everyday matters. Can usually render jargon, deal with matters outside everyday matters. Can usually render jargon, slang, and speech that is colloquial, substandard, or regional, capture slang, and speech that is colloquial, substandard, or regional, capture most nuances, idioms, and cultural allusions, reflecting the source most nuances, idioms, and cultural allusions, reflecting the source register appropriately. Can often, but not always, overcome many register appropriately. Can often, but not always, overcome many unfavorable conditions and other factors impeding comprehension of unfavorable conditions and other factors impeding comprehension of the source, completing the assignment in a timely manner. the source, completing the assignment in a timely manner.

Level 2 / Limited Performance Level 2 / Limited Performance

Able to render into the target language some straightforward, factual Able to render into the target language some straightforward, factual texts in the standard variety of the source language. Can typically texts in the standard variety of the source language. Can typically render accurately uncomplicated prose (such as that used in short render accurately uncomplicated prose (such as that used in short identification documents, simple letters, instructions, and some identification documents, simple letters, instructions, and some narrative reports) that does not contain figurative language, complex narrative reports) that does not contain figurative language, complex sentence structures, embedding, or instances of syntactic or semantic sentence structures, embedding, or instances of syntactic or semantic skewing. Can normally rely on knowledge of the subject matter to skewing. Can normally rely on knowledge of the subject matter to operate within one given subject field, consisting of a narrow body of operate within one given subject field, consisting of a narrow body of material that is routine, repetitive, and often predictable. Expression in material that is routine, repetitive, and often predictable. Expression in the target language may be faulty, frequently reflecting the structure the target language may be faulty, frequently reflecting the structure and word order of the source language to the extent that faulty and word order of the source language to the extent that faulty expression may obscure or distort meaning, accuracy will suffer. The expression may obscure or distort meaning, accuracy will suffer. The resulting product is not a professional translation and must be resulting product is not a professional translation and must be submitted to quality control.submitted to quality control.May be a reliable source for “topic specific” translations and triage of May be a reliable source for “topic specific” translations and triage of documents before submitting to higher level translators.documents before submitting to higher level translators.

Able to make word-by-word transfers, not always with accuracy. May Able to make word-by-word transfers, not always with accuracy. May be able to identify documents by their label or headings and scan be able to identify documents by their label or headings and scan graphic materials, such as charts and diagrams, for items of specific graphic materials, such as charts and diagrams, for items of specific interest. Constant oversight and review of the product are necessary. interest. Constant oversight and review of the product are necessary. May be most useful for “triage” of documents that come in for May be most useful for “triage” of documents that come in for determining the “who, when, where” to provide the initial review of determining the “who, when, where” to provide the initial review of documents. documents.

Level 1 / Level 1 / Minimal PerformanceMinimal Performance

Translation performance level depends on Translation performance level depends on

(1) command of both languages (1) command of both languages

(Language proficiency)(Language proficiency)

(2) ability to exercise congruity (2) ability to exercise congruity

judgment and apply a translation judgment and apply a translation

methodology methodology

Translation performance level depends on Translation performance level depends on (cont.)(cont.)

(3) familiarity with the cultural context of (3) familiarity with the cultural context of both languages (Cultural Competence)both languages (Cultural Competence)

(4) knowledge of terminology in (4) knowledge of terminology in specialized fields (Performance)specialized fields (Performance)

(5) Skills and abilities in translation (5) Skills and abilities in translation techniques , research, and use of techniques , research, and use of resourcesresources

Final remarks…Final remarks…

ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 translation ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 translation guidelines can be applied to…guidelines can be applied to…

establish a matrix to define, establish a matrix to define, describe, and categorize describe, and categorize translation skills from proficiency translation skills from proficiency and performance perspectives.and performance perspectives.

Final remarks…Final remarks…

ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 based ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 based translation guidelines can be translation guidelines can be applied to…applied to…

design and provide training and design and provide training and curriculum materials for curriculum materials for translators and interpreterstranslators and interpreters

Final remarks…Final remarks…

ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 based ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 based translation guidelines can be translation guidelines can be applied to…applied to…

close the gap between proficiency close the gap between proficiency and performance “dichotomy” and performance “dichotomy” around low level content specific around low level content specific language taskslanguage tasks

Final remarks…Final remarks…

ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 based ILR/STANAG 6001 Ed. 4 based translation guidelines can be translation guidelines can be applied to…applied to…

cover the performance related cover the performance related specific fields and areas of work specific fields and areas of work that fall “out-of-bounds” of that fall “out-of-bounds” of proficiency content areasproficiency content areas

Thank you…Thank you…