Techniques for translation

Prepared by Randy Morales

Literal Translation

It is a word-for-word translation

Examples: El equipo está trabajando para terminar el informe, it is translated into English as The team is working to finish the report. El equipo experimentado está trabajando para terminar el informe, it is translated into English as The experienced team is working to finish the report. 

ModulationIt consists of using a phrase that is different in the source and target languages to convey the same idea.

Examples:Te lo dejo means literally I leave it to you but it is translated better as You can have it.

The expressions es fácil de entender (it is easy to understand) and no es complicado de entender (it is not complicated to understand) are examples of modulation.

Although both convey the same meaning, it is easy to understand simply conveys "easiness" whereas it is not complicated to understand implies a previous assumption of difficulty

Transposition

It consists of the replacement of a word class by another word class without changing the meaning.

Examples: "She likes swimming" translates as "Le gusta nadar" (not "nadando").

Reconstruction of the city is very important, Reconstructing the city is very important

Calque

It is a special kind of borrowing where a language borrows a word or an expression from another language and translates literally each of its elements.  Examples: Football - fútbolYou are intelligent enough to realize that - you are intelligent and can realize that

 Equivalence

It is used to render expressions using different stylistic and structural methods. Most equivalences are fixed and include idioms, clichés and proverbs.  Example: Stop splitting hairs, stop looking for five legs in a cat

Borrowing

It borrows from the source language a term or concept to overcome a lacuna in the target language or to create a stylistic effect. English also borrows numerous words from other languages;

café, passé and résumé from French; hamburger and kindergarten from German; and sugar from Sanskrit.

Reformulation

Here you have to express something in a completely different way, for example when translating idioms or advertising slogans. The process is creative, but not always easy. Would you have translated the movie Sonrisas y lágrimas (Smiles and Tears)?