МАОУ «Гимназия №2»
МАОУ «Гимназия №2»
Канавинского района
Г. Нижнего Новгорода
Научное общество учащихся «ЭВРИКА»
Реферат
Problems of transferring regionalisms in translation of modern
TV-shows
Выполнила: Ученица 9 «Б» класса
Травницкая Дарья
Научный руководитель:
Постоева В. И.
Нижний Новгород
2016 год
Contains
1. Introduction p. 3
Part 1 p. 3
Importance of translation p. 3
Translation as a kind of interlingual and cross-cultural
communication p. 5
Part 2 p. 9
2. Difficulties of translation p. 9
Practical part p.11
3. Analysis of the problem of geographical actuality -
regionalisms p. 11
a. Defining the significance of regionalisms in translations of
TV-shows and separation regionalisms to categories p.11
b. Means of coping with “local realities”, translating them
properly and clearly p. 16
c. An algorithm for translating subtitles p. 20
d. A list of regionalisms I personally met in my practice of
translation an American TV-show “Pretty Little Liars” p. 22
4. Conclusion p. 32
5. List of sources of used information p. 34
6. Appendix p. 35
Part 1
1. Introduction
Nowadays, we are all surrounded by stress – complicated
political situation, hectic pace of urban life, awfully polluted
environment and so on.
Also, the importance of English increases day by day as
increases the amount of people who want to speak English around the
world, because English has become an international language and it
is necessary for everybody to be able to use it to keep in touch
with the modern society. Considering that, probably, the best
solution to number of your problems would be watching TV-shows in
English with subtitles at first, and without any, then. This can
help you to study modern English, relax, and broaden your mind.
Sounds magical, but when you try it you often meet these
regionalisms, or “local reality”, or “geographical actuality” are
things, that you are not able to understand just because you are
not familiar with the life in English-speaking countries. This
includes geographical reality, which is all associations connected
with Mass media, language, art, mentality and remarkable features
of the «homeland» of your text; slang, idioms and transformed
idioms and quotes, rhetorical figures of speech, new clichés.
Moreover, we should be objective, provided thatthis problem is
serious for you, as a TV viewer, it is the way more difficult for a
translator of TV-show to translate it the way you will understand
it. Consequently, I would like to show you the inner side of the
process of translation subtitles.Comment by Mary: Very long
sentence, try to divide it into shorter ones
So when we start learning English deeply and seriously, as a
science, we also met mentioned difficulty and others. And I still
consider all of them as compelling and curiousways to explore, but
the most intricate and challenging for me is the one I mentioned,
the “local reality”, therefore, I understand, that if you want to
be really good in translation, you got to be able to deal with it.
Appropriately, this is the case I would like to explore.
I also consider this subject as a really worth exploring, and
the explaining to this is quite simple – TV in English-speaking
countries is transferring the slightest change in language and
realities in the country of language, and the problem of
understanding realities in TV-programs is as serious as it only can
be considered. In addition, I am interested in this because, during
my research is meant to be first in the kind and sort if
unique.
The main purpose of this work – to study specifics and methods
of transferring of the English realities when translating
TV-shows.
For this, I have to reach the following purposes doing this
research:
1. To define the importance of correct and adequate translation
in general and of TV-shows
2. To analyze all difficulties of translation
3. To analyze of the problem of “geographical actuality”
4. To learn more about ways to transfer a local reality
5. To decide which methods of translation suit here best.
Relevance of this subject is in a matter of fact that the
translator frequently faces a problem of the translation of
realities. Realities, which often belong to incoincident elements
of language, new and unfamiliar to other cultures, constantly
represent especial a special obstacle in translation process and
demand further studying.
Translation as a kind of interlingual and cross-cultural
communication
To fathom the significance of a correct and adequate translation
first we should define what translation actually is.
Translation is ultimately a human activity, which enables human
beings to exchange ideas and thoughts regardless of the different
language used. People have been translating from one language into
another for a really long time, however, nobody can precisely tell
us when the first translation has been made, but it has occurred
when communication of the people speaking different languages by
means of intermediate language was carried out. Thanks to the
translation the people speaking different languages could
communicate in the multinational states, the translation provided
interlingual and cross-cultural communication, thanks to the
translations various dogmas and religions extended. It is necessary
to give several definitions to the concept "translation". "Saying
“the translation” we mean transferring of the contents of the oral
statement or written text means of other language". Komissarov
offers the following definition of the translation: "The
translation is a type of language mediation at which in other
language the text intended for full replacement of the original as
communicative and equivalent to the last is created». «Translation
- a social communicative function of mediation between people using
different language systems, which is realized in the course of
psycho-physical activities for bilingual reflection of reality on
the basis of his individual abilities of the interpreter, the
transition from one semiotic system to another in order to
equivalent, i.e., fullest, but always partial, transfer of meanings
contained in the initial message from one communicant to another
".Comment by Mary: How long??? At least sth precise…
Therefore, as we can see from different definitions of this word
- translation represents one of types of language mediation.
Recently views of the concept of "culture" have changed. In the
past, the word "culture" was used to mean the totality of material
and spiritual progress of society. Now the word covers all the
historical, social and psychological features of the spheres of
human activity. In works of domestic and foreign scientists, that
special role which is played by the translation in cultural
development, sciences, economies, literature and the language of
communication is emphasized.
The reason why a translation has to be equal and clear is that
it can hurt people in other way. Sometimes a misreading of the
audience merely results into innocuous boredom. Nevertheless, it
can also have serious long-term effects. A remarkable example of
insensitivity to the total context and the audience is the
translation of a remark made by Nikita Khrushchev in Moscow on
November 19, 1956. Khrushchev was then the head of the Soviet Union
and had just given a speech on the Suez Canal crisis. Nassar of
Egypt threatened to deny passage through the canal. The United
States and France moved to occupy the canal. Khrushchev complained
loudly about the West. Then, after the speech, Khrushchev made an
off-hand remark to a diplomat in the back room. That remark was
translated "We will bury you" and was burned into the minds of my
generation as a warning that the Russians would invade the United
States and kill all Americans if they thought they had a chance of
winning.
However, the remark has never been reported by the official
Russian Press. Rather a Russian-language newspaper called Novoe
Russkoe Slovo, run by Russian emigrants in the United States,
reported it. It reported that along with the famous remark,
Khrushchev said flippantly:"If we believed in God, He would be on
our side." In Soviet Communist rhetoric, it is common to claim that
history on the side of Communism, referring back to Marx who argued
that Communism was historically inevitable. Khrushchev then added
that Communism does not need to go to war to destroy Capitalism.
Continuing with the thought that Communism is a superior system and
that Capitalism will self-destructed, he said, rather than what was
reported by the press, something along the lines of "Whether you
like it or not, we will be present at your burial," clearly meaning
that he was predicting that Communism would outlast Capitalism.
Although the words used by Khrushchev could be literally translated
as "We will bury you," (and, unfortunately, were translated in that
way) we have already seen that the context must be taken into
consideration. The English translator who did not take into account
the context of the remark, but instead assumed that the Russian
word for "bury" could only be translatedin one way, unnecessarily
raised tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union and
perhaps needlessly prolonged the Cold War.*[footnoteRef:2]Comment
by Mary: A reference is needed [2: Alan K. Melby «Why Can't a
Computer Translate More Like a Person?» / Alan K. Melby//
http://paginaspersonales.deusto.es/abaitua/konzeptu/ta/melby96.htm]
Safety issues come first into mind but lately many readers have
noticed that mistakes and typos don’t fit well in the translated
literature either. Bad or sloppy translation can ruin the reading
experience because it moves the attention away from the content.
The same goes with weird subtitles of a movie or a TV program.
Savings of translation cost in wrong places can rebound later with
negative outcomes.*[footnoteRef:3] [3: Multilizer | Iina The Power
of Mistakes / Multilizer | Iina //
http://translation-blog.multilizer.com/the-power-of-mistakes/]
Moreover, is important not to forget that TV also still is one
of the most popular mass media and it actually has a huge influence
on modern culture. Therefore, correct transferring of original text
to another language means keeping the same cultural message. As an
example from past, USSR had a lot of nations and, consequently,
languages, speaking in the country. In addition, it would be the
way easier to understand other people’s features if all creations
would have been translated to all languages.
Talking about learning a language by watching a show with
subtitles – it is important for them to be correct for you to
remember only right phrases. This also improves your iconic and
echoic memory, and sort of connects them.
Therefore, it could be clearly seen why it is important for
translation to be just as much equal to original as it is
possible.
To be able to cope with it, a professional translator has to be
able to:Comment by Mary: Pay attention to 3rd sg in present
tenses
· define the main thoughts, accents, the attitude;
· reveal communications of the text with the extra text
phenomena, with reality;
· consider a wide context including extralinguistic;
· define and consider the style/register of the speech, and
target audience (readers/listeners);
· proceed from character of a situation in which the text, from
the intention which is writing/speaking was born;
· consider connotations and a possibility of difference from
dictionary word meanings in a source text;
· attract (and constantly to expand and deepen) the background
knowledge;
· use dictionaries, reference books, consultations of
experts;
· check all unknown names, toponyms, etc., which are mentioned
in a source text;
· proceed from logic of the statement and all text in
general.
When a translator has all mentioned skills, he can almost easily
overcome all adversities he might have. Talking about idiosyncrasy
of TV-shows in English, it can be some unknown clichés, slang,
transformed idioms and quotes, puns, rhetorical figure of speech,
and also it happens to be a kind of difficulty to express in the
same level of «emotional coloring». Nevertheless, all these
problems have to be solved.
Part 2
Difficulties of translation
Translation studies distinguish 2 main concepts: a concept of
absolute translatability and of total untranslatability. However,
some difficulties are faced. The problem of translatability or
untranslatability is closely related to man's understanding of the
nature of language, meaning and translation. From the sociosemiotic
point of view, "untranslatables" are fundamentally cases of
language use wherein the three categories of sociosemiotic meaning
carried by a source expression do not coincide with those of a
comparable expression in the target language.Comment by Mary:
Probably, concepts would suit better?
Three types of untranslatability, referential, pragmatic, and
intralingual may be distinguished. On the understanding that the
object of translation is the message instead of the carrier of the
message, language-specific norms are considered untranslatable by
some linguists should be excluded from the realm of
untranslatables. In addition, since translation is a communicative
event involving the use of verbal signs, the chance of
untranslatability in practical translating tasks may be minimized
if the communicative situation is taken into account.
In a larger sense, the problem of translatability is one of
degrees: the higher the linguistic levels the source language signs
carry meaning(s) at, the higher the degree of translatability these
signs may display; the lower the levels they carry meaning(s) at,
the lower the degree of translatability they may register.
Translation is, in Chabban's words, "a finicky job," as it has
not yet been reduced to strict scientific rules, and it allows for
the differences that are known to exist between different
personalities. Translation is a heavily subjective art, especially
when it deals with matters outside the realm of science where
precisely defined concepts are more often expressed by certain
generally accepted terms.
In the final analysis, translation is a science, an art, and a
skill. It is a science in the sense that it necessitates complete
knowledge of the structure and make-up of the two languages
concerned. It is an art since it requires artistic talent to
reconstruct the original text in the form of a product that is
presentable to the reader who is not supposed to be familiar with
the original. It is also a skill because it entails the ability to
smooth over any difficulty in the translation, and the ability to
provide the translation of something that has no equal in the
target language.
In translation, the richness of vocabulary, depth of culture,
and vision of the translator could certainly have very conspicuous
effects on his/her work. Another translator might produce a
reasonably acceptable version of the same text, which, however, may
very well reflect a completely different background, culture,
sensitivity, and temperament. Such differences cannot, in Chabban's
view detract from the merit of either translator. This is simply
because translation is decidedly a more difficult job than
creation.
There are identified three types of translation difficulty: (1)
distinguishing between general vocabulary and specialized terms,
(2) distinguishing between various meanings of a word of general
vocabulary, and (3) taking into account the total context,
including the intended audience and important details such as
regionalisms.*[footnoteRef:4] [4: AlirezaSadeghiGhadi All New
Theories And Concepts About Translation In New Century /
AlirezaSadeghiGhadi //
http://amvietnam.com/en/publications/94-all-new-theories-and-concepts-about-translation-in-new-century.html]
There are several categories of skills, which a translator
should improve to be able to cope with mentioned types of common
difficulties.
Here are some ways to develop reading comprehension skills:
· Read for gist and main ideas.
· Read for details.
· Identify the meaning of new words and expressions using one or
more components of the structural analysis clause; prefixes,
suffixes, roots, word order, punctuation, sentence pattern,
etc.
· Identify the meaning of new words and expressions using one or
more of the contextual analysis; synonyms, antonyms, examples,
etc.
· Identify the writer's style: literary, scientific, technical,
informative, persuasive, argumentative, etc.
· Identify the language level used in the text: standard, slang,
religious, etc.
· Identify cultural references in the choice of words in the
text.
In addition, a professional should have good researching skills;
this is how it is possible to improve them:
· Use bilingual dictionaries for looking up meanings of new
words.
· Use monolingual dictionaries to check the usage of the new
words in the source language and in the target language.
· Use related encyclopedias and glossary lists for specialized
terms;
· Use software dictionaries if necessary and available.
· Refer to specialized magazines and journals to help you
familiarize yourself with the text, particularly when it is a
technical text. In my case it can be a TV-show with some narrow
professional area – it can be about a school, a hospital and so
on.
The other important thing – having analytical skills. Here are
some strategies, which can help a translator develop them:
· Identify beginnings and endings of ideas in the text and the
relationships between these ideas.
· Identify the "best" meaning that fits into the context;
· Identify the structure in the target language that represents
the original best;
· Identify transitions between ideas and the "best" connectors
in the target language that represent the original.
Composing skills are significant too – this is how they can be
improved:
· Use correct word order as used in the target language.
· Use correct sentence structures as used in the target
language.
· transmit the ideas of the text in clear sentences in the
target language.
· Rephrase certain sentences to convey the overall meaning
translated;
· Make changes to the text as a whole to give it a sense of the
original without distorting the original ideas.
· Try one or more of the following strategies when facing
problems of untranslateability.
These strategies can actually improve translator’s skills a lot.
But they do not include regionalism, the most complicated point in
translation.
Analysis of the problem of geographical actuality –
regionalisms
Defining the significance of regionalismsin translations of
TV-shows
To define significance of regionalismsin translations of
TV-shows, firstly, we got to observe the meaning of the term.
Regionalism is a linguistic term for a word, expression, or
pronunciation favored by speakers in a particular geographic area.
In a comparative lingvo-regional geography realities considered as
the words designating the objects or the phenomena connected with
history or culture, economy or life of the country of the learned
language which differ in whole or in part from lexical concepts and
words of the compared language.
On the grounds that TV nowadays epitomize the most actual,
modern and up-to-date language, to understand what an American
TV-show is audience need to now all realities it represents. We
should look closer to classifications of these realities.
There also is a concept called "nonequivalent vocabulary", which
term is used only in the sense of lack of correspondence of any
lexical item of one language in the vocabulary of another language.
However, it would be wrong to interpret this term as "the
impossibility of translation" of the vocabulary. Any language can
express any concept: the absence of a specific designation for some
concepts of one language in the vocabulary of another language in
the form of a word or a phrase does not mean inability to express
this concept by means of the language. Although a specific
designation can be absent in the language system, the content can
always be referred to in a speech or in a given text with a variety
of means.*[footnoteRef:5] [5: СчотчиковаОленаАндрївна
nonequivalent-vocabulary / СчотчиковаОленаАндрївна //
http://117.klasnaocinka.com.ua/ru/article/nonequivalent-vocabulary.html]
Furthermore, a Russian scientist V. S. Vinogradov names all
specific facts of history and a state system of a national
community, feature of its geographical environment, characteristic
household items of the past and the present, ethnographic and
folklore concepts realities, carrying them to a class of
nonequivalent vocabulary.
There actually is no agreement if regionalisms are equal to
nonequivalent vocabulary in science, nevertheless my conclusion is
that not all realities are nonequivalent, that is why it would be
animmense mistake to count those terms as equal.
These are other several terms, which describe types of
regionalisms:
- "gaps" - situations, usual for culture of one people, but not
observed in other culture (I. I. Revzin, V. Yu. Rosenzweig;
- "barbarisms" - words by means of which it is possible to
create a description of foreign customs, features of life and life,
creation of local color;
- "aliyenizms" - words from little-known languages underlining
stylistic function of "ekzotizms".
However, the definitions given above characterize the concept
"words reality" considered by us as the language units designating
the culture stranger elements having national, historical, local or
household coloring, not having equivalents in other languages and
cultures.
The causes of the phenomenon of nonequivalence, which is close
toregionalism, are traditionally added up to the following:
1. The absence of some object or some phenomenon in the life of
the speakers of the target language.
2. Lack of corresponding concepts in the target language.
3. Distinct lexical and stylistic characteristics.
The regionalisms refer to foreign words and phrases that
represent objects, processes, and other realities of life, which at
this specific stage of the target language’s development have
almost no equivalents in it, so it is possible to identify reality
in the text by the following criteria:
1. the word has no the constant equivalent in the translating
language transferring its material meaning;
2. the word designates a subject or the phenomenon specific to
culture of the original language and alien to culture of
translating language.
Realities as translation elements are divided into:
- reductions;
- words;
- phrases;
- sentences.
At the moment there is no precise classification of realities.
Different researchers offer various versions of the solution of
this problem. Some scientists, proceeding from nature of
maintenance of reality (communication of the designated subject
with a certain country, a nationality, a social community) and its
belonging to a certain period of time, allocates subject, temporary
and local classification of realities. From a position of two
languages realities are divided to into 2 types: external, when a
reality is alien for both of languages (for example "Samurai" for
the Russian and English languages), and realities, familiar and
known for one language and alien for another("рада" for the
Ukrainian and Russian languages).
I.S. Alekseeva, for example, suggests subdividing realities by
the thematic principle into three groups:
A. Geographical realities:
1) terms of physical geography: savanna (Africa);
2) endemics: kangaroo;
B. Ethnographic realities:
1) clothes and footwear: kimono (Japan);
2) structures and household items: needle (Alaska);
3) national kinds of activity and names of figures: bard
(Ireland);
4) customs, rituals, games: vendetta (Italy);
5) mythology and cults: priest (Poland);
6) realities measures and realities money: lira (Italy);
B. Social and political realities: Bolsheviks (Russia).
Classification of realities of V. S. Vinogradov looks like
this:
1. Household realities.
2. Ethnographic and mythological realities:
- ethnic and social communities and their representatives;
- deities, fantastic beings, legendary places.
3. Realities of the state and administrative device and public
life:
- administrative units and state institutes;
- public organizations, parties, etc., their functionaries and
participants;
- industrial and agrarian enterprises, trade institutions;
- main military and police divisions and ranks;
- civil positions and professions, titles and ranks.
4. Realities of the world of the nature:
- animals;
- plants;
- landscape, landscape.
5. Onomastic realities:
- antroponima;
- toponyms;
- names of literary heroes;
- names of the companies, museums, theaters, restaurants, shops,
beaches, airports, etc.
6. Associative realities:
- vegetative symbols (for example: madronyo-poetic symbol of
Madrid);
- symbols of animals (for example: to a holster - a bird of prey
whose feathers, according to a belief, have magic force);
- colorsymbolics (for example: green - color of hope (Panama,
Chile);
- folklore, historical and literary and book hints. They contain
hints on a way of life, behavior, traits of character, acts, etc.
of historical, folklore and literary heroes, on historical events,
on myths, legends, etc.
- language hints. They usually contain a hint on any
phraseological unit, a proverb, a saying, a familiar expression or
a current expression.
Despite a variety of groups, in cultural realities
(ethnographic, state, geographical, household), in all cases there
are similar problems in attempt of their translation: how to ask to
speak and the corresponding concept from one language of another,
and at the same time not to lose either a semantic, nor emotional
element.
Some researchers (Fedorov A.V., Vereshchagin E.M.) refer
realities to the category of nonequivalent vocabulary, claiming
that they are not a subject to translation. However, the reality is
a part of a source text and important component of any work of art
therefore her transfer to the translation text is one of conditions
of adequacy of the translation.
Methods of translation of “local realities”
Mostly "realities" give a translator the problem of the choice
which way should they be transferred. The choice of a way depends
on several prerequisites:
1. The text content.
2. Importance of realities in a context.
3. Nature of the reality, its place in the lexical systems of
translated and translating languages.
4. Languages themselves, which includes their word-formation
opportunities, literary and language traditions.
5. From readers of the translation (in comparison with readers
of the original).
Then, for an adequate translation, it is necessary to have
sufficient knowledge. "When translating realities it is necessary
to consider that they are inseparably linked with culture of this
or that country, and respectively, the recipient of the translation
cannot possess the same the volume of background knowledge,
necessary for full perception of the text, or background
information, i.e. that information, general for communicants, which
provides mutual understanding at communication".
Various authors offer certain sets of methods of the translation
of realities which differ on the structure a little, though have a
number of common features (L. Latyshev, V. S. Vinogradov, S.
Vlakhov, S. Florin). Further we will dwell upon the methods of
transfer of reality considered by L.K. Latyshev, V. S. Vinogradov,
and also S. Vlakhov and S. Florin.
Methods of transfer of realities according to S. Vlakhov and S.
Florin.
These researchers generalize methods of transfer of realities
and reduce them to two: to a transcription and translation.
I. The transcription of reality assumes mechanistic transferring
of reality from original in translated text using graphic means of
the last with the maximum approach to an original phonetic form:
fr.taverne will be identical "tavern" both in Russian and in
Bulgarian.
II. The translation of reality (or replacement, substitution) as
reception of transfer it on translated text is used usually when
the transcription is for one reason or another impossible or
undesirable.
1. Creating of a neologism – a way of saving the contents and
color of the translated reality: by creation of the new word (or
phrases) sometimes it is possible to achieve almost same effect.
Loan translation and partly loan translation can be an example of
this kind of new words.
a) Loan translation– loan by a literal translation (usually in
parts) the word or a turn. For example English skyscraper – a
Russian skyscraper (unlike "the high-rise building"; thanks to this
opposition "the western color" of a loan translation is felt).
b) Partly loan translation– some kind of partial loans, too new
words or (steady) phrases, but "consisting part of own material".
For example, it is mute. Der Dritte Reich – the third Reich.
c) Development – adaptation of foreign-language reality, i.e.
giving to her on the basis of foreign-language material an
appearance of the native word. For example, fr. concierge in a
feminine – the Russian concierge.
d) A semantic neologism – conditionally new word or the phrase
"composed" by the translator and allowing to retell the semantic
matter of reality. From a tracing-paper he is distinguished by lack
of etymological communication with the original word.
2. The approximate translation is used to transfer of the
subject contents of reality, but significance is usually lost since
there are replacements of the expected connotive equivalent neutral
on style, i.e. the word or the phrase to a zero connotation.
a) The principle of generalization replacement allows to retell
(approximately) the matter of reality unit with wider (very seldom
– narrower) value, substituting a generic term instead of specific
(generalization/specification).
b) The element of the final statement causing similar reaction
in the reader acts as functional analog. This way of the
translation allows to replace, for example, a word-play unfamiliar
to the reader of the translation with the acquaintance.
c) The description, an explanation, interpretation – the
reception of the approximate translation applied when the concept
which isn't transferred by a transcription needs to be explained.
For example, "армяк" – clothes from rough wool.
3. The term "contextual translation" is usually opposed to "the
dictionary translation", indicating, thus, compliances which the
word can have in a context unlike provided in the dictionary.
Methods of transfer of realities according to L.K. Latyshev.
L. Latyshev does not differentiate the concept "nonequivalent
vocabulary" and "reality" and uses the term "nonequivalent
reality". Besides, he also uses the term "transliteration" in
questions in which, in our opinion, it would be expedient to speak
about a transcription. This researcher allocates four ways of
transfer of nonequivalent vocabulary.
1. A transliteration ("Transcription" according to S. Vlakhov
and S. Florin coincides with reception). The matter is that at that
time (L.K edition time. The tradition of a transliteration which
has been replaced later with a transcription existed Latyshev of
the book "Translation Course (Equivalence of the Translation and
Ways of Her Achievement)" (1981)). However, prerequisites to it
existed already then. L. Latyshev gives an example of a know-how
broadcast as a know-how that in essence is a transcription, but not
a transliteration.
2. Descriptive ("explanatory") translation.
3. The approximate (assimilating) translation (see. "Functional
analog" according to S. Vlakhov and S. Florin).
4. Creation of the new term (in fact coincides with
understanding of a semantic neologism of S. Vlakhov and S.
Florin).
Ways of the translation of words realities according to V. S.
Vinogradov.
V. S. Vinogradov offers a little excellent division of methods
of transfer of the words calling realities from what was offered S.
Vlakhov and S. Florin.
This researcher gives five methods of transferring of
realities:
1. Transcription (transliteration). At the first emergence in
the text the transcribed words usually are followed by the
footnotes or explanations entered directly into the text.
2. Hypo-giperonimictranslation. Establishment of the relations
of equivalence between the word of the original transferring
specific concept reality and the word of the translation calling
the corresponding generic term or on the contrary is characteristic
of this reception of the translation.
3. Likening. The difference between this reception and previous
is that the assimilated words call concepts, "coordinated in
relation to a generic term, but not subordinated and
subordinating".
4. Periphrastic (descriptive, descriptive, explicative)
translation. In this case compliances between the word of the
original and the phrase of the translation explaining its sense are
established: alpargata – sandals from hemp or sandals made of
cloth, puchero– beef soup. This reception is often combined with a
transcription and is urged to replace the interlinear comment that
does the author's speech more natural and corresponding to the
original.
Thus, at existence of a large number of methods of transfer of
realities, it is necessary to consider well all variants of
translation, at last, to choose the most suitable of them, which
precisely would transfer value of reality, and at the same time,
its color was not lost. It is necessary to remember, "There is no
such word,which couldn't be translated into other language, at
least descriptively, that is a combination of words of this
language".
An algorithm for translating subtitles
From different methods of translating regionalisms in general we
would like to transfer to the specifics of the translation of
subtitles of modern American TV shows, to be exact through an
operations procedure when translating subtitles to tell you about
all subtleties of this process.
· Before translating an unknown show you got to look up the
spellings of main characters names, understand what is the
conception and audience of the show to figure out the functional
styles of language you are going to use.
1. After understanding the atmosphere of the show, you got to
see the exact episode you are going to translate. In case English
subtitles are available, you can watch the episode with them. But
what is really important here – there can be no English subtitles
translation without watching the episode, because it can turn out
to be amazingly ridiculous. You have to know the context.
You should pause the episode every time you meet an unknown word
and look it up. Keep watching only after making sure you have fully
understood the entire unit of speech or you know meaning of every
word in a phrase, but did not catch the meaning of the remark. In
this case, you should make a mark with timing of the moment
somewhere to remember it further.
2. After watching the episode make sure you have understood it.
Have a look at your notes, probably after understanding the
context, you will understand most of them. Next, talking about the
meaning of the episode – try to understand what the director and
screenwriter wanted to say by this episode. It will help you avoid
some stylistic and meaning problems.
3. Start the translation itself. Translate the English
equivalent to Russian considering the context. It should not be
perfect, just adequate.
4. After primary translating the subtitles is done, watch the
episode with them and you will be able to see most of your mistakes
like:
· The sounding
Sometimes it just happens that the translation of the phrase
looks quite exact, but it is just not the way they speak here. Of
course, it can seem to be subjective, but still has a huge
influence on perception of the episode by audience. All characters
of the serial are to have easy and understandable language.
· Loosing secondary meanings
It is important to transfer all secret jokes and meaning that
the director wanted to be in the episode, to make a scene more
dramatic or tragical.
· Misunderstanding of regionalisms – information, which Russian
audience is not able to understand
· Abusive words, swearings
The thing about this subject is that the degree of roughness of
the translations of swearings, and the attitude to them in general
are different in Russia and the USA.
· The size of a phrase
Sometimes you need to choose relevant details and miss
unimportant ones to keep the size readable. Usually it is
comfortable to read 1-2 lines, no longer, to have enough time to
monitor the screen.
5. Now, when you understand all the lines of the plot and know
all director’s hidden messages you probably are tired and full of
thought about the episode – make notes and take a rest. After a
rest take a look on your notes and if they still seem to be
significant, think how you can transfer them into Russian version
of the episode.
6. When all the work seems to be done, have a watch of the
episode once more. It will be pleasant, and probably you will see
some more small mistakes.
So the subject I have chosen is actual for me, as a
translator*[footnoteRef:6] of an American teen drama,
mystery–thriller television series called Pretty Little Liars. The
action takes place mostly nowadays and it often happens to me to
find some difficulties in translating regionalisms used there. [6:
See appendix]
List of sources of used information
During the research the following ways of transferring English
realities into Russian language were acknowledged the most
popular:
· transliteration and transcription
· loan translation
· descriptive translation
· using functional equivalents
Realities, which are distributed on ways of the translation, are
given in the table below (some of them you can also see in appendix
illustrated with a screenshot):
№
Reality
Commentary
Translation
Reception of the translation
1.
Sheriff
шериф
loan translation
2.
VIPs
Высокие гости
descriptive translation
3.
Newsreel cameramen
операторы кинохроники
loan translation
4.
Lunchbox
I met this word about 2 years ago, when lunchboxes were not
available and occurred in Russia
контейнер с перекусом
Descriptive translation
5.
the Commissioner
комиссар
Loan translation
6.
He felt a tightening in tub stomach
У него засосало под ложечкой
Functional equivalent
7.
Obvy
teen slang, short from obviously
ясно, очевидно, понятно
Functional equivalent
8.
Wallflower
A type of loner. Seemingly shy «folks» who no one really knows.
Often some of the most interesting people if one actually talks to
them.
Одиночка/ тихоня/ девушка, оставшаяся без кавалера
Descriptive translation
9.
the Special Assistant to the President of the United States
специальный помощник президента США
Loan translation
10.
Admissions officer
Profession in police, translated as « полицейский », because
other details were not relevant.
Сотрудникприемнойкомиссии/ полицейский
Functional equivalent
11.
Class president
A good example of a regionalism. In Russia we mostly do not
elect presidents in classes and schools, and actually have a
completely different structure of school education.
староста
Functional equivalent
12.
the gossip columns
светскаяхроника
Functional equivalent
13.
Jimmy
A highly attractive person. Someone who is caring, loving and
will always be there for you. Any girl would be lucky to be dating
a jimmy. You will easily fall in love with his personality.
Парень-мечта
Functional equivalent
14.
a black-tie din-party
званый обед
Descriptive translation
15.
the ouzo
греческая анисовая водка
Descriptive translation
16.
brandy
коньяк
Functional equivalent
17.
Periods
school term
уроки
Functional equivalent
18.
Burner phone
kind of illegal slang
Неотслеживаемыйтелефон
Descriptive translation
19.
Rosewood
The town the action in the show takes place.
Роузвуд
Transliteration and transcription
20.
Suburb
пригород
Loan translation
21.
"His barque was his bight"
«не бойся собаки, которая лает»
Functional equivalent
22.
a movie star
кинозвезда
Loantranslation
23.
Brownie
cake, widely spread in the USA
пирожок/ брауни/ кекс
Functional equivalent/loan translation
24.
raven black
черные как смоль волосы
Functional equivalent
25.
shoemaker
сапожник
Loan translation
26.
pasty skin
нездоровая, одутловатая кожа
Descriptive translation
27.
trucks
передвижки
Loan translation
28.
Jesus Fish
People who would rather put a symbol of modern Christianity on
their cars than actually live the Christian life. Usually seen on
vehicles speeding and cutting people off in traffic.
Святоша
Functional equivalent
29.
Cab
a taxi (a yellow car with a sign on top that will drive your ass
around town for a price calculated per minute or per mile)
такси
Functional equivalent
30.
Queen bee
A girl who, usually in a high school setting, is the "leader of
the pack." she doesn't always have to be the prettiest, but she is
extremely confident. She knows all of the "important" gossip, and
people emulate her style. If the queen bee wears something new and
different, others will wear it the next day. She always has the
coolest boyfriend, and is at all the parties. Everyone always talks
behind her back about how much they hate her, even though everyone
secretly wishes they were her friend.
Королеваулья
Functional equivalent
31.
Soccer
In the USA usually means the football with red ball (and other
differences, of course).
футбол
Functional equivalent
32.
Lorenzo
name of an Italian character
Лоренцо
transliteration and transcription
33.
Ew
teen slang
фу
Functional equivalent
34.
Email
often equal to text
смс
Functional equivalent
35.
Jet-laggy
slang
акклиматизацияпослеперелета
Descriptive translation
36.
King Kong
Кинг Конг
transliteration and transcription
37.
Knee-jerk
A spontaneous, thoughless, predictable and stereotypical
reaction to something, usually an opinion or a statement.
Автоматически
Functional equivalent
38.
The Cinderella and Prince Charming story
рассказ о Золушке и Прекрасном Принце
Functional equivalent
39.
The warehouses
складские помещения
Descriptive translation
40.
Peasant woman
крестьянка
Loantranslation
41.
Landslide
When one party standing in an election takes a massive majority
over all others, including the reigning party. The name comes from
bar chart presentation, where the drawings resemble a
landslide.
победа на выборах с большим перевесом голосов
Descriptive translation
42.
Whistle stop speech
агитационное выступление кандидата во время остановки поезда
Descriptive translation
43.
A curfew
A defined time or restriction.
комендантскийчас
Functional equivalent
44.
A déjá vu
Even though deja vu is French for "already seen", it actually is
used to describe the strange feeling you get when you're in a
situation, and feel like you've been in the exact same situation
before, but really haven't. Most people think it means the same
thing happening twice, which is wrong.
дежавю
Functional equivalent
45.
Bull
спекулянт, играющий на повышении биржевых ценностей
Descriptive translation
46.
Bear
спекулянт, играющий на понижении биржевых ценностей
Descriptive translation
47.
Coroner
Someone whoinvestigate dead bodies that look like they didnt die
a "natural" death, and probably were murdered
следователь, производящий дознание в случае насильственной или
скоропостижной смерти
Descriptive translation
48.
Honey
детка
Functional equivalent
49.
The ambulance
карета «скорой помощи»
Descriptive translation
50.
Floorer
сильный удар, сшибающий с ног, (в переносном смысле)
озадачивающий вопрос, трудная задача
Descriptive translation
In this research we apportion 4 main receptions of the
translation realities - transliteration and transcription, loan
translation, descriptive translation, using functional
equivalents.
Analysis of the selected corpus of language units demonstrate
that using transliteration and transcription 6% of realities were
translated, 20% were translated by the mean of loan translation,
descriptive translation was used for 32% of realities, and 42% were
translated using functional equivalent.
Conclusion
In my research I learned a number of ways to translate
regionalisms in English. As it was proved, there is no one and only
perfect solution, to solve this problem you got to have a “feeling”
of language, learn traditions of a country it is used in, consider
the audience, which will watch the show you translate and so on and
on!
To sum up, now I can say, that:
The concept "nonequivalent vocabulary" includes lexical units
which have no full or partial equivalents in "translated language".
Realities are understood as the words transferring national and
historical color, i.e. those lexical units which are inseparably
linked with various historic facts, a state system, features of the
geographical environment, life and culture of certain people. Thus,
differentiation of the concepts "nonequivalent vocabulary" and
"reality", at least is necessary because nonequivalent vocabulary
is considered for a pair of languages while realities are universal
for all languages. Besides, the lexical nonequivalence in
translation has not absolute, but relative character; its emergence
is generally connected with distinctions in language systems and an
unequal categorization of reality.
Moreover, there is a number of classifications of realities,
which, though are crossed in some cases, nevertheless have some
differences. In myresearch, I offer the classification, which, in
fact, unites in itself some of previous and doesn't contradict
views of the researchers who were engaged in development of this
subject.
In addition, I would like to say that by the time you understand
and will be able to transfer all the regionalisms, you will know
the language and everything connected with it really great, develop
your mind, memory, logic and moreover just have a good time spent
on studying all the details of the language and translation.
The main purpose of this work was achieved. We studied specifics
and methods of transferring of the English realities when
translating TV-shows. Nevertheless, it would be preposterous
without me defining the importance of correct and adequate
translation in general and of TV-shows; analyzing all difficulties
of translation; doing analysis of the problem of “geographical
actuality”; learning more about ways to transfer a local reality;
deciding, which model of translation suits here best.
However, this subject is still quite unexplored and has plenty
of space to observe. It is caused not only by different views of
translators on the subject, but also by abundance of the factors
and nuances influencinghis decision. The problem of the translation
of realities has formed a basis of a large number of scientific
works. The matter, in essence, consists of several disputed issues:
interpretation of the concept "reality"; a question of
classification of realities (in particular based on what signs it
is necessary to subdivide the considered language units into
groups), and also allocation and differentiation directly ways of
the translation of realities.
Relevance of this subject still is huge for me, as a translator,
which faces a problem of the translation of realities very often.
Realities, which often belong to incoincident elements of language,
new and unfamiliar to other cultures, always represent especial
complexity in translation process and demand further studying and
my research just a drop in the ocean of linguistics.
Thus, the solution of a question of the choice of a certain
reception when translating reality will depend directly on a task
which faces the translator: to keep color of language unit with
possible damage to semantics or to transfer value of reality (if it
isn't known), having lost at the same time sense-coloring.
In my opinion, this trouble cannot also be solved completely
clearly because language is the mirror of humans soul. What kind of
algorithm is capable of solving it? Of course, it cannot be solved
for now. Nevertheless, humanity develops ours opportunities, and
there still is a chance that this important problem will be solved
in future.
List of sources of used information
I. Sourses:
1. V.N. Komissarov «Лингвистикаперевода» / V.N. Komissarov / М.,
1980. – 253 p.
2. СчотчиковаОленаАндрївнаnonequivalent-vocabulary /
СчотчиковаОленаАндрївна //
http://117.klasnaocinka.com.ua/ru/article/nonequivalent-vocabulary.html
3. Alan K. Melby «Why Can't a Computer Translate More Like a
Person?» / Alan K. Melby//
http://paginaspersonales.deusto.es/abaitua/konzeptu/ta/melby96.htm
4. Multilizer | Iina The Power of Mistakes / Multilizer | Iina
//
http://translation-blog.multilizer.com/the-power-of-mistakes/
II. Researches:
5. Clifford E. Landers "Literary Translation: A Practical Guide"
/ Clifford E. Landers // Publisher: Multilingual Matters – 2001.
219 p.
6. Susan BassnettTranslation Studies / Susan Bassnett //
Publisher: Routledge – 2002. 400 p.
III. Articlles:
6. Макаревич А.В. Специфика перевода англоязычных реалий на
русский язык / Макаревич А.В. // 2013.23p.
IV. Reference works:
7. An online dictionary // http://www.dictionary.com/
8. A satirical crowdsourced online dictionary of slang words and
phrases // http://www.urbandictionary.com/
9. An online dictionary // http://www.thesaurus.com/
10. An online encyclopedia, thesaurus, and dictionary //
http://www.reference.com/
Appendix
*5. http://notabenoid.org/, http://cotranslate.net/ - websites,
where I mostly do my translations for TV-shows.
· Data of my profile on cotranslate.net
· Example of regionalism in my practice – in this piece there is
a phrase “class president”, which I translated by a functional
equivalent “староста”.
Another example of regionalism in my practice - in this piece
there is a phrase knee-jerk reaction, which I had translated by a
functional equivalent “наавтомате”.
· One more interesting example – honey here is translated not as
“милая/любимая” but “дорогуша/милочка”.
2