02/01/2021
INTODUCTION
I found this article on the Voice and the Independent News Paper on the 12 and 14 of February 2007.
The article is about the Childhood and Gun Crime across the UK, especially within the Black Community. I used the parallel text from the Independent News paper to combine the subject matter.
BRIEF
I was working for Camden & Islington pct as a Freelance Interpreter, and one day the Interpreter Booking Unit Co-ordinator asked me to translate an article into Portuguese.
I was surprised when the Co-ordinator asked me, because the pct has it on professional translators, I could not I asked the Co-ordinator why I not the really professional’s one that you have on your database?
I was told that they were working together with the Metropolitan Police in order to bring an end to gun crime. Therefore they need someone with no experience in translation but creative and with good knowledge of Portuguese community and language.
The Metropolitan Police was concerned about the childhood and gun crime across cities in UK, and they decided that the easy way to bring an end to gun crime is to inform and advice parents. Also they wanted the parents to take their duty of responsibility to protect their children’s from crime, from fear of crime and to teach them how to give their children self esteem and help the youth to group up and live a normal life without getting involved in crimes.
They decided that the method of publication will be a leaflet in Portuguese because it is easy to read and understand, as most of the people within the Portuguese Community dose not read or write English.
Although it was my first job as a translator, and I was not having experience on the field I decide to accept the job and translate the article into a leaflet.
Reference on Language issues and cross examination:
Peter Newmarks
Peter Newmarks Theory of Semantic and Communicative Methods of Translation!
Newmarks defines The Act of Translation as Transferring The Meaning of a Text , from one Language to another, living mainly the functional relevant meaning!
Newmarks propositions Are:
“the more important the language of a text, the more closely it should be translated”
“the less important the language of a text… the less closely it needs to be translated”
“” the better written a text, the more closely it should be translated, whatever its degree of importance…!
In spite of the problem that poses the ambiguity of “important” and “better written “, his intends to narrow the gap between The Target Language (ciblistes) and The Sources Language (sources).
The translator has to establish priorities in selecting which varieties of meaning to transfer in the first place. For that he or she has to use his creativity, particulalarly when he or she is forced to distort The Target Language introducing new elements of another culture. In that sense he or she will be breaking Tourys Translational Norms.
That is the case when Translating Cultural Metaphors, Transcultural Worlds, Concept Words.
Newmarks Criticises The Present-Day Controversies Struck to The Conflict Between Free and Literal Translation.
For Newmark if The Theory of Translation Insists on Discussing The Topic of The Equivalency, it would be text to Text Equivalence and not Simply Word to Word.
Newmark distinguishes types of teex and types of words in the texts and classifies texts in three categories:
Scientific-Technological
Institutional-Cultural
Literary-Texts
Newmarks stresses that Technical or Institutional Translation can be as challenging as rewarding as The Literary Translation.
Because every Word has it Own Identity, its Resonance, it Value, and Words are affected by their context, also Newmarks distinguishes different types of Words such as:
Functional Word
Technical words
Common words
Institutional words
Lexical words
Concept words
Newmarks Translation types consist in Two:
Semantic Translation
Communicative Translation
Although Newmark states that the Majority of texts require Communicative rather than Semantic Translation.
Communicative Translation is Strictly Functional ans is usually the Word of a Team.
Semantic Translation is Linguistic and Encyclopaedic and it is generally The Word of One Translator.
Among The Translation Problem Newmarks discusses give special attention to The Metaphor, proposing Seven Procedures for The Translation:
Reproducing the same image o The SL in The TL
Replacing the Image in The SL with a Standard TL Image
Translating The Metaphor by a Similar
Translating Metaphor or Similar plus Sense
Conversion of Metaphor to Sense
Deletion
Same Metaphor combined with Sense
Newmarks stays close to The Linguistic Approach when he defines Translation Theory as an Interdisciplinary Study Derivated from Comparative Linguistics.
For Newmarks the main concern of Translation Theory is to determine appropriate Translation Methods for the widest possible range of texts of text-categories and to provide a framework of principles for translating texts and criticizing translation.
Semantic Translation
Communicative Translation
Author Centred Reader Centred
Pursues Authors thought process related to process Pursues Authors intention related to speech
Concerned with Author as individual Adapts and makes the thoughts and cultural content of original more accessible to readers
Semantic and Syntactic orientation length of sentences, position and integrity of clauses word position, preserved whatever possible Effect oriented, formal features, or the original sacrificed more readily
Faithfully more literature Faithfully freer
Informative Effective
Usually more awkward, more detailed, more complex, but briefer Easy reading, more natural, smoother, simply, clearer, more direct, more conventional, conforming to a particular language register of Language, but longer
Personal Social
Source Language Biased Target Language Biased
Over-Translated, more concentrated and more specific than the Original Under-Translated, use of All Terms
More Powerful Less Powerful
Newmark goes over the criticism aspect very superficially. (we find a deep study on process and product of Translation Criticism in Antoine Berman)
Translation Theory also attempts to give some insight into the relation between Thought, Meaning and Language, and can show the student all that is or may be involved in The Translation process.
For Newmarks then Translation is a Craft. The Translator acquires a technique in which The Process to be followed takes into account The Acts of Comprehension, Interpretation, Formulation and Recreation
Semantic Translation Communicative Translation
Always inferior of the Original because of Loss of The Meaning Might be better The Original, because of it force of clarity, despite of it Semantic Content
Out of he local Time and Eternal Space Existent Content Ephemeral and Rooted
Wide and Universal Made by the tailor, and Targeted for one category of the readership, does one job, and fulfils one particular function
Inaccuracy is always wrong Discreet modulation, a stylistic synonymy, the embroidering is condoned, the provided facts are straight and suitable for the readers
Applicable to all writers Applicable to interpersonal texts
Usually work of One Translator Basically work Of Translation Team
Meaning Message
Tends to words collocations and clauses Translations tend to sentences and paragraph
SENDER
The sender’s of the texts are: The Voice and The Independent News paper.
The Sender intention is a mixture because it gives information about gun crime, advice and influence.
There are two texts producers, The Voice News Paper and the parallel text from the Independent News Paper Richard Garner (talk about the Education and he is the Independent Education Editor) and Jeremy Laurance (talk about Health and he is the Independent Health Editor) both are the sender’s and the producers.
Although the Voice news paper is the Sender of the source text, the writer of the article is Claudia Webbe a Farmer Street and neighbourhood’s community worker.
The Channel is a written communicator – News paper.
Medium is a general readership.
Place is UK and the Time is contemporary – 12 and 14 of February 2007.
MOTIVE FOR COMMUNICATION
As a translator I am not the Source Text message sender, my job is to adopt the sender intention in order to produce a communicative instrument for the target culture document of the Source-Culture Communication. And because the article was written for especial occasion for the purpose to give advice, inform and influence the readers especially the public, and is intended to be read and heard regularly, I have to kip the sender intention, time, medium place and text function for the purpose of the communication and focus on the extratextual and intratextual features.
SUBJECT MATTER
The Source Text is a text combination there is more than one subject (please look at the parallel text), and the subject matter is about gun crime. The component of the combination talks about the Poverty, Education, Happiness, Families, Health, and Drug use which are related to the Source Text.
There is a hierarchy of compatible subject which means that the gun crime and violence give more weight than others subject.
The subject matter on the Source language and Target Language is bounded by socio-cultural context expectations towards the text, and the extent to which they are influenced.
CONTENT
The extratextual features are verbalised in the text by conventions which means use of direct speech, dates and time; different issues such as: Poverty, Education, Happiness, Families, Health and Drugs.
There is also use of connotation “gun is now a status symbol among too many young people demanding respect and power” (please look at line 27).
As a translator I can draw from the analysis of the content with reference to intratextual factors such as presuppositions: discrimination, misinformation, physiologic pressure and misjudgement, (please look at line 40 – “they are terrified on our streets and in our neighbourhoods, looking for any means necessary to defend themselves”). And the culture background focuses more on black community.
PRESUPPOSITION
The model of the reality that the information refer to is the life within the black community, and the reference to reality and information is verbalized in the text as comments about the Authority, (please look at line 168).
TEXT COMPOSITION
The Source Text is not a stand alone text, is an embedded text with sub-text, text combination and parallel text.
The microstructure is composed by repetition of words such as gun, crime and drugs.
As a translator I need to bear in mind the thematic progression realised in the text, which means what come first and what is needed to be translated.
I will preserve the culture-bound communicative signs, because the Source Text and the Target Text are determined by the communicative situation in which they serve to convey a message.
The text is a conventional composition which means use of direct speech, date, time and use of non-verbal elements.
NON-VERBAL ELEMENTS
The non-verbal elements that are included in the text are pictures of children’s and gun. They are specifically linked to the source culture because they preserve the culture-bound communicative sings determined by the medium and they are conventionally bound by the text type.
LEXIS
The extratextual factors reflected in the use of lexis are medium specific lexic with formal language, containing key words such as: gun violence, gun crime, murders, crack co***ne, crack criminal, drug dealers, homicides, respect and power, indicate the attitude of the sender as a journalistic text, and as well
the field of lexic terminologies represented in the text.
TRANSLATION METHOD
I will focus more on the purpose of the translation as possible and bear in mind the situational of the prospective Target Text reception time and medium.
Therefore I will use word for word, I will be faithful communicative and use an Idiomatic expression.
To preserve loyalty towards the Source Text sender and intention, there will be some changes regarding to the non-verbal elements which is the picture of the gun, because it would be seeing as a non-sign of communication within the Portuguese community, also I will preserve the culture-bound communicative signs, because the Source Text and the Target Text are determined by the communicative situation in which they serve to convey a message.
TRANSLATION PROBLEMS
The first difficulty I found was when I come across with an idiomatic expression in the Source Text “Kick in the Teeth” (please look at the line 189).
I could not find the write equivalent for the above word level, so I decide to check my choice more than once and then decide whatever I should choose or not an idiom of similar meaning and form or an idiom of similar meaning but dissimilar form. Because in Portuguese language “Kick in the Teeth” means “Dar um chuto no Dente, Dar Pontape no Dente”, which dose not convey the same information as at the Source Text.
I ended choosing “Pontape de Saida num Desafio de Futebol” because it convey the same meaning as the ST, and the readers will understand more the meaning of “Life were cheap” (please look at the line 190 which will give you a clear understanding of the points I made).
Peter Newmarks
Peter Newmarks Theory of Semantic and Communicative Methods of Translation!
Newmarks defines The Act of Translation as Transferring The Meaning of a Text , from one Language to another, living mainly the functional relevant meaning!
Newmarks propositions Are:
“the more important the language of a text, the more closely it should be translated”
“the less important the language of a text… the less closely it needs to be translated”
“” the better written a text, the more closely it should be translated, whatever its degree of importance…!
In spite of the problem that poses the ambiguity of “important” and “better written “, his intends to narrow the gap between The Target Language (ciblistes) and The Sources Language (sources).
The translator has to establish priorities in selecting which varieties of meaning to transfer in the first place. For that he or she has to use his creativity, particulalarly when he or she is forced to distort The Target Language introducing new elements of another culture. In that sense he or she will be breaking Tourys Translational Norms.
That is the case when Translating Cultural Metaphors, Transcultural Worlds, Concept Words.
Newmarks Criticises The Present-Day Controversies Struck to The Conflict Between Free and Literal Translation.
For Newmark if The Theory of Translation Insists on Discussing The Topic of The Equivalency, it would be text to Text Equivalence and not Simply Word to Word.
Newmark distinguishes types of teex and types of words in the texts and classifies texts in three categories:
Scientific-Technological
Institutional-Cultural
Literary-Texts
Newmarks stresses that Technical or Institutional Translation can be as challenging as rewarding as The Literary Translation.
Because every Word has it Own Identity, its Resonance, it Value, and Words are affected by their context, also Newmarks distinguishes different types of Words such as:
Functional Word
Technical words
Common words
Institutional words
Lexical words
Concept words
Newmarks Translation types consist in Two:
Semantic Translation
Communicative Translation
Although Newmark states that the Majority of texts require Communicative rather than Semantic Translation.
Communicative Translation is Strictly Functional ans is usually the Word of a Team.
Semantic Translation is Linguistic and Encyclopaedic and it is generally The Word of One Translator.
Among The Translation Problem Newmarks discusses give special attention to The Metaphor, proposing Seven Procedures for The Translation:
Reproducing the same image o The SL in The TL
Replacing the Image in The SL with a Standard TL Image
Translating The Metaphor by a Similar
Translating Metaphor or Similar plus Sense
Conversion of Metaphor to Sense
Deletion
Same Metaphor combined with Sense
Newmarks stays close to The Linguistic Approach when he defines Translation Theory as an Interdisciplinary Study Derivated from Comparative Linguistics.
For Newmarks the main concern of Translation Theory is to determine appropriate Translation Methods for the widest possible range of texts of text-categories and to provide a framework of principles for translating texts and criticizing translation.
Newmark goes over the criticism aspect very superficially. (we find a deep study on process and product of Translation Criticism in Antoine Berman)
Translation Theory also attempts to give some insight into the relation between Thought, Meaning and Language, and can show the student all that is or may be involved in The Translation process.
For Newmarks then Translation is a Craft. The Translator acquires a technique in which The Process to be followed takes into account The Acts of Comprehension, Interpretation, Formulation and Recreation
Semantic Translation
Communicative Translation
Author Centred Reader Centred
Pursues Authors thought process related to process Pursues Authors intention related to speech
Concerned with Author as individual Adapts and makes the thoughts and cultural content of original more accessible to readers
Semantic and Syntactic orientation length of sentences, position and integrity of clauses word position, preserved whatever possible Effect oriented, formal features, or the original sacrificed more readily
Faithfully more literature Faithfully freer
Informative Effective
Usually more awkward, more detailed, more complex, but briefer Easy reading, more natural, smoother, simply, clearer, more direct, more conventional, conforming to a particular language register of Language, but longer
Personal Social
Source Language Biased Target Language Biased
Over-Translated, more concentrated and more specific than the Original Under-Translated, use of All Terms
More Powerful Less Powerful
Semantic Translation Communicative Translation
Always inferior of the Original because of Loss of The Meaning Might be better The Original, because of it force of clarity, despite of it Semantic Content
Out of he local Time and Eternal Space Existent Content Ephemeral and Rooted
Wide and Universal Made by the tailor, and Targeted for one category of the readership, does one job, and fulfils one particular function
Inaccuracy is always wrong Discreet modulation, a stylistic synonymy, the embroidering is condoned, the provided facts are straight and suitable for the readers
Applicable to all writers Applicable to interpersonal texts
Usually work of One Translator Basically work Of Translation Team
Meaning Message
Tends to words collocations and clauses Translations tend to sentences and paragraph
CONCLUSION
The reason why I have chosen this subject is because there is too much job to be done in our society, not just within the black community but in all communities across the UK.
The message of the Source Text especially the Parallel Text is very stronger, and it reflects in our mind and makes us think about the future of the next generation.
