Lexicographical and Translation Issues in the Inclusion of English

José Mateo Martinez

doi:10.7146/hjlcb.v27i52.25134

Abstract

This is a crossroads time for dictionaries in print in general and for bilingual dictionaries of Economics in printin particular. A time when the prevalence of information technologies supposedly makes access to specializedlexicographical information easier and faster. The present study first reviews briefly the current situation of bilingual dictionaries of Economics on paper and their viability in a near future. It then examines, with more detail, the specific lexicographical issue of incorporating (i.e. translating) English financial neonyms, which appear practically everyday in print and internet media, into English-Spanish/Spanish-English Dictionaries of Economics on paper, normally published in the lapse of years. This gap between the immediacy of the Internet and the delay of printing, seems to cause serious problems to bilingual lexicographers specialized in Economics especially when questionable translations of such neonyms are already circulating on the web. This, in addition to the ample presence of electronic glossaries and dictionaries, easily accessible by translators and professionals, but whose reliability, on the other hand, is not always guaranteed. Finally, a more active role is recommended to bilingual lexicographers in Economics by taking advantage of internet information media services and by joining efforts with finance experts and professionals.

Highlights

It is a fact that the present vitality of the Internet and information technologies favours the rapid dissemination of science worldwide
In the field of specialized lexicography, financial terms addressed to the three groups of usual recipients, i.e. experts, semi-experts and lay persons, are usually presented in printed and digital formats (DVD/CD-roms, online, intranets) and organized in mono and bilingual dictionaries and glossaries of Economics
The overt optimism that reigned in the turn of the century with online lexicography has somehow moderated and some think that, in some respects, paper dictionaries are still comparable or even superior to many digital ones (Nesi 2000, 2012; Béjoint 2010)1

Summary

Introduction

It is a fact that the present vitality of the Internet and information technologies favours the rapid dissemination of science worldwide. In light of situations like those just exemplified, the bilingual specialized lexicographers’ work seems to be paved with obstacles because: a) If their task aims at rendering, if possible, equivalent one to one translations of source language financial terms, they may come across, as in the aforementioned examples, multiple different translations of the same English term circulating in Spanish done by experts and professionals and published mainly on the Internet This means that bilingual lexicographers in Economics will either have to choose among the existing terms in Spanish, one that best meets the English financial neonym meaning and usage (which implies a good knowledge of financial intricacies) or suggest a new one. This could be a likely solution to the problem until the digital technologies definitely dominate the specialized lexicographical scenario

Dictionaries

Findings

Other literature