Adequate Translation Research Articles

An Introduction to the Difficulties in Translating Sacred Texts

Religious translation contributes significantly to the development of translation as a subject. In the field of religious translation, the most frequently translated documents are sacred texts since sacred texts are central to a religion. However, due to complicated and sensitive cultural elements sacred texts contain, the translating processes of any sacred texts are filled with difficulties. To produce more adequate translation of sacred texts, the potential difficulties are ought to be studied and understood. This article will introduce the major difficulties in translating sacred texts and, briefly discuss current methods utilized in sacred text translation, and provide suggestions. Contents will be provided in the following order: reasons for translating sacred texts (introduction), linguistic difficulties in the sacred text translation, religious issues in the sacred text translation, current translation method of the sacred text, and conclusion with suggestions on the potential methods of sacred text translation depending on a translation’s target audiences.

TRANSLATION OF METAPHORS IN MODERN DIPLOMATIC DISCOURSE (BASED ON RUSSIAN, CHINESE AND ENGLISH MATERIALS)

A metaphor in diplomatic discourse is a figure of speech or expression that transfers meaning from one context to another, usually to enhance the impact of a message or make complex ideas easier to understand. In diplomacy, metaphors are often used to make communication more visual and memorable, as well as to covertly convey intentions and positions without directly expressing them. This article explores the complexities and subtleties of translating metaphorical expressions that play an important role in diplomatic communication. The author analyzes metaphors used in diplomatic discourse in three different linguistic and cultural contexts: Russian, Chinese and English, highlighting three categories of equivalence: complete, partial and no equivalence. The choice of translation method (literal, descriptive or free) depends on the degree of equivalence of the metaphor in the source and target languages. The study highlights the importance of adequate translation of metaphors for accurate and effective intercultural communication, suggesting translation strategies for each category. The work contributes to translation theory and practice by emphasizing the need to consider cultural and contextual factors to achieve intercultural understanding in diplomacy.

Старинная немецкая песня в историко-культурном и переводческом аспектах (на примере баллады „Liebe ohne Stand“ из сборника А. фон Арнима и К. Брентано «Волшебный рог мальчика»)

The article is devoted to the problem of an old German song translation from German into Russian, which is relevant for modern linguistics. Aiming at an adequate poetic translation of the ballad “Liebe ohne Stand”, the author conducts a detailed pre-translation cultural and linguistic analysis of the original text. Using hermeneutical and comparative methods, as well as methods of structural and linguistic analysis, the author creates a basis for the further translation. As a result, a translation of the ballad with comments is presented, and the features of the poetic translation of a medieval song from German into Russian are established.

Structure-Aided Computational Design of Triazole-Based Targeted Covalent Inhibitors of Cruzipain.

Cruzipain (CZP), the major cysteine protease present in T. cruzi, the ethiological agent of Chagas disease, has attracted particular attention as a therapeutic target for the development of targeted covalent inhibitors (TCI). The vast chemical space associated with the enormous molecular diversity feasible to explore by means of modern synthetic approaches allows the design of CZP inhibitors capable of exhibiting not only an efficient enzyme inhibition but also an adequate translation to anti-T. cruzi activity. In this work, a computer-aided design strategy was developed to combinatorially construct and screen large libraries of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole analogues, further identifying a selected set of candidates for advancement towards synthetic and biological activity evaluation stages. In this way, a virtual molecular library comprising more than 75 thousand diverse and synthetically feasible analogues was studied by means of molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations in the search of potential TCI of CZP, guiding the synthetic efforts towards a subset of 48 candidates. These were synthesized by applying a Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) centered synthetic scheme, resulting in moderate to good yields and leading to the identification of 12 hits selectively inhibiting CZP activity with IC50 in the low micromolar range. Furthermore, four triazole derivatives showed good anti-T. cruzi inhibition when studied at 50 μM; and Ald-6 excelled for its high antitrypanocidal activity and low cytotoxicity, exhibiting complete in vitro biological activity translation from CZP to T. cruzi. Overall, not only Ald-6 merits further advancement to preclinical in vivo studies, but these findings also shed light on a valuable chemical space where molecular diversity might be explored in the search for efficient triazole-based antichagasic agents.

DIFFICULTIES IN TRANSLATING POPULAR SCIENCE TEXT IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMY (ON THE MATERIAL OF THE MONOGRAPH A.R. KROEBER CHINA`S ECONOMY: WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW)

Background. An adequate translation should fulfill the purpose of communication, which is imbedded in the original. At the same time, it is necessary to take into consideration both the content of the text and its pragmatic function. The translator`s task is using various types of translation transformations to select adequate lexical, phraseological, grammatical structures to maintain the pragmatic function of the translation at the level of the original. The authors of the article study the most interesting examples of translation difficulties based on the material of the monograph A.R. Kroeber China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know and offer their own variants of their translation. Purpose. Analysis of the translation difficulties of a popular scientific text on economic topics. Materials and methods. The main research method is comparative analysis. The article is based on the text of the monograph A.R. Kroeber China’s Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know. Results. Analysis of the text of the monograph (parts 2.6-3.3 / 30,048 sign.) has revealed more than 200 translation difficulties with the help of which the pragmatic function of the text is preserved. These linguistic phenomena require detailed analysis using logical thinking, linguistic and extensive background knowledge for their adequate translation. The results of the research can be used in the preparation of lecture materials and practical tasks for the program "Translator in the field of professional communication" in disciplines focused on translation studies.

PECULIARITIES OF TRANSLATION OF PROFESSIONALLY ORIENTED SPEECH

The article analyzes the concept of translation of professionally oriented speech in the scientific studies of foreign and domestic researchers. In the modern world, the development of social sciences, technology, culture, and social relations is impossible without knowledge of what has been done and what achievements there are in these fields in other countries. Globalization, combined with advances in communication technologies and social media, has led to a noticeable increase in professionals capable of professional communication in an intercultural space, possessing translation competence, which allows, in particular, the use of international experience reflected in foreign language professional literature. In this regard, the relevance of adequate translation of professionally oriented texts in any field is increasing. The purpose of the research is to study and analyze the main features of the translation of special texts. The basis of the research is formed by such methods as theoretical analysis of domestic and foreign sources, generalization, systematization, lexical and component analysis. The result of the study is the selection and analysis of the most frequent features that arise during the translation of specialized texts. The obtained data allow us to speak about the predominance of word combinations, most of which are translated literally, namely by tracing, that is, have a specific analogue in the translated language, which allows us to draw a conclusion about the development and further development of the terminological system of special texts. The obtained results can be applied in teaching practice and be used in foreign language classes in higher educational institutions to solve the problem of students’ translation problems.

Ontological and philosophical basis of the causal status of ethnopsychological idiosyncrasy in translation/interpretation

The causal status of the phenomenon of ethnopsychological idiosyncrasy is considered in the article in relation to the process of translation in the format of activity ontology. In translation studies, activity ontology uses not only comparison of idiomatic units and structures, but also, for research purposes, draws on textual, cultural, psychological, philosophical, pragmatic, cognitive and other aspects and phenomena which underlie translation process as a unique manifestation of interlingual and intercultural mediation. The activity paradigm opened up new prospects for studying fundamental problems of the translation theory. Among these problems are factors (determinants) of an adequate translation that are prerequisites of a translator’s work. Ethnopsychological idiosyncrasy, the concepts world picture and closely connected world idiomatic picture are considered from philosophical, and linguistic perspectives as well as from the point of view of translation theory.The article proves the causal status of ethnopsychological idiosyncrasy as one of the most important factors determining translation activity. In order not to “lose yourself ” in the idiomatic picture of the target language, which is conditio sine qua non for an adequate translation, translators should possess professional skills to overcome conceptual stereotypes and peculiarities of the ethnic and psychological idiosyncrasy in the source language. If it doesn’t happen, translations are perceived as not quite natural and therefore are not fully adequate.The differences in ethnic and psychological peculiarities in the communities, which enter into bilingual communication, form an ethnic and psychological differential, which should be neutralized during translation.The author established certain manifestations of the Spanish ethnic and psychological idiosyncrasy relevant for the translator’s communicative activity in the Spanish-Russian idiomatic combination.

Translation by Evidence: A Form-based Approach to the Translation of Sacred Texts

This study suggests a form-based approach to the translation of sacred texts, particularly the Holy Qur'an. This approach is referred to as Translation by Evidence (TE). Drawing upon Sperber and Wilson's Relevance Theory (1986, 2002), TE suggests that any translation of the Holy Quran should be faithful to the source text (ST) in two ways: It should transfer all pieces of evidence that serve a particular function (1), and keep ST and TT receptors' processing efforts comparable (2). The study applied TE to the polar interrogatives in the translation of the Qur’an initiated with the particle [hal] (roughly translated as is or is there). The pieces of evidence in the Ayas were found to be suggestive of three speech acts, namely assertives, expressives and directives. The study argued that TE is a more adequate translation strategy as it producea a more faithful translation in terms of the cognitive effect of the translated Ayas processing effort by the TT receivers. Keywords: Translation by Evidence, Relevance Theory, the Holy Qur'an, Interrogatives, Faithfulness

Some Peculiarities of Translation of Medical Texts (on the Example of Cardiological Material)

Medicine is one of the most dynamically developing fields, requiring from translators not only specialised skills, but also basic knowledge of medicine. The present study is devoted to the study of specific features of medical texts and ways of their translation from English into Russian. The aim of the study is to identify the most overlooked problems that may be encountered when translating medical texts and to provide solutions to them. The subject of the study was the peculiarities encountered during the translation from English into Russian of the original practical manual on electrocardiography. The methodological basis of this study was formed by the solid sampling method, descriptive method and method of linguocultural analysis of linguistic material. As a result of the study, a number of features is identified that require increased attention when working with medical texts: borrowing words from Latin and Greek, the use of complex abbreviations and acronyms, the transition to gender-neutral pronouns, the translation of mnemonics, differences in classifications and health care systems. The ways of their translation are also analysed, and appropriate equivalents are selected. The methods of their translation are also analyzed and the appropriate equivalents are selected. General recommendations for overcoming the highlighted translation difficulties are given. Knowledge of morphemes of Greek and Latin origin, the ability to adapt the translation to the realities of another country, continuous professional development will help to overcome difficulties in translation. The skills of working with dictionaries and handbooks play an important role in the translation of a professionally-oriented vocabulary layer and the choice of expressions suitable for the meaning. In conclusion, the competencies that a translator in the medical field should possess in order to perform a high-quality adequate translation of medical texts are given.

Языковая личность переводчика и прагматическая вариативность перевода (на материале переводов романа Дж. Остин «Гордость и предубеждение»)

The research aims to identify the translation solutions that reflect a translator’s linguistic personality. The translations of Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” by I. S. Marshak, I. G. Gurova, and A. Ya. Livergant served as the research material. The paper examines the notions of “translation variability” and “a translator’s linguistic personality”, investigates the transformations of speech acts in different translation variants taking into account the manifestation of translators’ linguistic personality. The translation process is determined by many factors, including pragmatic ones, which is manifested in the choice of speech acts for the final version of the translation. The research is original in that it considers the transformation of speech acts as a translator’s individual choice based on the analysis of such objective pragmatic components of translation discourse as proposition and presupposition. As a result of the research, it was found that a professional translator is looking for an objective, adequate and harmonious (in cognitive, linguistic, and cultural terms) translation variant, deciphering the pragmatic parameters of the original text taking into account their influence on the addressee, which leads to the transformation of speech acts in the translation process.

English Onomatopoeic Verbs of Motion in Literary Works by Lora Owen and Their Translation into the Russian Language

Introduction. The study is focused on English onomatopoeic verbs of motion in the literary texts for children. A comparative analysis of sentences containing this particular semantic group of verbs in the original text and in the corresponding sentences of the translated text is carried out, the main goal being to ascertain whether the translator managed to avoid the loss of iconicity and preserve iconic features of the original verb in the target language translation and to what extent. Methodology and source. The study was conducted on the original texts of 16 short stories for young children by Laura Owen and the texts of their translations into Russian by T. Slavnikova and E. Ukhova. The selection of verbs of motion was carried out in accordance with the dictionary definitions of competent monolingual English dictionaries, which resulted in clasifying all verbs the meaning “movement in space” as verbs of motion. The corpus of studied verbs obtained by continuous sampling from the analysed texts amounted to 201 lexemes, 160 of which being of iconic origin. At the second stage of the reseach, a comparative analysis of original sentences containing onomatopoeic verbs of motion and their contextual translations was perfomed in order to assess the quality of the translation. Results and discussion. A high degree of saturation (79.6 %) of the analyzed original tests with onomatopeic verbs of motion was revealed. The analysis of the translated texts of L. Owen’s stories for kids by T. Slavnikova strongly indicates a realistic possibility of rendering anomatopeic verbs of motion into a target language preserving their iconic essence. Conclusion. It seems apparent that to ensure adequate translation of iconic lexis, translators should be aware of iconicity theory and phonosemantics, as well as acquire skills to effectively apply them in practical translation. Further research of this kind translation might contribute to developing some strategies for translating iconic lexis.

Особенности перевода поэтического англоязычного текста на русский язык в контексте его эквивалентности (на примере “Up in the Air”, опубликованного издательством «Браун Уотсон»)

The aim of our research is to determine the features of the translation of the English-language poem “Up in the Air” published by the Czechoslovak printing house “Brown Watson” in the context of the possibility of achieving its equivalence with versions in Russian. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the authors of the article established the prevailing types of translation transformations when rendering the analyzed work from English into Russian by two translators, which provided the researchers’ contribution to the concept of translation plurality proposed by R. R. Tchaikovsky. As a result of the research, difficulties in translation were identified related to the transfer of lexical-semantic, lexical-grammatical, syntactic organization, emotionally charged vocabulary and the structural embodiment of the author’s poetic text, as well as to the subjectivity of choosing a translation solution. To achieve an adequate translation of the poem under study, the use of definite transformations expanded the range of searches for compensation for lost meaning and provided translators with a certain degree of creative freedom, the boundaries of which were established by the original.

Using Symmetries to Lift Satisfiability Checking

We analyze how symmetries can be used to compress structures (also known as interpretations) onto a smaller domain without loss of information. This analysis suggests the possibility to solve satisfiability problems in the compressed domain for better performance. Thus, we propose a 2-step novel method: (i) the sentence to be satisfied is automatically translated into an equisatisfiable sentence over a ``lifted'' vocabulary that allows domain compression; (ii) satisfiability of the lifted sentence is checked by growing the (initially unknown) compressed domain until a satisfying structure is found. The key issue is to ensure that this satisfying structure can always be expanded into an uncompressed structure that satisfies the original sentence to be satisfied. We present an adequate translation for sentences in typed first-order logic extended with aggregates. Our experimental evaluation shows large speedups for generative configuration problems. The method also has applications in the verification of software operating on complex data structures. Our results justify further research in automatic translation of sentences for symmetry reduction.

Tre nyanser av adekvans. Om grader av källbundenhet i spänningsfältet mellan det vernakulära och det kosmopolitiska i tre svenska översättningar

It is well known that the Swedish literary culture is open and that the most common overall translation strategy for high prestige fiction is adequate, in the Toury sense (2012 p. 70). But are there different degrees of adequacy? And do translators favor vernacular or cosmopolitan stances in their overall adequate translations? Are there any signs of commercial vernacular­ ism on the cover of the studied Caribbean novels translated from English, French and English/ Spanish? By employing the transformations reduction, substitution and retention, the results of the study show that retention is by far the most used transformation by the Swedish publishers and translators, concerning both the paratexts and translated texts. Commercial vernacularism is detectable on the covers. However, the strength of retention varies within the overall adequate translations; from an adequate translation conforming to Swedish expectancy norms for trans­ lated high prestige fiction, which is employed by the translator of the novel Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid, over a foreignizing translation strategy reminding the reader of the presence of the culturally Other, used by the translator of Maryse Condé’s novel Traversée de la mangrove, to the abusive fidelity translation challenging the tolerant Swedish reader’s expectancy norms and translation ethics reading the translation of The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. The study shows that there are three nuances of adequacy in the studied material.

Сommunicative Discourse of Tattvasaṅgrāha by Śāntarakṣita

The study provides an insight into the structural features of the famous VIII century Buddhist treatise Tattvasaṅgrāha by Śāntarakṣita with regard to the text’s main purpose ( prayojana ) as it is treated in Kamalaśīla’s commentary Pañjikā . Any text along with its referential (representational) function of conveying message - meaning to the addressee, or its expressive function, reflecting the author's attitude to what is communicated, also performs the ‘appellative’ function, encouraging the recipient of the message to act. This function which could also be called praxiological was always significant in Indian text culture, since from the times of Veda-s it was embedded in its very core. This function is of paramount importance in the case of Indian religious and philosophical texts, whose main aim is to convince and transform the consciousness of their percipients. Along with linear models of message transfer, Sanskrit texts could demonstrate non-linear semantic structures, transmitting the main idea of the text indirectly. It is exactly how one should perceive the message of Śāntarakṣita’s Tattvasaṅgrāha according to the suggested by Śāntarakṣita’s prominent student Kamalaśīla in his Pañjikā -commentary to the treatise. He proposes to consider Tattvasaṅgrāha not as a thematically heterogeneous encyclopaedic or doxographic work, whose main objective is to refute different non-Buddhist views (as it is often treated by scholars now), but as a text, which by its very design exposes one of the most important Buddhist principles - the law of the dependent origination ( pratītyasamutpāda ). The themes, discussed in a number of the chapters of Tattvasaṅgrāha, indeed, appear to have direct correlation with the characteristics of pratītyasamutpāda given to it in Śālistamba-sūtra - an early Mahāyāna text, which explains this universal law. Kamalaśīla suggests looking at Tattvasaṅgrāha as at one big unit-sentence - mahāvākya , with the exposition of pratītyasamutpāda as its unitary purpose-meaning ( abhidheya ). In this context, the treatise functions as a praxiological tool for the ‘installing’ into the consciousness of the text’s addressee the knowledge of ‘true principles’ (tattva-s) of pratītyasamutpāda . This interpretation of the main message of the text raises also a question of the adequate translation of the name of the treatise into other languages, because, according to Kamalaśīla, ‘ Tattvasaṅgrāha’ means the ‘Assembly of Principles-(tattva’-s)’ which specify precisely pratītyasamutpāda (pratītyasamutpāda-viśeṣaṇāni tattvāni).

Classifying autism in a clinical population based on motion synchrony: a proof-of-concept study using real-life diagnostic interviews

Predictive modeling strategies are increasingly studied as a means to overcome clinical bottlenecks in the diagnostic classification of autism spectrum disorder. However, while some findings are promising in the light of diagnostic marker research, many of these approaches lack the scalability for adequate and effective translation to everyday clinical practice. In this study, our aim was to explore the use of objective computer vision video analysis of real-world autism diagnostic interviews in a clinical sample of children and young individuals in the transition to adulthood to predict diagnosis. Specifically, we trained a support vector machine learning model on interpersonal synchrony data recorded in Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) interviews of patient-clinician dyads. Our model was able to classify dyads involving an autistic patient (n = 56) with a balanced accuracy of 63.4% against dyads including a patient with other psychiatric diagnoses (n = 38). Further analyses revealed no significant associations between our classification metrics with clinical ratings. We argue that, given the above-chance performance of our classifier in a highly heterogeneous sample both in age and diagnosis, with few adjustments this highly scalable approach presents a viable route for future diagnostic marker research in autism.

Titles of Acts: Translation from English into Russian

The article examines titles of English acts such as ‘The Act of Settlement 1701’, ‘The Instrument of Government 1653’, ‘The Act of Supremacy; 1534, 1559, ‘The Reform Act’ 1832, 1867, 1884 and ‘The Test Act’ 1673, 1678 and their translation into the Russian language. The analysis of textbooks and manuals on law and state history of foreign countries in the Russian language shows that their authors refer to the titles that have firmly entrenched in the Russian language, even though some of them have been translated incorrectly. Some researchers provide their own mostly word-for-word translation or totally avoid mentioning the titles of acts in the text. At the same time, adequate translation is essential as it allows readers to elicit necessary information and gain extensive and comprehensive knowledge on the subject. The polysemy of legal terms and the underlying historical background make the process of translation into Russian even more complicated. The differences between legal systems and languages due to their unique historical and cultural development cause difficulties in the translation process even for the most advanced machine translation tools based on neural networks. In order for the translation to be accurate, and therefore the cognitive function to be fully performed in academic texts, it is necessary to be familiar with the field of legal science as a whole, to take into account the historical context as well as the background of a particular act. The lack of background knowledge and the inability to grasp the meaning, role and importance of this or that act of Parliament results in word-for-word erroneous translation that in its turn distorts the original meaning of the text. The polysemy of English terms makes it difficult to find the corresponding equivalent term in Russian. Descriptive translation based on background knowledge with due regard for language peculiarities, as well as the use of such tools as footnotes and comments, can contribute to achieving the purpose.

Peculiarities of Transferring the Proper Names in the Process of Audiovisual Translation (based on the material of the English language cartoon “Madagascar”)

The article deals with the issue of translating proper names (PN) from English into Russian based on the American fulllength cartoon “Madagascar” (2005). The results of the linguacultural analysis of the peculiarities and methods of PN transferring in the process of audiovisual translation within the framework of strategies for preserving, adapting and omitting onyms are presented. The PN preservation strategy proved to be most productive, as evidenced by more than half of the examples considered. This accounts for the importance of PN in the plot structure of the animated film, the translator’s aim to keep the meaning and intent of the authors’ original work and its cultural specificity. The authors of the article came to the conclusion that in order to achieve an adequate and equivalent translation of PN in dubbing, it is necessary to take into account various factors that affect the final choice of the translation technique.

Linguocultural Elements in Text of Novel “On Eve” and Analysis of Their Translated Equivalents in Serbian

The article is devoted to the issue of cross-cultural communication and difficult cases of translation into Serbian and Croatian languages of lexical and phraseological units from Ivan Turgenev’s novel “On the Eve”. The relevance of this issue lies in the analysis of translation as an act of communication, during which the linguistic worldview of the people is represented. The material for the study was translations of the novel “On the Eve” into Serbian and Croatian languages from different years, which are close to Russian. As a tertium comparationis, we considered the translation of this work into English. The authors analyzed forms of address and non-equivalent vocabulary, as well as idioms, which translators represented differently in their translation options. As a result of the study, it was found that difficulties arise in translating words that denote concepts related to the cultural-historical Russian context. It is shown that Serbian translators often try to take historical facts into account and give comments when there are no equivalents in their native language. It is noted that there is currently a need for a Russian-Serbian linguistic and cultural dictionary that will help a specialist create an adequate translation variant close to the original.

Good practice in reaching and treating refugees in addiction care in Germany – a Delphi study

BackgroundHealth and adequate access to health care are human rights. Refugees are at risk for substance abuse. Despite the known structural and personal risk factors for abuse, refugees in Germany continue to face barriers to adequate addiction prevention and care, which is a violation of the fundamental human right to health care. The question arises as to how barriers for refugees in reaching addiction services and care can be overcome. In the presented study, strategies for good practices to deconstruct these barriers were identified.MethodA total of 21 experts participated in a three-round, consensus-oriented Delphi-Process. The experts represented five different fields: addiction care services, including specialized programs for women, refugee aid services, academia, policy-making and immigrants’ self-help services.ResultsThe Delphi-Process generated 39 strategies of good practice summarized in 9 major categories: Care System, Framework Conditions, Multilingualism, Information and Education, Access, Service-Level, Employee-Level, Employee-Attitudes and Networking.ConclusionIn order to guarantee human rights regarding health and adequate access to health care for refugees, institutional barriers limiting access to prevention and treatment programs for addictive disorders must be abolished. The identified good practice strategies for Germany, if widely implemented, could contribute to this aim. By opening up prevention and treatment facilities for refugees, other marginalized groups could also benefit. While some of the strategies need to be implemented at the institutional level, political steps are also required at the system level including, e.g. financing of adequate translation services.