Translation Techniques

Question 1

Transposition

Answer 1

A switch in grammatical categories (eg nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions) without affecting the meaning of

Question 2

Modulation

Answer 2

Involves a change in category of thought

Question 3

Equivalence

Answer 3

A special type of modulation: a set message modulation, the message can’t be separated from it’s context

Question 4

Adaptation

Answer 4

It addresses cultural ones, farthest from literal translation and some of the message is lost in translation

Question 5

Transposition example

Answer 5

Fr: on était au commencement d’avril quand les primevères sont écloses, un vent tiède se roule les plates-bandes labourées et les jardins, comme des femmes, semblent faire leur toilette pour les fêtes de l’été
En: it was early April when primroses are out, a warm wind wafts over tilled flowerbeds and gardens, like women, seem to be dressing up for the summer parties

Question 6

Example of modulation

Answer 6

Fr: tout compte fait, mieux valait Thérèse disparût, on l’oublierait plus vite, les gens perdraient l’habitude de parler d’elle
En: all things considered, it was better that thérèse should go away, she would be forgotten sooner, people would stop talking about her

Question 7

Example of equivalence

Answer 7

Fr: Elle a des façons de parler qui me mettent hors de moi
En: she has a way of speaking which infuriates me

Question 8

Example of adaptation

Answer 8

Fr: l’été de mes quinze ans, à la fin de l’année scolaires j’aillai deux ou trois fois cantor au bois avec Zaza et d’autres camarades
En: the summer I turned fifteen, at the end of the school year, I went boating in the Bois de Boulogne on a couple of occasions with Zaza and a few other friends
Le bois referred to bois de Boulogne which is a large forested area