The Other Translation Procedures

While translation methods relate to whole texts, translation procedures are used foi sentences and the smaller units of language. Since literal translation is the most important of the procedures, we have discussed it in a separate chapter (Chapter 7). We shall now discuss the other procedures, whose use always depends on a variety of contextual factors. We shall not discuss here the special procedures for metaphoi and metalanguage.
TRANSFERENCE
Transference (emprunt, loan word, transcription) is the process of transferring a SL word to a TL text as a translation procedure. It is the same as Catford's trans­ference, and includes transliteration, which relates to the conversion of differeni alphabets: e.g. Russian (Cyrillic), Greek, Arabic, Chinese, etc. into English. The word then becomes a `loan word'. Some authorities deny that this is a translatior. procedure, but no other term is appropriate if a translator decides to use an SL word for his text, say for English and the relevant language, dc4c;or, ambiance, Schadenfreude; the French diplomatic words: coup d'etat, detente, coup, attentat, demarche; dachshund, samovar, dacha, or for German Image, Job, `last but noi least'. However, when the translator has to decide whether or not to transfer a worc unfamiliar in the target language, which in principle should be a SL cultural worc whose referent is peculiar to the SL culture (see Chapter 9), then he usuall5 complements it with a second translation procedure - the two procedures ir harness are referred to as a `couplet'. Generally, only cultural `objects' or concept: related to a small group or cult should be transferred; the vogue for transferring sc called `national characteristics' (Gemutlichkeit, machismo, dolce vita) should be abandoned. Needless to say, in principle, the names of SL objects, inventions devices, processes to be imported into the TL community should be creatively preferably `authoritatively', translated, if they are neologisms, although branc names have to be transferred. It is not the translator's job to assist any SL advertiser's financial, national or personal prestige interests. At the same time, on( cannot be rigid or dogmatic. The media, the experts, will be transferring word : whether the translators like it or not. Perhaps when the translator's professional status is raised, they will not be transferring so many.
The following are normally transferred: names of all living (except the Pope and one or two royals) and most dead people; geographical and topographical names including newly independent countries such as (ie) Zaire, Malawi, unless they already have recognized translations (see Naturalisation below); names of periodicals and newspapers; titles of as yet untranslated literary works, plays, films; names of priuate companies and institutions; names of public or nationalised institutions, unless they have recognised translations; street names, addresses, etc. (rue Thaibaut; `in the Rue Thaibaut'). '
In all the above cases, a similar type of readership is assumed and, where appropriate, a culturally-neutral TL third term, i.e. a functional equivalent, should be added.
In regional novels and essays (and advertisements, e.g., gites), cultural words are often transferred to give local colour, to attract the reader, to give a sense of intimacy between the text and the reader - sometimes the sound or the evoked image appears attractive. These same words have to be finally translated in non­literary texts (e.g. on agriculture, housing) if they are likely to remain in the TL culture and/or the target language.
There are often problems with the translation of 'semi-cultural' words, that is abstract mental words which are associated with a particular period, country or individual e.g., `maximalism', `Enlightenment', Sartre's `nothing-ness' (neant) or Heidegger's Dasein. In principle, such words should first be translated, with, if necessary, the transferred word and the functional equivalent added in brackets, until you are confident that your readership recognises and understands the word. Unfortunately such terms are often transferred for snob reasons: `foreign' is posh, the word is untranslatable. B,.,.t the translator's role is to make people understand ideas (objects are not so important), not to mystify by using vogue-words. Freud's formidable key-terms may have been mistranslated, but at least they were trans­lated. The argument in favour of transference is that it shows respect for the SL country's culture. The argument against it is that it is the translator's job to translate, to explain.