Translating Method for Demonstrative Pronouns Used in English Documents in the Field of Chemical and Environmental Science

Literature Review

Topic: Translating method for demonstrative pronouns used in English documents in the field of Chemical and Environmental Science

Nowadays, translating documents has become an indispensible part of our lives. However, translators for English documents in general and English documents in the field of Chemical and Environmental Science in specific often struggle with the problem of  translating various components of the language into the target language. These components include grammar structures such as passive voice, reported speech, empty subjects, etc. and vocabularies relating to the field. Among these components, demonstrative pronoun is one of the components that require high attention from the translators. Indeed, demonstrative pronouns are used in most cases in life, from general and casual English uses to scientific or specialized documents and speech; nevertheless, translating demonstrative pronouns has never been considered an easy task since it relates to different understanding of the translator about the pronouns. It is even harder for translators if these pronouns are used in scientific documents such as documents in the field of Chemical and Environmental Science. Thus, it is necessary to develop a distinct translating method for demonstrative pronouns used in English documents in the field of Chemical and Environmental Science. To have suitable procedures, considerations need to be taken into such issues: English demonstrative pronouns and translating procedures and translation procedure for documents in English for Chemical and Environmental Science. All of these above issues will be discussed in the following literature review as a part of the procedures-developing process.

1. English demonstrative pronouns and translating procedures:

In this part we will focus on basic understandings about demonstrative pronouns and translating procedures.  

1. Overview of translation procedure:

1. Definition and features:

As we all know, from the first day of mankind until now, human has always been in need of communication. Indeed, the traces of different communication procedures have been found all over the world, with text, paintings, sculptures, etc. However, the difference in background environments between societies has resulted in an uncountable number of languages. BBC News reported in 2014 that up until now, linguistics has found 7,000 different languages, 90% of these are used by less than 100,000 people. This large amount of languages, together with the constantly increased demand for communication between societies is the basic foundation for translating.

First of all, in A Contrastive Analysis of English-Persian Literary Terms, Karimi (1372) shares his perception about translation: translation is the act converting one language (source language) to another (target language) so that the target language could convey the intended message in source language. Newmark (1988) however, describes “translate” as the process of rendering the meaning of a text into another language with no change in the intention of the origin. Then, Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines “translate” as “a process of expressing something spoken or written in another language”. According to Oettinger, translation is the substitute of constituents of one language by equivalent elements of another language. From all of the above definitions, it can be concluded that translate is the act of changing a unit of speech or writing from one language to another, with remain in meanings and other implications if available.

The core aim of translation as noted by Gerding-Salas in his book Teaching translation Problem and solution is “to serve as a cross-cultural bilingual communication vehicle among peoples”. Qiu Maoru claims that translation partly aims at shortening the gap between cultures, while Bacla (2007) emphasizes the role of translation in teaching languages is to help students understand the connection between languages and explores the potential of both languages. It improves flexibility, accuracy, and clarity when students find the most appropriate words to convey the meaning. 

The process of translating requires not only skills and experiences in understanding and using both source and target languages, but also appropriate procedures for translation. Indeed, “translators need to develop a keen sense of style in both languages, honing and expanding our critical awareness of the emotional impact of words, the social aura that surrounds them, the setting and mood that informs them, the atmosphere they create.” (Edith Grossman, 2010). Since the abilities of understanding and expressing ideas are different for each person, it is necessary to adapt one or more suitable translating procedures in order to have a smooth and clear translation in the target language, but preserve the meaning and expressions implied in the source version. 

Translation procedure is described as the introduction of accurate semantic specifics which are obtainable from contextual knowledge or from the condition into the target text due to the need of clarification or limitations in target language (Delisle et al. 1999:p139). Newmark (1988b) mentions the difference between translation methods and translation procedures. He writes: "While translation methods relate to whole texts, translation procedures are used for sentences and the smaller units of language". Nineteen procedures for translating small units of languages has been introduced include: Literal translation, Transference, Naturalization, Cultural equivalent, Functional equivalent, Descriptive equivalent, Synonymy, Through-translation, Shifts or transpositions, Modulation, Recognized translation, Translation label, Compensation, Componential analysis, Reduction and expansion, Paraphrase, Couplets, Notes, additions, glosses and other procedures.

Literal translation

Literal translation is the most basic procedure, which can be used in both communicative and semantic translation, with various levels of translation from words to phrases to clauses.

Transference
Transference is described as the act of conveying a SL word to a TL text as a translation procedure. This procedure is mostly used with cultural references in order to transfer the distinctiveness of the cultural subjects as well as to gain attraction and affection from the readers.

Naturalisation