Equivalence at word level- the meaning of single words and expressions; Equivalence at word level

The play upon an idiom can be reproduced in languages such as French, German or Romanian which happen to have an identical idiom or at least an idiom which refers to interfering in other people’s affairs and which has the equivalent of nose in it.

The translation of idioms: difficulties

• The translation of idioms: difficulties

• (d)The very convention of using idioms in written discourse, the context in which they can be used, and their frequency of use may be different in the source and target languages.

• English uses idioms in many types of texts, though not in all. Their use in quality- press news reports is limited, but is it quite common to see idioms in English advertisements, promotional material and in the tabloid press.

• EXAMPLE:

• It’s got style. And a performance engine that says it’s a lot more than just a pretty face. (Today’ s Cars, Austin Rover, 1989)

• Languages such as Arabic and Chinese avoid using idioms in written discourse.

The translation of idioms: strategies

• The translation of idioms: strategies

• (a) Using an idiom of similar meaning and form

• It involves using an idiom in the target language which conveys roughly the same meaning as that of the source-language idiom and, in addition consists of equivalent lexical items.

• EXAMPLE:

• The sultan’s magnificent income was distributed impulsively at his command. The rain fell on the just and on the unjust. (English ST- A Hero from Zero, p. 21)

• Le revenue fabuleux du Sultan était distribute sur un simle ordre de sa part. La pluie tombait aussi bien sur les justes ques sur les injustes. (French TT)

• The fantastic income of the Sultan was distributed on a simple order on his part. The rain was falling on the just as well as on the unjust. (back-translation)

The translation of idioms: strategies

• The translation of idioms: strategies

• Using an idiom of similar meaning and form (continued)

• EXAMPLE:

• Here dreaming, though wide-awake, of the exquisite tortures to which they were to put him at break of day, those confiding savages were found by the treacherous Hook. (English ST- from The Adventures of Peter Pan by Barrie, James Matthew, at http://barrie.thefreelibrary.com/The-Adventures-of-Peter-Pan/12-1#break+of+day)

• În timp ce visau, ce-i drept, cu ochii deschişi, la groznicele torturi la care aveau să-l supună când se va crăpa de ziua, aceşti sălbatici creduli fură surprinşi de Gheară cel perfid.(Romanian TT- from Peter Pan, by Barrie, J.M., translated by Sorea, Daniela. Bucharest: Rao Publishing House, 2007:127)

The translation of idioms: strategies

• The translation of idioms: strategies

• (b) Using an idiom of similar meaning but dissimilar form

• eg. the English expression One good turn deserves another and the French expression À beau jeu, beau retour (“a handsome action deserves a handsome return”) use different lexical items to express more or less the same ideas. The Romanian equivalent: După faptă şi răsplată.

The translation of idioms: strategies

• The translation of idioms: strategies

• (c) Translation by paraphrase

• EXAMPLE:

• The suspension system has been fully uprated to take rough terrain in its stride. (English ST- Austin Montego- car brochure)

• The capacity of the suspension system has been raised so as to overcome the roughness of the terrain. (back-translated from Arabic)

• They were a good deal taken aback, and after a little consultation one and all tumbled down the fore companion, thinking no doubt to take us on the rear. But when they saw Redruth waiting for them in the sparred galley, they went about ship at once, and a head popped out again on deck. (English ST- Treasure Island, by Stevenson, R.L., at http://stevenson.thefreelibrary.com/Treasure-Island/4-1#taken+aback)

• Bandiţii au rămas buimăciţi. Apoi, după ce s-au mai sfătuit în şoaptă, s-au năpustit cu toţii la chepeng, cu gând să ne atace pe la spate, dar, întâlnindu-l în trecătoarea îngustă pe Redruth cu muschetele, s-au repezit iar îndărăt. Unul din ei şi-a iţit capul din chepeng, să vadă ce mai e pe punte. (Romanian TT- Insula comorilor, by Stevenson, R.L., translated by Cosmescu, Alexandru. Chişinău: Litera Publishing House, 1997: 119)

The translation of idioms: strategies

• The translation of idioms: strategies

• (d) Translation by omission

• EXAMPLE:

• It was bitter, but funny, to see that Professor Smith had doubled his own salary before recommending the offer from Fayed, and added a pre-dated bonus for good measure. (English ST- A Hero from Zero, p. VI )

• It was regrettable, even funny, that Professor Smith had been able to double his salary twice before offering his recommendation to accept Fayed’s offer, and that he added to this a bonus, the date of which had been previously decided on. (back-translated from Arabic)

•