Word and context in translation

The
meaning of equivalents practically does not depend on the context,
so to translate them one should merely look them up in a dictionary.
The demand to consult dictionaries is essential. No guesswork is
allowed in translation: a word should be either known or looked up;
otherwise there is always a risk of translation the word «data»
as «дата» or «billet» as «билет»
or writing some other nonsense of the kind.

It
is much more difficult to translate those words of SL which are
characterized by partial correspondence to the words of TL. Such
words are mostly polysemantic. That is why in order to translate
them correctly it is necessary first of all to state which
particular meaning of such a word is realized in the utterance. The
most reliable indicator in this case is the context in which the
word is used.

They
usually differentiate between linguistic context and extralinguistic
context (or context of situation). Linguistic context in its turn is
subdivided into narrow (context of a phrase or a sentence) and wide
(utterance-length context or sometimes context of the whole text).
Very often the meaning of a word is revealed in the minimum context,
i.e. in a phrase («green» — зеленый, юный,
незрелый, etc., but there is no problem in translating the
phrase «green trees» — «зеленые деревья»
or «green years» — «юные годы»).
However, there are such cases when we need at least a sentence to
see what the word means, e.g. «I’ll be sitting in the 3rd
carriage from the front of the train» — «Я буду в
третьем вагоне от начала поезда».
The whole sentence is necessary here to understand the meaning of
the word «carriage» and to choose the variant «вагон»
but not «экипаж, повозка».

Sometimes
linguistic context is closely connected with extralinguistic
factors. It may be illustrated by the following sentence:

… he came to be convicted of perjury … in Wakawak,

Cochin
China…, the intent of which perjury being to rob

a
poor native widow and her helpless family of a meager
plantain-patch, their only stay and support in their bereavement and
desolation.

(Mark
Twain)

The
word «plantain» denotes either «банан» or
«подорожник». In the sentence there is no direct
indication of the type of plant. However, we know that the events
took place in Cochin China, where the climate is quite suitable for
bananas, not for «подорожник». Moreover, it is
said in the sentence that the plantain-patch was the «stay and
support» which gave the family either food or profit. All this
settles the problem of choice: in this case «plantain»
means «банан».

The
context of the situation becomes especially important if the
linguistic context is not sufficient for revealing the meaning of
the word. When one of G.B.Shaw’s characters warns his interlocutor
not to drive him too far, it is necessary to know that they are both
sitting in the parlor and not in any vehicle, so the verb «to
drive». is used in the meaning «привести в
какое-то состояние, довести до …» It
may so happen that linguistic context does not give any clue to the
meaning of the word. Especially often it is the case with neologisms
that do not correspond to any words in TL. To understand the word
«Reagangate», which appeared in American newspapers in
1983, one must remember the notorious political scandal called
«Watergate» in 1972-1974 and know some facts
characterizing political methods or President Reagan. Only in this
extralinguistic context can we understand the meaning of the word
«Reagangate» — ‘a new political scandal revealing
dishonest methods used by Reagan during the election campaign and
resembling the methods once used by Nixon’.

So
translation of any word begins with contextual analysis of its
meaning after which it becomes possible to choose correctly the
corresponding word of TL. All types of context can help to identify
the meaning of words in SL characterized by partial correspondence
to the words of TL, as well as the meaning of words that do not
correspond to any words of TL. Translation of the latter group
causes many difficulties and requires special means.

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16 November 2022

Translation Context in Use: How to Provide High-Quality Translations

You don’t often use the words crucial or vital when you talk to your friends about a topic that interests you, right? At the same time, in an academic text, you are more likely to choose these words instead of the simple important.

Why is this happening? It’s all about context. Different styles and types of texts require using certain words, and you need to be prepared for this. For example, technical texts are “dry” and neutral, with an abundance of technical vocabulary, while fiction is full of unusual wording and beautiful metaphors.

Let’s discuss the meaning of translation context and the purpose of using it in localization process. If you’re a professional translator, this article will help you deepen your knowledge in this field. If you’re planning to order a translation from a contractor, you’ll learn what you should pay attention to.

1. The Role of Context in Translation
2. Context Types in Translation
   1. Linguistic
   2. Situational
   3. Visual
3. How Do Translators Use Context?
4. Translators Context Tools
5. Drawing the Line

Введение в теорию и практику перевода (на материале английского языка)

Смотрите также

I am going to destroy you!

That’s a pretty powerful sentence. It’s also a short sentence isolated away from any text that may have come before or after it. If someone was trying to figure out what was really being implied, they would be dealing with an out of context problem. Without context in translation, meaning can be lost.

For example, the sentence above changes according to the contextual background meaning, once the reader is aware. For example:

“Joey’s eyes lit up as soon as it was his turn. ‘I am going to destroy you!’ he claimed. Then he called out the last two board coordinates. His friend looked dejected, ‘You sunk my battleship!’ he declared.”

Is much different than:

“The accused sat in court with a look of dread on his face. His old business partner was testifying against him. All he could remember was their last argument when his ex-partner screamed, ‘I am going to destroy you’.

A good translator understands what can be lost when you take a language in and out of context.

Developing Contextual Understanding

It is very rare that a translator can provide all in translations without taking the time to understand the intended meaning and messaging in the original content. If they don’t get this, the translated version of any content they work on will simply not be accurate.

Here’s where things can get a bit sticky. If translators had to figure out context themselves, projects would take forever to complete. Worse, they would often get things wrong. This is because they would often be guessing at the contextual background meaning of jargon, slang, and other words and phrases in the original content.

Instead, translation consumers should consider it their role to ensure that the translator understands the meaning of the content that they are supposed to translate. This information can be uploaded or provided in some other way. However, customers of content translation services should be aware that being as informative as possible can lead to much better translations.

Useful information: To improve the quality of your translation it is recommended to use film script translation services.

Some Helpful Contextual Information

While every translation project is different, here is some contextual information that may be useful to your translator:

• An explanation of any anecdotes that you use

• Your intended audience

• The overall tone of the piece you want to be translated (funny, sarcastic, reverent, serious, dark)

• An explanation of any slang or other jargon

• What you are attempting to convey through examples.

• Insights into historical or pop culture references.

Of course, a good translator service provider will have some questions. Still, the responsibility is on the customer when it comes to providing proper context and guidance.

Read also: How subtitling translation services can help you develop contextual understanding.

It helps to remember, ‘What is the context in linguistics?’ The experts in this field understand how language is used to convey meanings, but also obscure meanings. Without taking context into consideration everything else is simply guesswork.

Conclusion: Good Translators Provide Meaning

We will work with you to maintain the context of the content you created during the translation and localization processes.

Translating is the act of carrying meaning across languages, but it encompasses so much more than a literal interpretation of words. A skilled translator will be able to coax nuance out of both the original language and the translation. As a result, you are left with a clear, concise document that both retains the power of the original while also breathing new life into thoughts and words in a new language.

A translator doesn’t just need technical skill and fluency — they also have to be knowledgeable and accurately read the context of words and phrases. It’s not a skill everyone possesses and certainly isn’t a function of automated translation or machine learning solutions. Human translation is the only way to ensure that the importance of context in translation is observed. 

What Is Contextual Understanding?

Simply put, contextual understanding is the ability to parse the intended meaning of the original text. More specifically, contextual understanding observes both the original document and the text and context in translation to create the most accurate finished document. To do this successfully, a translator needs to:  

• Maintain a working knowledge of idioms and other peculiarities of speech in the source language
• Have an excellent grasp of the target language’s grammar and idiosyncrasies
• Keep up with the culture of the original language  

If you want your translated content to be smooth and accurate, be sure to go with an experienced translator. You get what you pay for, and spending a little extra to ensure linguistic and cultural competency is important.

As a client, you can help ease the way for your project by supplying your translator with a brief guide to: 

• Your expected audience
• The intended tone (informal, business, casual, serious)
• Slang
• Popular culture, history, and general knowledge  

A good translator has the necessary background knowledge and cultural competency to produce a finished product that respects the original.  

Use Context to Give Meaning

A translation is about so much more than just the meanings of words. Translation gives specific meaning to individual words, but those words mean nothing if they don’t make sense together. That is where context comes in. Context is everything when you are talking about translation. Context informs the meaning of a sentence, phrase, or paragraph. Context tells you when and where an action occurs, as well as who performs it, how, and why. Knowing the larger context of a text can help determine the author’s intent when using homonyms or words with more than one meaning. 

For instance, is «play» a noun, referring to a performance, or a verb denoting action? Once a translator knows that, they can begin to form the basis of the text. If «play» is a verb, they know that the sentence will have a subject and object that they need to identify. The verb tense will tell them when the action occurs. If your translator decides that «play» is a noun instead, your document won’t make any sense at all.

This is where translators face a challenge: more often than not, they cannot ask the author what their intent was. So they have to use context to tease out the messages in the writing. This is where automated translation fails on a grand scale.  

What About Automated Translation?

Many translation services are starting to use automation software to streamline the process, but that is a mistake. Automation is fine for some activities, but translation is not one of them. The software lacks perspective, history, and culture. By its very nature, the software cannot be subtle; it doesn’t understand the nuances of language, no matter how advanced the programming is. Automation can give you a translation, yes, but one that exists in isolation. A complete translation is a living thing. It is full of everything a translator knows, has experienced, and understands.  

How Can GoTranscript Help?

At GoTranscript, we employ actual humans. We do not use automation software or machine learning, so you always know your translation is handled professionally and accurately, including editing. Our translators are fluent in more than 40 languages and can translate everything from letters and emails to dissertations and scholarly articles. At a starting cost of $.06 per word and no added fees, we offer cost-effective translation. Our carefully selected translators are native English speakers and seasoned experts, so your work always ends up in the best hands. 

In Conclusion

Context is the most important part of translation. Getting the context right requires more than just functional fluency. You want a translator who understands history, contemporary culture, the limits of language, and the intended audience. Context can make or break a finished translation. Always use skilled and knowledgeable translators to ensure that your text is accurate and contextually sound.