Here we are for another blog post. Welcome once again! We have been covering together some of the trails of our translating journey since the first post. The starting point had the beginning in The Relationship Between a Translator and His Peers. We had the opportunity of going through Someone Said that Translation Is… later. Then, our itinerary led us towards the question: Words: Is There an Intrinsic Meaning? The question, more than a reflection, proposes a challenge. There is a certain inclination in attributing an intrinsic meaning to the words. However, when we are translating a text, we notice the different word usage in different ways and contexts. We perceive the meaning of the sentence might be changed when the usage of the words transitions from one context to another: A chair can be used for working, for relaxing in the main room, or even for playing the piano. Thus, rethinking the existence of the supposed intrinsic meaning of the words can be helpful to the practice of translation. New semantic nuances can take shape. On the other hand, if we take a step further, the reflection can be slightly broader: What is a word? Of course, one possible answer would depend on the object of reflection. For Western languages, the question might be meaningful, but for languages from other regions and cultures, it might not make any sense at all. In today’s post, I aim to run through two steps of translation: terminological uniformity and terminological investigation.
In the world of
technical and commercial translation, when the professional of the word is
requested to work on a project, for example in English>Brazilian Portuguese
or French>Brazilian Portuguese language pairs, he receives a set of
instructions, guidelines, reference materials, or even the style guide along
with the translation project. Among the general instructions, "keep
terminological uniformity" is commonly found – particularly for those projects
with a large word count. Generally, a translation project is quantified by word
count, and the larger the number of words, the more work must be applied to
complete the project. But what is “terminological uniformity” and how can it be
associated with the project?
The purpose of
terminological uniformity, among other things, is to ensure consistency in the
project. And, if the project is consistent, it has quality. A translation
project may differ in size: From a project with a single word to one with
thousands of words – or even millions of words. For the sake of illustration,
consider a project in the IT field that is 90,000 words long. Anyone who has had the
opportunity to translate in this field knows that there are many challenges
involved. In my point of
view, one of the biggest challenges would be finding the appropriate
translation for the numerous technical terms and product names into the target
language. A 90,000-word project is not small and it would demand a significant
working time to complete the translation.
In the translation
industry, there are some handy technological resources to assist the life of
the professional of the word. As in many other areas, the computer has become
indispensable to the working routine. It speeds up and increases productivity.
However, there are resources specifically targeted to the world of translation.
I am referring to CAT tools. There are countless such tools, and I have had the
opportunity to work with some of them. I highlight my positive experiences
with Trados Studio, memoQ, Smartcat, Wordbee, Memsource
Cloud, Passolo, XTM, Lingotek, Wordfast
Pro, and Smartling.
We need to
understand briefly how CAT tools work to get a better understanding of how
terminological uniformity is associated with the project. Let’s imagine that
our 90,000-word IT project has 10 files in Word format, and each of them
contains 9,000 words. The source language is English and the target language is
Brazilian Portuguese. First, it is necessary to set up the project in the CAT
tool so that the material can be translated by the professional of the word.
When the project is set up, we indicate the source and target languages. Then
we indicate the files to be translated and, after that, the translation memory
and the project glossary.
Generally,
everything is sent to the professional of the word when the project manager
assigns the task. The CAT tool, after the project is set up, splits the entire
text to be translated into segments. And, in the CAT tool, as the translation
progresses, the matches are generated from the translation memory. When those
matches are found, when they are not, the translator himself translates what is
needed. On the other hand, the glossary proposes a specific translation as the
technical terms are identified in the text of the source segments. Imagine the term Cloud
Environment. It can be translated into Brazilian Portuguese as "ambiente em
nuvem", "ambiente na nuvem", "ambiente da nuvem" or "ambiente de nuvem". Now imagine that this term will
appear throughout the project many times. Which one will you choose and how
will you use it throughout the translation to ensure terminological uniformity?
This is exactly where the glossary comes on the scene. Imagine that the
glossary sent to you by the project manager proposes "ambiente na nuvem"; then
this is the solution that will be used throughout the project. Thus, with the
support of a glossary, accessible as a feature from the CAT tool, the
professional of the word will be able to maintain the terminological
uniformity, ensuring the consistency of the project, keeping its quality, and
making it intelligible.
Please note that a
choice has been made from four possibilities. Firstly, the professional of the
word translates and proposes the possible solutions – "ambiente em nuvem", "ambiente na nuvem", "ambiente da nuvem" or "ambiente de nuvem". The options
are acceptable and also possible, however, "ambiente na nuvem" was the
client’s choice and so we must respect it. Then, the glossary entry was made
from the customer’s choice. Cloud Environment corresponds
to ambiente na nuvem. However, it was necessary to recognize the
existence of the four terminological possibilities, and one option among them
became the most appropriate according to the customer’s needs. But the curious
reader may be wondering: What is a cloud environment? Allow me a brief
digression. In general terms, the cloud environment is a popular concept in the
IT world. A cloud environment consists of servers interconnected via network
infrastructure placed in a data center that provides data processing,
allocation of computing resources, and software services, among other things.
Thanks to this environment being accessible via remote connection, usually via
Internet, the idea of the cloud came up. In sum, the cloud environment is
nothing more than a set of networked servers in a data center that offers
remotely accessible computing services.
* * *
We have seen that
it is also common to receive the instruction "keep terminological uniformity" when the professional of the word receives the translation project. The project
manager sends all the translation material, including a translation memory and
a glossary. The development of a glossary implies creating a repository of many
technical terms from the source language to the target language. And the
development of this repository is the concrete result of the translation
process. Translating, among other things, involves investigating to determine
the most appropriate terminological solution.
I made an analogy
in The Relationship Between a Translator and His Peers. I often compare the translation
activity with an adventure. When we are struggling to determine the translation
of a term, the relationship with the words becomes tense. In this case, we have
to employ our entire investigative apparatus to find the most appropriate
solution. In this sense, we are talking about the terminological investigation.
At this point, it is worth falling back on a variety of linguistic resources:
Conventional bilingual dictionaries, dictionaries of idioms, terminological
databases, illustrative images, videos, animations, reference materials, etc.
Please note that, in this case, many sources of information have been used to
find the most satisfactory linguistic result. The means of investigation vary,
and they can be online and offline, i.e., Internet or on paper grammar and
dictionaries. However, the project manager may be asked for more information
about the term in question when many of these resources are consulted without a
translation being found. Putting terminological investigation into practice
presupposes that our problem will be rationally solved – and the client will be
satisfied. The adventure is exciting, particularly when time pressures.
When the
terminological investigation begins, we are mobilizing the thought to find
something. According to etymology, "to investigate" comes from Latin investigare,
which means to follow the vestiges. However, in ancient times, and more
specifically in the Hellenistic period, there was a Greek "school" of thought
that conferred the investigation (in Greek zétesis) a relevant place. We are
talking about Skepticism. For the Ancient Skeptics (skeptikos), there were
three kinds of philosophy: the Dogmatic, the Academic, and the Skeptical.
According to the Skeptics, the Dogmatic philosophy was characterized by having
discovered the truth – this was the case in the philosophical schools of
Aristotle, the Stoics, and others. On the other hand, the Academic philosophy
has asserted that things cannot be apprehended – this was the case for
Clitomachus, Carneneades, and other Academics. Finally, the Skeptics kept on
investigating. We know this thanks to Sextus Empiricus’ (2nd century AD – it is
unknown when and where he was born exactly) report bequeathed to the history of
philosophy by Outlines of Scepticism.
The professional of
the word finds countless challenges while dealing with text in a foreign
language. The text is articulated through different words in sentences. But an
object of investigation is necessary for the investigation takes place. The
different words in sentences constitute the object of investigation. Therefore,
the investigation can be a continuous and uninterrupted activity. On the other
hand, if we take into account that the words may not have an intrinsic meaning,
the investigation of the intelligibility of the meaning can also be an equally
continuous and uninterrupted activity. In our example, we used the term Cloud
Environment. As soon as the term was presented for translation, the thought
triggered the terminological investigation to find the best translation
solution. In this case,
we got the proposed solutions: "ambiente em nuvem", "ambiente na nuvem', "ambiente da nuvem" or "ambiente de nuvem". The solutions are possible. However, the chosen one
with an intelligible meaning has been inserted in the glossary: "ambiente na
nuvem".
The language can be
a powerful instrument for the expression of thought. We can express ideas
through words. For instance, in the case of an instruction manual, it is
possible to organize a set of information and guidelines for the proper use of
an electronic device. However, it is not always the case that words can fully
express what is thought. I have the impression that things become even more
complex when we refer to our affections, feelings, and passions. How to express
this whole "universe" in words? On the other hand, we are human beings, and we
face many difficulties in our daily lives. Is language a cognitive apparatus
dedicated to survival?
The practice of
translation involves other intellectual skills in addition to the
investigation. As soon as we recognize the existence of the multiplicity of
words, we can recognize the possibility of different meanings. For Western
languages, it makes sense to think about words, although this may not make any
sense at all for the languages of other cultures, as mentioned above. On the
other hand, I said earlier that the text is articulated through different words
in sentences. The set of sentences forms arguments, and the set of arguments
forms paragraphs. We fall back on understanding to make them intelligible. Then
an interpretation can be built. However, the interpretation of a text is not
always correct, and when it is submitted to the critical examination of careful
and detailed analysis, it proves to be mistaken or incoherent. In other words,
an interpretation may be a possible way of understanding a text, but it is
susceptible to debate and critical appreciation. And those who read are never
alone.
The interpretation
of a text, when we are in the sphere of literature, or even in the sphere of
philosophy, can be as varied as the number of readers. In literature, we are
talking about art, and its product, to a great extent, is about fiction. Here, the imagination finds
a powerful means of expression, and the words are fantastically colored. In
philosophy, on the other hand, we are talking about rationality, and its
product, to a great extent, is about argumentation. Here, the reason finds fertile
ground for expressing the thought, and the words are aridly colored. However,
the word is the common means of expression for both literature and philosophy.
According to Sextus
Empiricus’ report, talented people, in front of the anomalies present in the
things of ordinary life, proposed to investigate. Thus, motivated by the idea
that it would be possible to determine what was true and what was false, they could
achieve tranquility (ataraxia). Then, as soon as they were able to scrutinize
what was presented to them in a given circumstance, it was found that for each
point of view, it was possible to formulate another point of view with equally
persuasive force. The Language, on the other hand, presents multiple challenges
during the working routine. When translated into the target language, the text
written in the source language must possess certain qualities: Here we have two
texts – the original and the translation (both intelligible and equally
persuasive). Thus, the translated text can meet the most varied linguistic
needs of the target audience. My language pairs are English>Brazilian
Portuguese and French>Brazilian Portuguese. But if we consider that words
are not always able to fully express what is thought or even the affections,
feelings, and passions, I formulate the question again: What is a word?
Thank you
very much for your attention, and I hope you enjoyed the reading. See you in
the next post!
About the
painting:
Claude Monet
(1840-1926)
Impression, soleil levant
1872
Oil on canvas
Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France
Brazilian Portuguese Translations, Brazilian Portuguese Translator #brazilianportuguesetranslations #brazilianportuguesetranslator