ExperientiAL toOl
Translation
Personal Orientation Project (POP)
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Activity Guide
This tool kit is intended solely as a guide; the information found herein is not meant to be exhaustive. The websites mentioned in this tool kit may no longer be active or may direct you to sites containing information you may find inappropriate. Please check these links before using them with students, as we cannot guarantee they will work. Moreover, the Commission scolaire de la Beauce-Etchemin cannot be held responsible for the contents of these sites, nor for any omissions, errors or inaccuracies found in this tool kit or for any consequences arising from such omissions, errors or inaccuracies. Note that the Creative Commons licence applies only to the text and images noted as being under this licence. Any use or modification of images that are copyright protected for purposes other than for the Personal Orientation Project program, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden. Please note that this work also contains excerpts from published texts, which are excluded from the Creative Commons licence.
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Document number: 1
Document version: 2.0
Property of the Commission scolaire de la Beauce-Etchemin, © 2008
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Table of Contents
ii
General information 1
Credits 2
INTRODUCTION 3
activity 1
Idiomatic expressions 5
activity 2
False friends 9
activity 3
Adaptation 13
activity 4
Revision 20
activity 5
Translation 26
answer key
Activity 1 35
Activity 2 37
Activity 3 39
Activity 4 40
Activity 5 42
translation
General information
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List of materials:
The following is a list of all the materials and resources required to complete this tool kit on translation:
· Translation Activity Guide
· Multimedia computer
· French dictionary
· French-English dictionary
· Binder
Websites for activities:
Babel Fish (online translation tool):
http://babelfish.altavista.com
Cyberpresse:
www.cyberpresse.ca
Translation blog:
http://ppo.wiki.zoho.com
Other recommended websites:
The Free Dictionary:
www.thefreedictionary.com
Le grand dictionnaire terminologique:
http://w3.granddictionnaire.com
Interactive Terminology for Europe:
http://iate.europa.eu/iatediff
Ordre des traducteurs, terminologies et interprètes agréés du Québec:
www.ottiaq.com
Webster’s Online Dictionary:
www.websters-online-dictionary.org
WordReference.com:
www.wordreference.com
Credits
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Conception and French adaptation:
Cécile Latizeau Translator
Cynthia Kelly Translator
Pedagogical Validation Committee for POP Activity Guides
English adaptation:
Nancy Kerec Assistant Coordinator, Personal Orientation Project
Donna Boychuk Reviser
Avis Anderson Final reviser and researcher
Images:
The cover page photo comes from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org) and was taken by Michiel1972. It is under the GNU Free Documentation licence.
The images found in Activity 3 (with the exception of advertisement 6) are the property of Cécile Latizeau and are used with permission. They are excluded from the Creative Commons licence and are copyright protected.
Unless otherwise noted, all other images in this tool kit are courtesy of the Commission scolaire Beauce-Etchemin and are under Creative Commons licence.
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Introduction
The translation field includes the professions of translator, localization specialist, terminologist, reviser and interpreter. These professions generally require at least a bachelor’s degree. People who work in the translation industry enjoy reading, writing and research; they are also interested in foreign languages and cultures. They are detail-oriented and meticulous individuals who are typically well-organized, resourceful and comfortable working independently.
Translators
Translators take written texts and translate or adapt them into another language. They are highly proficient in their mother tongue and have a good working knowledge of at least one other language. Most translators translate from a foreign language into their mother tongue, since the latter is the language they are most comfortable in.
Translators generally work independently, but may also work in teams. They may work in the translation or communications department of a large company, for the government, for a translation firm or freelance. In addition, they come from a variety of backgrounds and usually specialize in particular fields, such as the arts, medicine and pharmaceuticals, marketing, finance or law. Some translators may get a bachelor’s degree in a specific field (such as law) and then go on to do a diploma or certificate in translation. Others may simply opt to do a bachelor’s degree in translation. Translators may also be certified by a professional association such as the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ).
Localization specialists
Localization specialists, also sometimes known as technolinguists, specialize in the translation and adaptation of electronic media for different linguistic, cultural and regional markets. They work on software, video games, video dubbing and websites. Localization projects generally involve several languages as well as several teams made up of different types of professionals. The job of localization specialists is to make a product look, feel and function as though it were originally created for a specific market. Localization specialists have strong language and writing skills, and are fascinated by other cultures. They enjoy working with computers, programming and complex software tools. They also work well under pressure and enjoy the challenge of constantly learning new things. Localization specialists are proficient in at least two languages and often more. They usually have a bachelor’s degree in translation as well as a specialized certificate or diploma in localization at either the undergraduate or graduate level.
Interpreters
Interpreters provide oral or sign language translations of spoken or signed words. They have an excellent grasp of their mother tongue and can sign or speak in at least one other language. They are comfortable working and communicating with people and are good at memorizing new vocabulary on short notice. Interpreters usually have a university degree with a specialization in interpretation, while sign language interpreters require a college training program or a university certificate in sign language interpretation. Interpreters may also be certified by a professional association such as the OTTIAQ.
Terminologists
Terminologists research and document terms (specialized words or expressions). They are proficient in at least two languages and work with translators to provide them with the correct terms for their translations. For example, a translator faced with a very technical medical document written in French may need a terminologist to research and find equivalent terms in English. As part of their work, terminologists create banks of terms with their equivalents that are called bilingual lexicons.
Terminologists are detail-oriented and meticulous; they enjoy researching the origins of expressions. Some terminologists have a bachelor’s degree in translation and then specialize in terminology, while others may have a bachelor’s degree in another field of language studies and then specialize in terminology. Terminologists may also be certified by a professional association such as the OTTIAQ.
Revisers
Revisers are experienced translators who compare an original text with its translation to make sure the translation is accurate and to suggest changes, if necessary.
Revisers enjoy improving and polishing the syntax and style of translated texts to make them easier to read and understand. They have the same qualifications as translators, but usually have many years of experience under their belt. They may also be certified by a professional association as translators or as editors.
Activity
1
Idiomatic expressions
One of the challenges of translation is that expressions vary from one language to another. Each language has its own assortment of proverbs, sayings and colourful expressions, which are also known as idioms. This is why it is often impossible to translate texts literally or word for word.
Here is an example of a literal translation that works:
-Je cours vite.
-I run fast.
The following are examples of idiomatic translations (these sentences could not be translated word for word):
-She dressed up to the nines.
-Elle s’est mise sur son trente et un.
-Elle m’a posé la question à brûle-pourpoint.
-She asked me the question point blank.
-C’est simple comme bonjour.
-It’s as simple as ABC.
Being able to recognize and understand idiomatic expressions in the text you are translating is essential to be able to translate them correctly.
ExerciseIdentify the best translation for each of the idiomatic expressions below.
Example:
J’ai d’autres chats à fouetter.
a) There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
b) I see the cat’s got your tongue.
c) I have other fish to fry.
Answer: c)
1) Julie fait marcher sa mère.
a) Julie is pulling her mother’s leg.
b) Julie pushes her mother around.
c) Julie pushes her mother’s buttons.
2) Il ne faut pas vendre la mèche.
a) Don’t sell your friends down the river.
b) Don’t stoop to settling old scores.
c) Don’t let the cat out of the bag.
3) Il a réussi son examen haut la main.
a) He was as cool as a cucumber about his exam results.
b) He passed his exam with flying colours.
c) He was high-handed about doing so well on the exam.
4) Il a sûrement une idée derrière la tête.
a) He must have something up his sleeve.
b) His ideas are ahead of his time.
c) He turned an idea on its head.
5) On ne peut pas avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre.
a) Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
b) You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
c) Everyone wants a piece of the pie.
6) Alice est vraiment casse-pied ces derniers temps.
a) Alice has two left feet.
b) Alice has been a real pain in the neck lately.
c) Alice is all thumbs.
7) Elle se jette dans la gueule du loup.
a) She’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
b) She’s going out on a limb.
c) She threw herself upon his mercy.
8) Kevin et Suzanne sont comme chien et chat.
a) Kevin and Suzanne took to each other like ducks to water.
b) Kevin and Suzanne are like day and night.
c) Kevin and Suzanne fight like cats and dogs.
9) Claire appelle sa mère tous les trente-six du mois.
a) Claire calls her mother like clockwork.
b) Claire calls her mother once in a blue moon.
c) Claire could talk to her mother until the cows come home.
10) Paul crie à tue-tête.
a) Paul has lost his voice.
b) Paul has lost his head.
c) Paul is screaming at the top of his lungs.
11) Linda n’est pas dans son assiette cette semaine.
a) Linda is under the weather this week.
b) Linda is on a tear this week.
c) Linda does not have much on her plate this week.
12) Arrête de tourner autour du pot!
a) Stop the world, I want to get off!
b) A watched pot never boils!
c) Stop beating around the bush!
13) Il est au bout du rouleau.
a) He’s at the end of his rope.
b) It’s the end of the world.
c) He’s the living end.
14) Il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort.
a) Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
b) Let sleeping dogs lie.
c) When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
15) J’ai la chair de poule.
a) I’m getting goose bumps.
b) My skin is crawling.
c) Don’t count your chicks before they’ve hatched.
16) Elle le fait tourner en bourrique.
a) She can’t turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse.
b) She’s driving him up the wall.
c) She’s got him wrapped around her little finger.
17) C’est la goutte d’eau qui a fait déborder le vase.
a) It’s water under the bridge.
b) It’s a drop in the bucket.
c) It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
18) Il s’est mis en quatre pour toi.
a) He has you firing on all four cylinders.
b) He pulled some strings for you.
c) He bent over backwards for you.
19) Le torchon brûle entre eux.
a) He’s still carrying a torch for her.
b) They’re burning the candle at both ends.
c) There’s bad blood between them.
20) Ces babioles t’ont coûté les yeux de la tête!
a) You got these trinkets for a song!
b) You paid an arm and a leg for these trinkets!
c) We don’t see eye to eye when it comes to retail therapy!
Activity
2
False friends
Language traps abound in translation. Compare any two languages and you will find plenty of examples of “false friends” that may lead a distracted translator to make mistakes. False friends, also known as “deceptive cognates,” are words or expressions that bear an uncanny resemblance to each other in both languages, but do not share the same meaning. Sometimes their meanings are close; sometimes they are opposite; sometimes they are completely unrelated. Some false friends are fairly obvious, while others are more difficult to detect.
ExerciseChoose the best translation among the sentences provided below.
Example:
J’ai besoin de faire de la monnaie.
a) I need to make some money.
b) I need to make some change.
c) I need to forge some money.
Answer: b)
1) David n’est pas très sympathique avec Marie.
a) David is not being very compassionate with Marie.
b) David is not being very sympathetic towards Marie.
c) David is not being very nice to Marie.
2) Je l’ai croisé hier, rue Van Horne.
a) I crossed him yesterday on Van Horne Street.
b) I bumped into him yesterday on Van Horne Street.
c) I crossed Van Horne Street yesterday.
3) J’irai chercher de nouveaux livres à la librairie demain.
a) Tomorrow I will pick up new books at the library.
b) I will look for new books in the library tomorrow.
c) I will buy new books at the book store tomorrow.