Translation
Procedures
JEAN-PAUL VINAY & JEAN DARBELNET (1958)
DIRECT
• Borrowing
• Calque
• Literal translation
Translation
Methods OBLIQUE
• Transposition
• Modulation
• Adaptation
Direct Procedures
Borrowing (word-level)
• Introducing an SL word and integrating into the TL via
transliteration.
• Examples: Houthis = الحوثيين, Chai = شاي
• Used to fill a lexical gap OR add stylistic effect and
cultural flavor.
Calque (phrase-level)
• Transferring an SL expression (more than one word) to
the TL via literal translation
• Examples: mushroom cloud = سحابة عيش الغراب,
honeymoon = شهر العسل, = وزارة الهجرة والقوى العاملةMinistry of
Manpower and Immigration
Literal Translation (sentence-level &
above)
• Transferring sentences (and longer chunks of text) from
SL to TL without making undue changes at the lexical,
syntactic or semantic levels.
• Example: = رافقه محمد أخاه كظلهHis brother Mohammad
accompanied him like his shadow.
Oblique Procedures
Transposition
• Making grammatical changes to the ST unit without changing
its meaning in the TT.
• Examples:
• Word form: =الفيل من الثديياتelephants are mammals
• Word order: =منال فتاة جميلةManal is a beautiful girl
• Grammatical structure: =أعاقها جمالها عن النجاح في الدراسةHer beauty was an
obstruction to her education. =ألقيت خطاب في البرلمانI spoke at the parliament.
=سأحدثك بعد نزولي من الحافلةI’ll talk to you once I get off the bus.
Modulation
• Making changes in perspective to the ST unit without changing
its meaning in the TT.
• Examples:
• =األيدي العاملةworkers
• = األطفال الذين يتعرضون لالنتقاد باستمرار هم أكثر عرضة للفشلChildren who are constantly
criticized are more likely to fail.
• =لقد تسببت لنفسي بكثير من األذى الذي عانيتهMost of the damage I suffered was self-
inflicted.
• =كان زوجي السابق خفيف الظلMy ex-husband was funny.
• Mark promised to put a lid on it = تعهد مارك بالتكتم على األمر
Adaptation
• Replacing an ST unit with a TT unit that is culturally equivalent
to it, even if it differs slightly in form or meaning.
• Examples:
• =العشوائياتthe projects
• =كلبوباتhorse girls
• =هذا الشبل من ذاك األسدlike father, like son