Presented by James L. Davis
Professor and
Director, Technical Japanese Program
Dept. of Engineering
Professional Development, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2013 ATA Conference, San Antonio TX
November 9, 2013
Why are figures of speech used in languages? To convey
particular messages in particular ways.
Generally speaking, the basic principle of translation is
that the target text should make the same impact (emotional, etc., as well as
factual) on its readers as the source text did on its.
To carry this out when metaphors occur in the source text,
the translator needs to generate many alternative translations and then choose
the best one depending on constraints such as the context surrounding the
metaphor in the source and the desired impact on the reader.
These alternatives can be arranged on a matrix with a number
of axes. For example, similar vs.
different meaning and similar vs.
different form:
Similar meaning
|
|||
Similar form
|
Different form
|
||
Different meaning
|
|||
board a train bound for nowhere.
adopt a strategy with no future.
support a losing proposition.
turn my back on (the world of) politics,
walk away from (the world of) politics,
decide to quit (the world of) politics,
leave behind (the world of) politics,
abandon (the world of) politics,
give up politics,
Court
revamp operations
overhaul management
This
matrix can be considered as a tool to be used for generating a number of
alternative translations. Once you have them, you can use the constraints of
the context, the impact on the reader that is needed, etc.
Other
axes (think of them as additional dimensions to these two: 3rd, 4th, etc.):
Paraphrase
vs. describe: rather than trying to find a target language metaphor parallel to
the source language metaphor, paraphrase the meaning or describe what the
writer was talking about
Exotic vs.
familiar: use target language which is relatively close to the source and
therefore “exotic” to the reader of the translation, or language more familiar
to the reader of the translation
Detailed
vs. concise: use longer phrases to include details, or more concise ones
Still
other dimensionss may involve style, register, tone, rhythm, and rhyme, etc.
Examples:
1. 竜頭蛇尾
Similar
meaning and form: “Head of a dragon
and tail of a snake” (Exotic)
Similar
meaning but different form:
“Start
with a bang and end with a whimper” (Familiar)
“Strong
beginning and weak ending” (Familiar)
“Start
well and end badly” (Familiar)
Paraphrase/describe: “Flash in the pan” (Colloquial;
longer)
“Anticlimax” (Neutral;
medium) " "Dud” (Colloquial; shorter)
2. 蛇の道は蛇
Exotic: “A snake
knows the way of a snake.”
Familiar: “Set a thief
to catch a thief.”
“It
takes one to know one.”
“Fight
fire with fire.”
3. 弱肉強食
Similar
meaning and form: “The weak are meat,
the strong do eat.”
“The
strong devour the weak.”
“The
big fish eat the small.”
Similar
meaning but different form:
“The
survival of the fittest”
Paraphrase/describe: “The law of the jungle”
4. ピンチをチャンスに
Similar
meaning and form: “Turning a challenge into an opportunity.”
“Turning
a problem
into an opportunity.”
“Turning
a crisis
into an opportunity.”
“Turning
adversity
into opportunity.”
Similar
meaning but different form:
“Making
the best
of a bad situation”
“Making
lemons
into lemonade”
Paraphrase/describe: “Finding a silver lining”
5. 大連立という泥船に乗り込む政党はない
No political party would take a ride on a mudboat.
6. この世界から足を洗ったら農業をやりたいとかんがえている。
If I (ever) wash
my hands of
(the world of) politics, (I think) I would like to try
farming.
7. 日本の防衛産業に秋波送る「友好諸国」
Friendly Countries Cast
eyes on Japan’s Defense
Industry
Seek
Partnerships with
Make
Overtures to
8. 再生事例：リスケデ時を稼ぐ！経営改革に着手
The key to business
revitalization: Buy (some) time
Gain (some) breathing room
through debt
rescheduling, then restructure
operations
9. 党本部と都道府県の分業耐性の確立＝
「猫も杓も霞ヶ関詣で」という習慣を打破し、地方で処理できることは処理するという地方分権を先取りできる。
Establishing
a system for division of labor between the party headquarters and the local
chapters/affiliates:
Eliminating
the custom by which
“everyone comes to Kasumigaseki (to seek favors from the
government,”
“every Tom, Dick and Harry brings his business to Kasumigaseki,”
“all decisions are made in Kasumigaseki,”and in
doing so
taking the first steps toward
laying the groundwork for
decentralization
of decision making, so matters than can be handled locally are handled locally.
_______________________
Thus,
in conveying the message:
1. Use a strategy matrix tool to
generate alternative translations.
2. Consider alternative meanings
based on context.
3. Consider alternative renderings
based on constraints.
(Other
examples are in the session handout: contact James L. Davis:
jdavis@engr.wisc.edu
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