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Re: Any Puter Experts That Can Help University of Ediacara
Mujin (baka@hornedking.com) 2004/02/14 08:44
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Subject: Re: Any Puter Experts That Can Help
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2004 15:44:43 +0000 (UTC)
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On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 10:41:14 +0000 (UTC), "Uncle Davey"
<noway@jose.com> wrote:

>
>U?ytkownik "Mujin" <baka@hornedking.com> napisa? w wiadomo?ci
>news:2ttq2099jts2u65hin31nbethpibnv30qv@4ax.com...
>> On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:13:35 +0000 (UTC), Cheezits
>> <cheezits32@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >"Uncle Davey" <noway@jose.com> wrote:
>> >[etc.]
>> >> He said "Alexey, you didn't translate what I said". To which the
>> >> translator said. "No, I translated what you OUGHT to have said."
>> >>
>> >> Sometimes good translation is like that.
>> >
>> >That is not good translation.  That is lying.
>>
>> That's not any kind of translation, actually.  It's the kind of
>> distortion that can lead to a professional association certified
>> translator suddenly becoming an uncertified translator, if you take my
>> meaning.  Clients aren't paying for paraphrasing.
>
>In what country?

In any country in which I have worked as a translator.

>
>You obviously haven't heard of 'dynamic equivalence'.

I certainly have - but paraphrasing isn't dynamic equivalence.  In
your "parable" the intended message of the client was drastically
changed as a result of paraphrase.  The point of dynamic equivalence
is to replace highly idiomatic or culturally specific (and therefore
poorly interchangeable) terms with terms which, while having different
literal meanings, carry roughly the same nuance.  Thus, one would not
translate the Japanese term "kusojiji" as "stinky grandfather" in
English - although the literal meaning is obviously intended as an
insult, it doesn't have any particular meaning.  "Old fart" would be
closer to the intended meaning - and of course would not be translated
as "furui he" in Japanese since it doesn't really mean anything
(although the intent is obvious).

Naturally, dynamic equivalence can be applied to larger constructions
as well, but the intent of the original author should never be
changed.  This is why interpreters often serve as cultural consultants
for their clients - cutting off inappropriate modes of communication
before they start.  I have on more than one occasion advised clients
on the most culturally appropriate approach to a meeting, and of
course I always use dynamic equivalence to properly render the
client's idioms where I think it's appropriate.

But actually changing the client's meaning?  That would be a lie.
--
K

Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so.
--Bertrand Russell

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