L2/ G1 G2 G3 +G4 G5 G6 Academic Year 2020/2021

Module: Translation.

Teachers: Ms. Meriem BENSOTANE & Mrs S. Merad

Translation techniques

These techniques were set by Vinay and Darbelnet ,which help the translator in the processes
of rendering the content and the meaning in a target language,they are as follows :

1-Borrowing (‫)االقتراض‬

Borrowing involves using the same word or expression of the original text in the target
text.the word or expression borrowed is usually written in italics.

Example : the Shepherd was wearing a sambrero .( sombrero from mexican )

2-Calque ‫المحاكاة‬

Is a word-for-word translation of a phrase or expression from one language to another .

Example : gratte –ciel in French and its equivalent in English SKYCRAPER

3-Literal translation : ‫الترجمة الحرفية‬

Literal translation or metaphrase consists in a word -for –word translation.

According to Vinay and Darbalnet is more suitable for languages of the same family, which
are extremely close in terms of culture.

Example :What time is it ? Quelle heure est-il ?

4-transposition : ‫االبدال‬

Involves moving from one grammatical category to another,without altering the meaning of
the sentence or text.

Example :The council thinks that …………………… ‫يرى المجلس أن‬

5-Modulation ‫التحوير‬

Modulation consists in changing the form of the text by introducing a semantic or

perspective change.

Example : may be you’re right ‫يمكن أال تكون مخطأ‬

6-Equivalence / ‫التكافؤ‬
This technique uses a completely different expression to transmit the reality ,namely in the
interjections, idioms and proverbs.

Example : a stitch in time saves nine ‫ال يلدغ المؤمن من حجر مرتين‬.

7-Adaptation ‫ التصرف‬/‫التكييف‬

Also called cultural substitution or cultural equivalence, consists in replacing the original text
with one more suitable to the culture of the target text.

Example : These news warmed my heart : ‫لقد أثلج هذا الخبر صدري‬

The use of these techniques depends on the nature of the text and the text’s lexical and
semantic levels.

Practice

Exercice n °1 : look at the following sentences are their translation,find out which technique
of translation is used in the process of translation

1-Charia is one on the main sources of the Algerian law.

-‫الشريعة من اهم مصادر القانون الجزائري‬.

2.water boils at 100° degree.

-100 ‫ يغلي الماء عند درجة‬°

3-He offered to the guests a cup of whisky .

-‫قدم للضيوف كأس شاي‬.

4-It’s impossible to convince him.

-‫ال يمكن اقتاعه‬.

5-—the training includes recycling of the staff.

- -‫يشمل التكوين على رسكلة المستخدمين‬.

-6-He got the lion’s share.

‫تحصل على حصة األسد‬

7— all that glitters gold is not gold

 ‫ليس كل مل يلمع‬
‫ذهبا‬

Exercice n°2 : Translate the following sentences using the techniques dealt with as possible .

1- He was supposed to arrive early.

2- Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
3- I think you enjoy the party,I don’t mind if you stay home.
4- What’s bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
5- It is raining cats and dogs.
6- Break a leg !