THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT IN TRANSLATION

Linguistic Context and Situational Context

When we speak about context, it is important to note that there are basically two types of context:
linguistic and situational. Both play a significant role in the translation process. 
 Linguistic context means the connections between the words in the text. The idea is that each word
exists in a relationship with the other words in the text and not in isolation. The linguistic context
determines its meaning. The interaction with other words helps the translator choose the right
counterpart in the translation. Therefore, we speak for a translation of the overall meaning of the text
and not a word for word rendering of the text from one language into another.  
 Situational context refers to the specific factors and circumstances that may affect the meaning of a
given text. It is a much broader concept than the linguistic context and sometimes can be interpreted
differently by different people. Situational context may be related to the facial expressions or gestures
of the person speaking or to the social, political or economic nuances a text bears. It is fair to say that
situational context can be related to the culture at large. 
Context is very important and one and the same text may have a totally different meaning if set in a
different context. It is very important to be familiar with it before you start a translation

Exercise 1: The four passages below have the same title. Translate the title of each passage paying
attention to the context and meaning of the whole passage.

Passage 1 SHOOTING STARS

In his recently published autobiography, Yoshi Kubota, the well-known director of many of the films
to come out of Japan in the last 20 years, reveals some of the tricks of the trade that helped him
become so famous. Particularly interesting are his insights on getting honest and realistic
performances out of big-name actors who are infamous for trying to mold any role they are given to fit
their public image, however incongruous that image may be with the role they are being asked to play.

Passage 2 SHOOTING STARS

With the continuous trend towards conservatism, the NRA (National Rifle Association) is enjoying
unprecedented membership. In an attempt to satisfy its enthusiastic supporters, the association has just
announced that it will begin publication of a new monthly magazine devoted exclusively to close-ups
of the great marksmen of the world. The first issue due to hit the newsstands in September, will be
dedicated to the nearly legendary Alaskan Piney Pilkington, a man said to be capable of knocking pine
cones from their lofty heights, with little more than a BB gun from over a mile away.

Passage 3 SHOOTING STARS

The familiarity of the circumstances surrounding the death of Joseph Hollywood outside his Beverly
Hills mansion last week has LA police thinking that someone is carrying out a maniacal vendetta
against the movie industry’s most famous personalities. This is the third time this year that a major star
has been found dead, shot through the heart by a sniper hiding more than 1000 yard away.

Passage 4 SHOOTING STARS

Astronomers at the University of Arizona observatory have just predicted that the largest, most
spectacular meteor shower of the century will occur on September 29 th this year. This cosmic event is
due to the Earth’s passing through millions of very small asteroids that have been pulled from their
normal orbit between Mars and Saturn by those planets’ relatively large gravitational forces.

Exercise 2: Translate the following phrase:

Jack would keep them…………………………………………………………….

Each passage below contains the phrase above. Translate the passage paying attention to the
contextual meaning of the phrase. How does the meaning change and why?

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Passage 1

Lizards, frogs, turtles, Jack would keep them in his cellar, for the temperature was good for reptiles.
He used to keep them all in the same cage, until one day when he forgot to feed them, and he came
home to find that one of the snakes had eaten them all.

Passage 2

If Uncle Jack would keep them just a little longer, we would not have to find a babysitter. He should
be able to stay with the kids at least one more hour, as I know he has nothing planned for tonight.

Passage 3

I can imagine Jack would keep them for three hours. He is terribly loquacious and tends to have little
consideration for other speakers at a conference. He has been like that throughout his entire career.

Passage 4

My uncle Jack is the most talkative person I’ve ever met! Fortunately, all his relatives know exactly at
what time he leaves for work and always phone a short time before. Otherwise, Jack would keep them
for hours.

Exercise 3: Translate the following passages paying attention to the different contextual meanings of
the word boy according the context.

Passage 1

That evening, while Mr. Prendergast was teaching Prep at the end of the passage, Grimes visited Paul
in the Common Room (…).
“How are you feeling?”
“Not too well, old boy. The first days are always a strain, they say, even in the most romantic
marriages.”

Passage 2

“Percy’s won the high-jump and the long-jump and the hurdles. How’s your young hopeful been
doing, Lady Circumference?”
“My boy has been injured in the foot”, said Lady Circumference coldly.

Passage 3
He shrugs. “Ever mainline?” he asks.
“Have I ever mainlined?”
“Yeah”.
“No”.
“Oh boy,” he says ominously.

Passage 4
“Look out, boy!” he cried when we came to each corner, and pulled and tugged and jerked and
sweated and waved his whip like a rubber sword. And when the pony had crept miserably round each
corner, grandpa turned to me with a sighing smile: “We weathered that one, boy”.

Passage 5

[An owner is talking to the jockey about her horse]

“How do you think my old boy will do today?”
“He’s got bags of stamina,” I said. “He should run well.”