An English professor

of translation at the
university of Surrey.

One of the main figures in

founding translation studies
in the English-speaking
Peter Newmark world since 1980s.
 Semantic and
Communicative
Translation
 OVERVIEW
1. Introduction
2. Approaches
3. The differences
4. Usage
1. Introduction

should try to remain as

close as possible to the
source language?
or
should aim to be free
and idiomatic?
 Definition

SEMANTIC TRANSLATION
The process of using semantic information to aid in the
translation of data in one representation or data model
to another representation or data model.
 Example:
“She has a sunny smile on her
face.”

SEMANTIC TRANSLATION:
Cô bé có gương mặt với nụ cười
tỏa nắng.
 Definition
COMMUNICATIVE TRANSLATION
A translation method that attempts to render the exact
contextual meaning of the source language so that both
content and language are readily acceptable and
comprehensible to the readership.
 Example:
“Please keep off grass.”

COMMUNICATIVE TRANSLATION:
Không được giẫm lên cỏ.
 2. Approaches
According to Peter Newmark:

Semantic translation Communicative translation

• attempts to render.
• as closely as the semantic and
syntactic structures of the
second language allow.
• the exact contextual meaning of
the original.
• attempts to produce on its
readers.
• as close as possible to that
obtained on the readers of the
original.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

Personal and individual, Social, reader-centered.

author-centered
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation
Follows the thought of
Concentrates on the
processes of the author
message and the main
rather than the intention
of the transmitter. force of the text.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

Smoother, simpler,
Complex, detailed, and
clearer, more direct,
over-translated.
and under-translated.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

More specific than the original, The specific to the speaker

and more meanings in its search or writer language is as
for one nuance of meaning. important as the content.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

Written at the author’s Written at a communicative

linguistic level. at the readership’s.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

more literal and freer and effective.

informative.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

Inferior to the original, Better than the original.

both cognitive and
pragmatic loss.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

Accurate, but may not Communicates well, but

communicate well. may not be very precise.
 3. Differences
Semantic Communicative
translation translation

Used for expressive Used for informative and

texts. vocative texts.
 Example:
“Right in the Hanoi, Hoan Kiem is an
enchanting body of water, a peaceful oasis
away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”
 Example:
“Right in the Hanoi, Hoan Kiem is an
enchanting body of water, a peaceful oasis
away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”

Semantic
Nằm ngay giữa trái tim Hà
Nội, hồ Hoàn Kiếm là một hồ
nước đẹp mê hồn, một ốc đảo
bình yên tách biệt với sự hối
hả bận rộn của thành phố.
Communicative
Hồ Hoàn Kiếm là một hồ
nước đẹp, yên tĩnh nằm ở
trung tâm ồn ào.
QUICKTEST
 1. A translation that is concerned with
the author is…

a. Semantic translation
b. Communicative translation
2. A translation that is concerned mainly
with the receptors/readers is…

a. Semantic translation
b. Communicative translation
3. “Dog that bites” or “savage dog” is…

a. Semantic translation
b. Communicative translation
 4. Usages
Semantic translation Communicative translation
non-literary
philosophical writing
journalism
religious
reports
scientific propaganda
political public notices
technical and literary scientific and technological writing
non-personal correspondence
informative articles and books
Example from
Charles de Gaulle’s 18 June 1940 broadcast

Infiniment plus que leur

nombre, ce sont les chars, les
avions, la tactique des
Allemands qui nous font
reculer. Ce sont les chars, les
avions, la tactique des
Allemands qui ont surpris nos
chefs au point de les amener
là où ils en sont aujourd'hui.
 Suggested communicative
French – English translation
“It was the tanks, the planes and the tactics of the
Germans, far more than the fact that we were
outnumbered, that forced our armies to retreat. It
was the tanks, planes, and tactics that provided
the element of surprise which brought our
leaders to their present plight.”
Spears’ translation (1966)
 In the communicative version, Spears
modified:
starkness
simplicity
rawness
But the translation of quotations is
rather semantic than communicative
 Suggested semantic
French – English translation
“Far, far more than their numbers, it was the
tanks, the planes, and the tactics of the Germans
that caused us to retreat. It was the tanks, the
planes, and the tactics of the Germans that took
our leaders by surprise and thus brought them to
the state they are in today.”
Peter Newmark’s translation
Any personal effusion
requires semantic treatment

‘imitate’ flavour MORE IMPORTANT

 Requires a special
type of translation
Legal
documents

The translator is
more restricted

have to be semantic
Serious literature expect to translate
(high art) semantically

but all art is… allegorical

figurative
metaphorical
parable

has a communicative purpose

Figurative language becomes meaningful
if it’s recreated in the metaphors of target language.
If not, reduced to its sense.
In minor literature, semantic translations will preserve:

dialect
slang
cultural terms
 Similar background
Universal themes for SL and TL
(love lyrics) (ecology and living condition)
and

can be translate semantically or communicatively

The translator assumes that dramatist has made
use of inventive resources to give language
communicative

 The translator’s task is to extract the

utmost semantic equivalence
In short, it is not always possible to
state the better method because:
◦ Communicative and semantical translation may coincide.
◦ No one communicative nor one semantic method are
widely overlapping.
◦ A translation-even a particular section or sentence can be
treated :
• More or less communicatively
• More or less semantically
 SUMMARY
1. Introduction
2. Approaches
3. The differences
4. Usage
Wheel of
truth and
falsification
 ?
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
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
SPIN
+
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
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Finish

?  +
 

You got a candy!

 +

You got +1 point!

 Choose a number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
 Question 1
Semantic translation focuses to a great degree of
words and phrases and form (syntax) of the original texts of high
status.

True False
Incorrect
Correct
“meaning”
Back to wheel
 Question 2
The differences between semantic and communicative translation
is that semantic is social, reader-centered and communicative is
personal and individual, author-centered.

True False
Incorrect
Correct
Semantic is author-centered
Communicative is reader-centered Back to wheel
 Question 3

A translation-even a particular section or sentence can be treated:

More or less communicatively or semantically.

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 4

You got a candy!

Back to wheel
 Question 5
Communicative translation gives high priority to the message
communicated in the text where the actual form of the original is
not closely bound to intention.

True False
Incorrect
Correct
“its intended meaning”
Back to wheel
 Question 6

In transferring the meaning, a good translator should have the

knowledge of semantics.

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 7

Communicative translation is often used for translating a difficult

document.

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 8

Componential analysis is also known as

grammar analysis.

True False
Incorrect
Correct
“semantic features analysis”
Back to wheel
 Question 9

You got a candy!

Back to wheel
 Question 10
Communicative and semantic translations are the
two major methods, and they are more frequently used
for 2 main aims of translation, namely accuracy and economy.

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 11

If recreating figurative language in the metaphor of the target

language isn’t possible, reduced to its sense.

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 12

Semantic and communicative translation was found by Peter

Newmark.

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 13

You got a candy!

Back to wheel
 Question 14

Quotations, Autobiography, Private correspondence or any

personal effusion are not required semantic treatment

True False
Incorrect
Correct
“are required” Back to wheel
 Question 15
Semantic translation is used for expressive texts and
communicative translation is used for informative and vocative
texts.

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 16

You got +1 point!

Back to wheel
 Question 17

The immediate communicative of drama is greater than that of:

Poetry, Serious fiction, Adaptations

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Question 18

Communicative translation is as close as possible to that obtained

on the readers of the unoriginal.

True False
Incorrect
Correct
“original”
Back to wheel
 Question 19

You got a candy!

Back to wheel
 Question 20

It is not always possible to state the better method because:

communicative and semantical translation may coincide

True False

Incorrect
Correct
Back to wheel
 Thank you for
your participation.