Unit III. The theory of regular correspondences (TRC).

According to Y. I. Retsker all regular correspondences can be subcategorized into three groups:

Full (permanent) equivalents

Partial (relative) equivalents

Variant (non-permanent) equivalents

This correspondence completely covers the meaning of a SL monosemantic word: pine = сосна Absolute equivalents are semantically, stylistically and emotionally synonymous to a TL word. In most cases absolute equivalents are stylistically neutral, e.g. terms, context-free words, international words, etc.     billet – заготовки a tire iron – монтировка business – бизнес Sometimes the words are reproduced in their original script: e.g. VIP, PIN-код, Mastrecard, VISA, disc-jockey.

These equivalents correspond to each other only in some part of the context: e.g. shade shadow ¯ ¯ Тень отца иди Гамлета в тень тень buck, digging, prep (slang)

arm

рука / hand

There he goes.

Вот он Here he comes.

идет Here he is.

склад

depot /

депо

Never take for granted that the very first equivalent or variant correspondence in the dictionary is the one you are looking for. Look through the synonyms. e.g. E: Shadows of Gods – R: Сумерки Богов; poignant: острый, едкий, пикантный; горький, мучительный, резкий(о боли); проницательный, живой (интерес) but you should find functional-communicative analogues to translate: Her beauty must have a sort of poignant harmony. … the quiet of nature was wonderfully poignant.

Remember that one word may have to be translated by a phrase or even a sentence while an expression may have to be translated by a word.

Thus, the words’ entries are not always complete and sufficient to carry out a good and appropriate translation and the translator should always appeal to the context of the original text. The chosen words should not be vague, inexact, not clear to the receptor. Your thoughts (ideas) should be clear and well-organized. You should also want the receptor to enjoy what you are saying or writing. Hence, the language of a TL text should be lively. Be extremely interested yourself in what you are translating. Your interest will shape your thoughts, will make them unlike anyone else’s.

Last but not the least, another requisite of a good translation is appropriateness. The translator must take into account the whole text rather than separate words to perceive the message and stylistic impact of the original and to perceive it in the text of the TL.

Retsker studied correspondences of 2 languages, but he didn’t investigate translators’ solutions. (e.g. according to the dictionary “ dog-collar” = “ошейник ”, but in translation there may be variants.)

It is impossible sometimes to produce translations proper:

e.g. R: голубой огонек – you interpret or define it: a popular New Year’s Eve TV show.

E: dropout – учащийся, бросивший по каким-то причинам школу.

Further reading and exercises:

1. Komissarov V.N., Koralova A.L. pp 20-29.
2. Find the Russian equivalents for:

brinkmanship, administrative efficiency, joint thinking, spirit of discipline, mail cover check, establishment, publicity, a spin doctor.

1. Find the English equivalents for:

неуспеваемость, бестактный вопрос, международная обстановка, мыть голову, интеллигент, авось.

Легок на помине.

Принесла нелегкая.

1. Copy all the word senses of HOUSE and BOOK out of БАРС and all the word senses of ДОМ and КНИГА out of «Толковый словарь русского языка» Ожегов С.И., Шведова Н.Ю.

Do the English and Russian words have the same number of word senses?

5.Translate into English:

детдом, торговый дом, сумасшедший дом, исправительный дом, оперный театр, аншлаг, отзывчивая публика, династия Романовых;

книга по орнитологии, справочник, чековая книжка, карточки, вести счета, быть на хорошем счету, жить по правилам.

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