Translating "Clarity, Style and Precision" : The Economist's Language from the Translator's Point of View

• Main Author: Wernbro-Augustsson, Birgitta
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Växjö universitet, Institutionen för humaniora 2009
• Subjects: Translation strategies; scientific discourse; metaphors; stylistic devices; hedging
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-5370

Abstract   The following essay is an analysis of the translation process from English into Swedish of four articles about the oceans of the world, printed in The Economist in December 2008. This publication claims to be using a language characterised by "clarity, style and precision", wherefore these concepts provide the focus for the analysis. "Clarity" was looked at in terms of metaphors, "style" in terms of quotes and allusions present in headlines, leads and subheadings and "precision" was studied in terms of hedging.                       Metaphor is employed as a clarifying device in scientific discourse. The 36 occurring metaphors were classified as either 'dead', 'cliché', 'stock' or 'original'. Dead metaphors, 50% of all, turned out to be highly effective in scientific discourse and therefore the term 'fixed metaphors' would be preferred. The original metaphors used give evidence to the writer's literary ambitions. The translation strategy applied was in most cases literal translation.                       The publication makes frequent use of quotes, allusions and aestheticizing devices in headlines, leads and subheadings. The origins of those stylistic elements are not always transparent and had to be identified. In case of existing recognized translations those were kept; when not available, original translations were attempted. Adopting the house-style by taking balance, metre, rhyme and alliteration into consideration during the translation process was time-consuming, indicating that a fully translated edition on a weekly basis is not feasible. Literal translation was rarely possible, instead equivalence was aimed at.                       Hedging is a means for increased precision in scientific discourse. The main reason for using epistemic hedging with a proposition is face-saving, i.e. the writer avoids responsibility for the truth value of the proposition. 62% of the sentences were found to include at least one hedged instance. The instances of hedging of numerical data and quantifiers were almost equal to the number of hedges referring to the writer's personal stance. Literal translation was adequate for the translation process.   Keywords: translation strategies, scientific discourse, metaphors, stylistic devices, hedging       Abstract   The following essay is an analysis of the translation process from English into Swedish of four articles about the oceans of the world, printed in The Economist in December 2008. This publication claims to be using a language characterised by "clarity, style and precision", wherefore these concepts provide the focus for the analysis. "Clarity" was looked at in terms of metaphors, "style" in terms of quotes and allusions present in headlines, leads and subheadings and "precision" was studied in terms of hedging.                       Metaphor is employed as a clarifying device in scientific discourse. The 36 occurring metaphors were classified as either 'dead', 'cliché', 'stock' or 'original'. Dead metaphors, 50% of all, turned out to be highly effective in scientific discourse and therefore the term 'fixed metaphors' would be preferred. The original metaphors used give evidence to the writer's literary ambitions. The translation strategy applied was in most cases literal translation.                       The publication makes frequent use of quotes, allusions and aestheticizing devices in headlines, leads and subheadings. The origins of those stylistic elements are not always transparent and had to be identified. In case of existing recognized translations those were kept; when not available, original translations were attempted. Adopting the house-style by taking balance, metre, rhyme and alliteration into consideration during the translation process was time-consuming, indicating that a fully translated edition on a weekly basis is not feasible. Literal translation was rarely possible, instead equivalence was aimed at.                       Hedging is a means for increased precision in scientific discourse. The main reason for using epistemic hedging with a proposition is face-saving, i.e. the writer avoids responsibility for the truth value of the proposition. 62% of the sentences were found to include at least one hedged instance. The instances of hedging of numerical data and quantifiers were almost equal to the number of hedges referring to the writer's personal stance. Literal translation was adequate for the translation process.   Keywords: translation strategies, scientific discourse, metaphors, stylistic devices, hedging       Abstract   The following essay is an analysis of the translation process from English into Swedish of four articles about the oceans of the world, printed in The Economist in December 2008. This publication claims to be using a language characterised by "clarity, style and precision", wherefore these concepts provide the focus for the analysis. "Clarity" was looked at in terms of metaphors, "style" in terms of quotes and allusions present in headlines, leads and subheadings and "precision" was studied in terms of hedging.                       Metaphor is employed as a clarifying device in scientific discourse. The 36 occurring metaphors were classified as either 'dead', 'cliché', 'stock' or 'original'. Dead metaphors, 50% of all, turned out to be highly effective in scientific discourse and therefore the term 'fixed metaphors' would be preferred. The original metaphors used give evidence to the writer's literary ambitions. The translation strategy applied was in most cases literal translation.                       The publication makes frequent use of quotes, allusions and aestheticizing devices in headlines, leads and subheadings. The origins of those stylistic elements are not always transparent and had to be identified. In case of existing recognized translations those were kept; when not available, original translations were attempted. Adopting the house-style by taking balance, metre, rhyme and alliteration into consideration during the translation process was time-consuming, indicating that a fully translated edition on a weekly basis is not feasible. Literal translation was rarely possible, instead equivalence was aimed at.                       Hedging is a means for increased precision in scientific discourse. The main reason for using epistemic hedging with a proposition is face-saving, i.e. the writer avoids responsibility for the truth value of the proposition. 62% of the sentences were found to include at least one hedged instance. The instances of hedging of numerical data and quantifiers were almost equal to the number of hedges referring to the writer's personal stance. Literal translation was adequate for the translation process.   Keywords: translation strategies, scientific discourse, metaphors, stylistic devices, hedging       Abstract   The following essay is an analysis of the translation process from English into Swedish of four articles about the oceans of the world, printed in The Economist in December 2008. This publication claims to be using a language characterised by "clarity, style and precision", wherefore these concepts provide the focus for the analysis. "Clarity" was looked at in terms of metaphors, "style" in terms of quotes and allusions present in headlines, leads and subheadings and "precision" was studied in terms of hedging.                       Metaphor is employed as a clarifying device in scientific discourse. The 36 occurring metaphors were classified as either 'dead', 'cliché', 'stock' or 'original'. Dead metaphors, 50% of all, turned out to be highly effective in scientific discourse and therefore the term 'fixed metaphors' would be preferred. The original metaphors used give evidence to the writer's literary ambitions. The translation strategy applied was in most cases literal translation.                       The publication makes frequent use of quotes, allusions and aestheticizing devices in headlines, leads and subheadings. The origins of those stylistic elements are not always transparent and had to be identified. In case of existing recognized translations those were kept; when not available, original translations were attempted. Adopting the house-style by taking balance, metre, rhyme and alliteration into consideration during the translation process was time-consuming, indicating that a fully translated edition on a weekly basis is not feasible. Literal translation was rarely possible, instead equivalence was aimed at.                       Hedging is a means for increased precision in scientific discourse. The main reason for using epistemic hedging with a proposition is face-saving, i.e. the writer avoids responsibility for the truth value of the proposition. 62% of the sentences were found to include at least one hedged instance. The instances of hedging of numerical data and quantifiers were almost equal to the number of hedges referring to the writer's personal stance. Literal translation was adequate for the translation process.   Keywords: translation strategies, scientific discourse, metaphors, stylistic devices, hedging