A dual translation problem: embodied (metaphorical) naming in multiword units

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paper

Abstract

Our first observation is that not only in everyday language but also in technical language multi-word units (also referred to as formulaic sequences, chunks, collocations, conventionalized forms, formulas, ready-made utterances, etc. (Wray, 2002; Schmitt 2004)) are used frequently to express ideas and categories that cannot or need not or will never be compressed into a single word or term.
Our second observation is that quite a few technical terms in e.g. French and English are coined based on body parts metaphors and that these metaphors are ubiquitous in technical multi-word units.
These metaphorical multi-word units tend to be one of the challenges for technical translators. How does a translator find out that in the domain of 'electricity' gorge d'isolation thermoplastique is translated into thermoplastic insulating throat, whereas in the domain of 'automotive industry' gorge de segment de piston needs to be rendered as piston ring groove .
Le Grand Dictionnaire Terminologique (GDT) is an online terminological database containing nearly 3 million French, English and Latin technical terms in 200 industrial, scientific and commercial fields. This resource is very important for translators working from English into French and vice versa in Canada and abroad.
In this paper we use examples from GDT to illustrate a dual translation problem in technical language: terminology based on body part metaphorical naming occurring in multiword units.
We formulate propositions on how to deal with multi-word units in technical dictionaries and on how to familiarize student-translators with this problem.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationXVIIth European Symposium on Languages for Specific Purposes
PublisherAarhus Business School
ISBN (Print)978-87-7882-474-5
Publication statusPublished - 2010
EventFinds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet - Stockholm, Sweden
Duration: 21 Sep 200925 Sep 2009

Conference

ConferenceFinds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet
Country/TerritorySweden
CityStockholm
Period21/09/0925/09/09

Keywords

  • embodied understanding
  • multiword expressions
  • terminology
  • translation

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