Literal translation

 

In spite of the fact that there are cases of semantic and structural coincidences they are rather an exception. A literal or word translation is obviously unacceptable because it results in a violation of form, or a distortion of sense, or both.

No desire on the part of the translator to preserve in his translation the lexical, grammatical or stylistic peculiarities of the original text can justify any departure from the norms of the TL.

Literal translation imposes upon the TL text alien lexical and grammatical structures, alien collocability, alien connotations and alien stylistic norms.

In literal translation form prevails over content and the meaning of the text is distorted. Literalism may be lexical, grammatical or stylistic, e.g.

He wagged a grateful tail and climbed on the seat (Georgetta Heyer).

Он благодарно завилял хвостом и вскарабкался на сиденьею

She was letting her temper go by inches (Monica Dickens).

Она понемногу теряла терпение. (Она все больше и больше теряла терпение).

 

The pragmatic aspect of translation does not admit literalism either – and requires interpreting translation or substitution.

 

The Tory Team, however, aren’t all batting on the same wicket.

The metaphor is taken from cricket, a very popular game in Britain but hardly known to Russian readers.

Однако, консерваторы не едины.

Однако, команда консерваторов играла не дружно.

 

Translation Loans

 

Literal translation should not be confused with translation loans. A translation loan is a peculiar form of word-borrowing by means of literal translation. Translation loans are built on the pattern of foreign words or phrases with the elements of the borrowing language, e.g. collective farm is atranslation loan of the Russian колхоз but in a full and not in an abbreviated form: oil dollars -нефтедоллары; goodneighbourly relations – добрососедские отношения (a full loan); war effect (a partial loan as number does not coincide).