Conceptual analysis
2.4. Translating similes based on the universally recognized values
Generally, dealing with similes in translation is not tough, as they mainly are
based on the universally accepted ideas and values. For instance,
“You think to baffle me, you – with your pale faces all in a row , like sheep
in a butcher’s” [2; Chapter 23, p.255].
“Що, думаете, загнали мене у глухий кут? Хто — ви, перелякані й
безликі наче вівці на бойні?!” [1; Розділ 23, ст.356].
In the original text we have the idiomatic simile “like sheep in a butcher’s”
which is complemented by the additional description of the similarity features “…
with your pale faces…”. The translator renders the meaning of the simile via
selecting direct lexical equivalents: “like sheep in a butcher’s”- “наче вівці на
бойні”. In this case, simile is expressed by the so-called concept- etalon, which
reflects the universal knowledge, as the figure of a sheep has the connotation of
“a timid docile being” [37] in English and “покірна, ляклива людина” in
Ukrainian [29]. Relying on this, Horbat'ko expands the sentence with the adjective
“перелякані” in order to intensify the meaning of concept-etalon of the simile.
Thus, the translation is a vivіd example of applying the neutral translational
strategy with insignificant modifications i.e., addition of a lexical unit.
The cases when similes are based on the concept-etalon, recognized
universally, are numerous:
“When I look back after a few hours I think I must have been mad for the
time, for I behaved much as a rat does in a trap” [2; Chapter 3, p.24].
“Згадуючи свої дії декілька годин по тому, я роблю висновок, що,
мабуть, на якийсь час я збожеволів, бо поводився, наче шур у пастці” [1;
Розділ 3, ст.34].
The original simile is conveyed by the fixed idiomatic expression “as a rat
does in a trap”, which means “be in a hopeless situation” [37].
The Academic explanatory dictionary of the Ukrainian language suggests
the equivalent simile in Ukrainian “попастися мов миша у пастці”, which also
means “потрапити в безвихідне становище” [29]. Even though, Ukrainian
counterpart of the simile contains the lexical unit “миша”, Volodymyr Horbat'ko
rendered the original noun “rat” literally (“щур”). Given that both mice and rats
belong to the rodent species, the substitution is not significant.
Thus, the points of similarity totally coincide in both source and target
languages. The example is another confirmation that similes often share common
concepts, based on universally recognized ideas. Hence, such cases are translated
with the direct equivalents in the target language, sometimes with minor
alterations.
Sometimes there are cases when similes might have equivalents or
analogues with similar points of similarity in both languages, however the
translator still chooses to render it not by using the direct equivalent but relying on
its meaning:
“We promise you a hearty welcome, and a loving greeting, and a health as
true as your own right hand” [2; Chapter 5, p.53].
“Ми влаштуємо тобі палкий прийом з найщирiшими вітаннями і
питимемо за твоє здоров'я, щоб воно, як той вірний товариш, ніколи тебе не
підвело” [1; Розділ 5, ст.73].
The original simile contains the phrase “right hand” in its structure.
Traditionally, right hand refers to something “most reliable, valuable, or useful, as
a helper or assistant” [34]. Relying on this connotation, Volodymyr Horbat'ko
renders the meaning of the simile descriptively: “як той вірний товариш”.
According to the Academic explanatory dictionary of the Ukrainian language,
“права рука- чия — чий-небудь найближчий помічник, спільник” [29], thus,
the translator could convey the simile literally and it would be the direct equivalent
of the original.
Nevertheless, the translation is meaning-based, i.e., it renders the original
author’s intention.
Contextual analysis:
After the trial, all the servicemen agreed that Gordon had talked too loudly and too excitedly
about the murder. That he had drawn too much attention to himself [14, p. 188]:
ФО to draw attention [притягати, привертати увагу] → [1, с. 287].
A bigger wave breaks and I run backwards, too later because black water has briefly swirled into
my shoes. I laugh at my carelessness and make my wet-footed way back up the beach and along the
main street [21, p. 322]:
ФО to make one’s way [1) іти, прямувати, відправлятися; 2) просуватися вперед, рухатися] →
[1, с. 654].
Jake had given his entire attention to Fiona, and now he was saying to her, “To tell you the truth, I
didn’t pay much attention to Tony’s private life, I’d enough problems of my own to contend with. And
I’d no idea, none at all, Fiona, that your marriage was in name only. He never told me” [20, p. 306]:
ФО to give attention to (one, something) [приділяти, звертати увагу; піклуватися про (когось, щось)]
→ [1, с. 396];
ФО to pay attention to (one, something) [приділяти, звертати увагу; піклуватися про (когось, щось)]
→ [1, с. 751];
ФО in name (only) [(лише) номінальне, (лише) за назвою, а не по суті] → [1, с. 533].
Componential analysis
Example 5
Original text Rendered by Google Rendered by Bing
Translate Microsoft Translator
Separation anxiety, which Сепараційна тривога, Тривога розлуки, яку
children experience if яку відчувають діти, відчувають діти, якщо їх
separated from their якщо їх тривалий час розлучити з батьками на
parents for a longer period розлучити з батьками, більш тривалий період
of time, is becoming a стає звичним явищем у часу, стає поширеним
common phenomenon in стосунках між дітьми та явищем у відносинах між
the relationship between батьками в сучасному дітьми і батьками в
children and parents in суспільстві. сучасному суспільстві.
modern society [46; p.21].
The original text contains the term “separation anxiety”, which refers to “an
anxiety disorder occurring in childhood or adolescence that is characterized by
developmentally inappropriate, persistent, and excessive anxiety about separation
from the home or from major attachment figures” [33].
Google Translate rendered the term as “сепараційна тривога”, which is
considered to be the full equivalent according to the Internet source “Child
Development” website [38].
What concerns the result provided by Bing Microsoft Translator, it has
rendered the term as “тривога розлуки”. According to the Academic explanatory
dictionary of the Ukrainian language “розлука – це розставання; тимчасове
перебування далеко від кого-, чого-небудь близького, дорогого” [26].
However, “сепарація” in psychology is “природній поступовий процес
психологічного та фізичного відокремлення дитини від батьків” [38]. So, it is
clear that the nouns “розлука” and “сепарація” share similar shades of meaning,
but they are not full synonyms. What is more, the lexical unit “розлука” refers to a
temporary process and is used to characterize parting within different kinds of
relationships, whereas “сепарація” stands for designating an essential stage in
relationship between parents and children.
All things considered, it is clear that the option provided by Google Translate
is successful.
Example 6
Original text Rendered by Google Rendered by Bing
Translate Microsoft Translator
This imaginary process Цей уявний процес Цей уявний процес
serves as a painful служить болісним служить болючим
reminder of the threats нагадуванням про нагадуванням про
associated with the real загрози, пов’язані з загрози, пов'язані з
world, increases phobic реальним світом, реальним світом,
fears, and promotes посилює фобічні страхи підвищує фобічні
avoidant behavior [50; та сприяє уникальній страхи, сприяє
p.210]. поведінці. уникненню поведінки.
In this sentence two psychological terms can be found: “phobic fears” and
“avoidant behavior”. It is worth mentioning that the word combination “phobic
fears” is a tautology as the lexical unit “phobic” derives from the noun “phobia”
that already refers to “irrational fears” [31]. Both Google translate and Bing
Microsoft translator calqued the term as “фобічні страхи”, which is also quite
tautological. Nevertheless, it may be considered as a relevant translation as it
follows the original term, used by a professional psychologist. Thus, it the
specialist has intentionally applied the lexical unit, then it must be conveyed with a
similar effect in the target language.
The term “promotes avoidant behavior” also requires special attention. The
online psychological dictionary defines it as “any behavioral act that enables an
individual to avoid anticipated unpleasant or painful situations, stimuli, or events,
including conditioned aversive stimuli” [36]. Relying on the definition, it can be
established that the Ukrainian equivalence of the describes action is “уникнення”
[26], however, in Ukrainian it is not possible to create an adjective from the word
in order to simulate the original term structure: adjective plus noun. Hence, the
result “сприяє уникальній поведінці”, suggested by Google translate is not a
successful translation. Indeed, it is a calque of the original, but the adjective
“уникальна” does not exist in Ukrainian. What is more, it is very easy to mistake
the adjective “уникальна” for the adjective “унікальна” (“unique”).
Bing Microsoft Translator tried to transform the structure and rendered the
term “promotes avoidant behavior” as “…сприяє уникненню поведінки”,
however, the meaning of the original in not preserved in such construction as it
gains the meaning that “there is no behavior”.
Perhaps, the best option for rendering the term would be “поведінка
уникнення”. Nevertheless, the MT systems could not find the equivalent, but did
their best to covey the term and its meaning, so the main gist of the sentence is
understood.
