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Translation Theories and Pragmatics - Analysis of Maritime and Legalese Language Based Examples
Translation Theories and Pragmatics - Analysis of Maritime and Legalese Language Based Examples
DOI: 10.12716/1001.13.03.23
ABSTRACT: Translators and interpreters need to rewrite or retell the essence of a message to be conveyed in a
foreign language through cognitive grammar, implicatures, connotations and sometimes standardized phrases
to bring out the full and true meaning in the translated work.
The aim of this paper is to acquaint with the specificity of the translatorʹs workshop, familiarization with the
working framework for translations of implied meaning, theories of translation and elementary principles to be
followed, so that, the reference meaning of the communicated content could impart pragmatic meaning. In
view of the constraints of literal translation, special attention is given to linguistic aspects of pragmatics with
regard to the conveyance of context sensitivity, precision, intentionality of the communicating sender, influence
of the translator’s linguistic intuition and approach, and communicating receiver. Different approaches to
translations and possible limitations are exemplified and explained with the use of Polish and English
equivalents adopted from standard, maritime and legalese language.
647
interpreters appropriately apply depending on the 2 METHODOLOGY OF PRAGMATICS IN
recipientʹs imperative and usus1. TRANSLATION
The recent technological progress and unlimited
access to the internet allow the translator to use We shall begin with explaining what pragmatics is
modern, ever‐improved and updated CAT tools 2 , and how it affects the translation. Pragmatics is
TRADOS3 applications , ever‐growing IATE4 online rooted in sociology, philosophy, and anthropology.
terminology database, EuroTermBank, PolTermBank, C.W. Morris, a psychologist and philosopher, studied
IncoTermsBank5, a variety of glossaries, parallel text these fields and coined the term in the 30’s of the past
databases, online dictionaries, translation memory century. He popularized the term in his book entitled
management software and such like in order to ʺSigns, Language and Behaviorʺ6 where he explained
increase their productivity. Their popularization, his theory of pragmatics and the difference between
general accessibility and user friendly interface allow pragmatics and semantics, which concerns the
amateur translators to translate on their own. relations between signs and the objects they
However, this trend may involve the risk of symbolize. Morris says that pragmatics stems from
delivering a translation containing errors that linguistics and is concerned with the use of language
negatively affect the final results in terms of the in social contexts and the ways in which people
quality and the way the text or utterance is received. produce and comprehend meanings through
Familiarization with the principles of translation language. In other words, pragmatics refers to the
created by theoreticians over the centuries and way people use language and the way that language
bearing the theories in mind are diametrically is interpreted and understood. A translated text or an
significant to deliver a meaningful translation. utterance devoid of pragmatics may lack
Reaching for the literature in the field of translation understanding of what a person truly wants to
will increase awareness and allow an amateur convey. The context is what makes utterances clear or
translator to assess and revisit acquired practices and unclear to the target communication person. David
translation habits in order to update, extend or verify Lodge, in his novel entitled the Paradise News, pithily
previous attitude and perhaps deliver a more explains what makes pragmatics so important to
productive one in terms of time and quality. understanding language by saying that pragmatics is
needed because it gives humans ʺa fuller, deeper, and
The law pervades every aspect of human life and generally more reasonable account of human
the seaborne trade is a part of globalized economy. language behavior.ʺ7 David Crystal, in turn, says that
Consequently, seafarers have to deal with formalities pragmatics studies the factors that govern our choice
comprising maritime English and legalese English e.g. of language in social interaction and the effects of our
terms and conditions of their contracts, conventions choice on others 8 . Simply speaking, without
regulating their seafaring career including their pragmatics, the target receiver may either not know
obligations and rights, as well as the peculiar what a person truly means when he/she is speaking
seaspeak constituting an international language for or writing, or may miss the whole point of the
communicating at sea in a multinational, communication.
multicultural, and multilingual environment. To
demonstrate challenges translators face, the paper In order to produce a context‐adjusted text or
contains examples of Polish and English equivalents utterance in a foreign language it requires adaptation
adopted from maritime and legalese language to the prevailing reality and conditions where the
juxtaposed with standard language. target communication person functions. It should be
remembered that languages differ from each other in
the way they describe reality and by the bank of
words, sayings, expressions and idioms they offer, so
everyone undertaking translating needs to be aware
of existing constraints and differences. Sometimes it
does not suffice to stick to literal translations. Often a
superficial contact with a foreign culture produces a
1 Usus (Latin: usus — usage; long‐established rule, practice, cus‐ conviction that we understand a given culture well
tom) The term is used to designate usage of words, idioms and enough, which in turn, produces a feeling that the
forms that have a widespread or significant acceptance among
speakers of a language, regardless of its conformity to the sanc‐
translation of the message to be conveyed does not
tioned standard language norms. require solid knowledge how the target language
2 Computer Aided Translation (CAT), is a broad term used to de‐ functions, solid familiarization with the culture and
scribe software that human translators use during the translation reality. Pragmatics in this sense concerns primarily
process to improve their productivity. Typical CAT tools resemble texts and utterances that require creativity and
text editors that support bilingual file formats, and have built‐in
translation memory. linguistic intuition in the field of literature,
3 Trados Studio is the complete translation on‐line environment for journalism, advertising, marketing, fiction and
language professionals who want to edit, review and manage trans‐ development, and in the field of science where many
lation projects as well as corporate terminology. phenomena and things are completely unknown or
4 IATE (Interactive Terminology for Europe) is the EUʹs terminolo‐
gy database. It has been used in the EU institutions and agencies
yet unnamed and one cannot rely on literal, word‐by‐
since summer 2004 for the collection, dissemination and manage‐ word translation. In the opinion of G.Finch,
ment of EU‐specific terminology. The aim is to provide a standard‐ pragmatics focuses on the way how communication
ized, web‐based infrastructure for all EU terminology resources.
5 EuroTermBank (ETB), PolTermBank, IncoTermsBank allow user
to manage terms and phrases that must be translated in a particular 6 C.W. Morris, Signs, Language and Behavior, The Catholic Univer‐
way. Terminology databases are made up of multilingual entries, sity of America Press, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1947
which have approved terms for specific languages. This helps in 7 D. Lodge, Paradise News, Penguin, 1993
translation consistency and efficiency. 8 https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/David_Crystal
648
partners express what they mean and how they recommended the dynamic equivalence for this
interpret their utterances in social contexts, by purpose. This approach involves a strategy known as
contrast, semantics refers to the specific meaning of domestication or localization. Precisely speaking,
language 9 . D. Kierzkowska, in turn, defines the when an original text contains physical,
methodology of pragmatics for translation purposes administrative, legal and cultural references specific
as an assessment of the usefulness, accurateness and to a particular place in the world and the translation
appropriateness of applied translation theory in is intended for a different location with divergent
practice10. Translation concepts formed at the turn of culture or dissimilar civilization, all of the references
the century and described by language experts and will have to be adapted to the reality where the
linguists inter alios E. Nida, J. Delisle, K. Reiss and H. translation is intended for. If an original text mentions
Vermeer, are addressed below. phenomena or things unknown or unnamed in the
country where the translation is required, a research
will be required to determine what the nearest
corresponding words and expressions are used in the
3 THEORIES OF TRANSLATION target country. Any unknown, equivocal, ambiguous
references have to be replaced by others to deliver the
Cicero (106‐43 BC) and Horace (65‐8 BC) propagated sense to the readers of the translation. Similarly, W.
unsophisticated, literal, word‐for‐word translation Koller studies the concept of equivalence. He brings
seeing themselves as protectors and advocates of the into translator’s attention five different types of
source text fidelity. That was certainly very noble but equivalence: (a) denotative equivalence involving the
not entirely productive. Only four hundred years extralinguistic content of a text through denotates i.e.
later, Saint Jerome, while translating, changed the terminology relevant e.g. to a given legal system, (b)
approach and started focusing primarily on guiding connotative equivalence relating to lexical choices
the readers to understanding of the original version. through associations, (c) text‐normative equivalence
He transferred the underlying message the author relating to text‐types, (d) pragmatic equivalence
intended, closely following the original version giving involving the receiver of the text or message, and,
his readers the impression that they are reading a text finally, (e) formal equivalence relating to the form and
that was originally written in the target language, but aesthetics of the text 16 . Having identified different
not word for word. This novel approach has become a types of equivalence, Koller claims that a hierarchy of
milestone in the field of translations and in 1991 Saint values can be preserved in a translation only if the
Jerome 11 became the patron of translators. Martin translator comes up with an equivalence hierarchy for
Luther King, who translated the Bible into German the target text.
based mainly on the original Hebrew and Greek texts Subsequent approach which is fit for
and not the Latin Vulgate, believed that the unparaphrasable text is called “transcreation17”. This
translation depends on its meaning and recipients, is a fairly recent approach especially when businesses
whereas Juan Luis Vives12 distinguished three types and brands need to adapt their names, advertising
of translation, depending on the type of text: on the campaign slogans to buyers and clients from different
type of text: a translation focused on general countries. In this case, the translator focuses primarily
comprehension, a translation preserving thoughts and on the adaptation of the message contained in a text,
emotions expressed by the author and a translation trying to find a bridge between the source language
which combines the two former elements. and the language and emotions of the target receiver
Speaking of contemporary theories of text of the message. Consequently, transcreation requires
translation, we should mention the Sapir‐Whorf not only linguistic knowledge, but a decent portion of
hypothesis about the unparaphrasability and creativity and expertise, as well.
untranslatability of texts resulting from the Let the final word on approach to translations be
differences in cultures and ways of seeing and with K. Reiss and H.J. Vermeer who developed the
understating the world. Another well‐known so‐called skopos theory. The skopos theory was born
translator Eugene A. Nida13 introduced the concepts in Germany in the late 1970s and reflects a general
of formal 14 and dynamic equivalence 15 and shift from linguistic and formal translation theories to
a more functionally and socio‐culturally oriented
9 G. Finch, Linguistic Terms and Concepts, London : Macmillan concept of translation. Initially formulated by Reiss in
Education, Limited, (2016) the 1970s, the theory was propagated by Vermeer in
10 D. Kierzkowska, Tłumaczenia prawnicze,Warszawa: Translegis,
the 1980s, and was further developed in the 1990s by
2008, p.28
11 In Latin, Saint Jerome is known as Eusebius Sophronius Hieron‐ Nord, one of its most important second‐generation
ymus. His name in Ancient Greek is Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος scholars. The basic principles of the skopos theory are
Ἱερώνυμος. In his life ( 347 A.D. to 420 A.D.) Saint Jerome was a summarized as follows: Any form of translational
Latin Christian priest, confessor, theologian, and historian. He be‐ action, including translation itself, may be conceived
came a Doctor of the Church and is best known for his translation of
the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate), and his commentaries on the
as a ʺpurposeful activity.ʺ18 The action should follow
Christian Bible’s Gospel of the Hebrews.
12 “J.L. Vives, De ratione dicendi, Leuven, 1533, Routledge Encyclo‐
pedia of Translation Studies, 2nd edition tent of the relationship between the source language and the target
13 E.A.Nida, Towards a science of translating, Leiden: E.J. Brill, language, similarities and overlapping range of words and expres‐
1964, p.160 sions.
14 Formal equivalence is as a word‐for‐word translation or transla‐ 16 Koller W., The concept of equivalence and the object of transla‐
tion of meanings of individual words and phrases in a more literal tion studies, Target no.7, 1995, pp. 191‐222
way, keeping literal fidelity. 17 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcreation
15 Dynamic equivalence is understood as a sense‐for‐sense transla‐ 18 Nord Ch., Translating as a purposeful activity, Functionalist ap‐
tion. In translation terms, equivalence refers to the nature and ex‐ proaches explained. Manchaster, St. Jerome Publishing, (1997) p.12.
649
the ʺskopos rule,ʺ which postulates that the form of a biggest mistake would be to translate in detachment
target text (TT), including translation strategies and from the target recipient, which Kierzkowska
methods adopted, should above all be determined by suggests, and differentiates 3 target communication
the purpose or skopos that the TT is intended to fulfill recipients23.
in the target context; that is, ʺthe end justifies the
meansʺ 19 . The skopos of the TT and the mode in The close recipient is the one who knows, or has
which it is to be realized are negotiated between the the motivation to explore and probe the culture of the
commissioner and the translator. The translator as the country, the language and the prevailing realities, and
ʺexpertʺ in translational action is responsible for the as such will appreciate the translation as close to the
final translation20. While the translator is entitled to source text as possible. An example of a close
decide what role a source text (ST) plays in the recipient could be an American businessman, running
translation process, the decisive factor is the precisely a business in Poland, a foreign researcher employed
specified skopos. The ST is only one element of the at a Polish university or a student from Nigeria. All
commission and an ʺoffer of information.ʺ21 This way these nationals living in Poland should be interested
they formulated a clear “target text‐oriented in further exploration and familiarization with the
paradigm” 22 for combining a variety of translating reality they currently exist in. It would be undesirable
strategies for adaptation of the source message to the to apply rough equivalents. Briefly speaking the
target communication person and reality the person translator should give up domestication in favour of
functions in. The strategies include: foreignisation. Relevant examples are illustrated in
translation guiding the reader to general sense table 5.
with a more flexible approach to the original text The distant recipient is a person who does not
and with regard to the principles of grammar of know much about the country of the source language
the target language. or knows it superficially, shows little interest in it or
translation protecting and reflecting thoughts and has no motivation or no need to get to know it better.
feelings, where the translator becomes an advocate Consequently, such a recipient will need a bypass
of the author’s emotions, intents and many a time path to understanding through the use of connotation
the wit, equivalence. An example of a distant recipient may be
translation where the combination of the two anyone watching or reading news from abroad or an
above should be preserved, what requires not only ordinary tourist staying abroad ‐ any nationals, for
the translation of the text from the source language whom the described reality is unknown, unclear or
into the target language but foremost a cultural roughly speaking, irrelevant. Application of
and emotional adaptation of translated texts so the foreignisation may, in this case, become counter‐
target communication person, apart from productive.
comprehension, will not be stripped of the joy
from reading, suspense, atmosphere, etc. created Last but not least, Kierzkowska distinguishes a
by the author. In this case the translator becomes self‐defined recipient, and understands the one as a
an advocate of the author’s talent and the person or an institution that binds the translator with
translation ascends to the rank of art. a certain terminology. For example, a publishing
domestication or localization aims at finding the house, an industrial plant or a logistics company may
best possible equivalent in case of insufficient bank prefer the wording of the original version especially if
of terminology or when we deal with a distant there is a tendency of foreign words to penetrate the
recipient. This would involve, for example, fixed target language, or even dominate over native words
parameters, proper names, specific professional entering the language in an original form or
terminology, conversion of measurements, titles, foreignized version. Let us provide examples of
academic degrees, etc. functioning in the reality terminology from the logistics sector which have
where the translation is required. penetrated Polish language in their original English or
creative translation is applied when the intention polonized versions e.g. outsourcing, piggyback, fair‐
and tone of the translated message are to be play, outlet or cross docking. Needless to say, these
preserved. This allows stepping away from the examples could be multiplied. This approach is
fidelity of the original text and replacing the recommended as their translation would require
original wording with words or sayings longer, descriptive explanations, and domestication
expressing the spirit and purpose inherent in the has not been popularized yet or does not exist.
original message. This can involve concrete or Borrowing foreign words is a long‐known,
abstract sense. widespread phenomenon. If there are no equivalents
in the native language, the borrowings are very
Before making the decision on the translation welcome and what is the most desired, they are often
strategy, a translating person should try to get to found more precise than their equivalents offered by
know who the target communication person is. The the bank of the target language. Professor Jan Miodek
claims that there are no words unnecessary to the
language. He does not mind borrowing foreign
19 Reiss, K. and Hans J. Vermeer. (1984). Grundlegung einer allge‐ words, provided that someone ʺdoes not cling toʺ the
meinen Translationstheorie. Tübingen: Niemeyer.(1984) p.101
20 Vermeer, Hans J. Skopos and commission in translational action. word and gives up the whole range of available
A. Chesterman (trans.). In L. Venuti (ed.). The Translation Studies variants and synonyms24.
Reader. London: Routledge, (2000) pp. 221‐233.
21 Baorong W., Translating Publicity Texts in the Light of the Skop‐
os Theory: Problems and Suggestions, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2009, The Uni‐ 23 D. Kierzkowska, Tłumaczenia prawnicze, Translegis, 2008, p.88‐
versity of Hong Kong 89
22 Toury, G. Descriptive Translation Studies and Beyond. Amster‐ 24 J.Miodek, O słowach, które się rozpychają, a radio interview pod‐
dam: John Benjamins, (1995), p.25 cast https://www.polskieradio.pl/Jan‐Miodek/Tag173266
650
4 TRANSLATION EXAMPLES AND ANALYSIS: Table 2.
_______________________________________________
S SOURCE TEXT
4.1 Literal translations L LITERAL TRANSLATION
D DESIRED SENSE
_______________________________________________
Literal translations, initiated by Cicero and Horace,
S „On nie skrzywdziłby nawet muchy.”
rely entirely on the word‐for‐word strategy which
L He wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Delisle defines as translating elements of the source D The person acting is gentle and would never do
text into the target text without making any changes25. anything to injure or offend anyone.
The below table illustrates such examples based on
S „Wszystkie ręce na pokład!”
“Polish into English” translation:
L “All hands on deck!”
D All crew members are to go on deck (literally) or the
Table 1. involvement of a group of people is required
_______________________________________________ (idiomatically).
S Source language
E Examples of literal translation26 S „Przestań płakać nad rozlanym mlekiem.”
R Received sense L “Stop crying over spilt milk.”
D Desired sense D Stop being upset over something that has already
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
happened. It will not change anything.
S “Nie psuj sobie krwi.”
E ʺDo not spoil your /yourself blood!”27
R ʺDo not infect your bloodʺ, “Do not get your blood
infected” 4.2 Translations for specific purposes.
D ʺDo not upset yourself.” Or idiomatically speaking
Every profession has a number of standardized or
:”Do not eat your heart out.”
S “Siłownia okrętowa pali się.” codified words, phrases, informal sayings and
E “Ship’s gym is burning itself.” technical terms. It also refers to any sort of linguistic
“The naval engine is burning.” 28 elements, initially non‐normative, that become
R “A location on a ship for gymnastics is burning.” widespread, and consequently enter usus, gaining
“A marine engine is on fire.” normative sanction within the area of usage and
D The engine room is on fire. ultimately become a norm in a standard language.
( Note the source phrase informs only about the The maritime language is no different. The below
location of the fire.) table illustrates examples adopted from a set of key
S „Statek zawinął zgodnie z rozkładem rejsów.” phrases in the English language (which is the
E The ship wrapped up according to cruise timetable. / internationally recognized as the language of the sea)
The ship was in line with the flight schedule.29 contained in The Standard Marine Communication
R “The ship packed/is packed according to a timetable.” Phrases (SMCP) publication, which without a proper
Translated text suggests more of a space while the expertise in the field, would, most probably, be
author means a sailing vessel. misleading or unclear.
D The vessel has arrived as scheduled.
_______________________________________________
Table 3.
_______________________________________________
Obviously the literal translation does not always IMO SMCP MEANING
fail. Even idiomatic expressions may be translated Phrases
successfully using the word‐for‐word strategy. The _______________________________________________
table below illustrates such examples: Steady. Reduce swing as rapidly as possible.
Meet her. Check the swing of the vessel´s head in a
turn.
Traffic VTS authorization for a vessel to proceed
under
clearance conditions specified
Walk out Reverse the action of a windlass to lower the
(of anchors) anchor until it is clear of the hawse pipe and
ready for dropping
Union A method of cargo handling by combining
two
purchase derricks, one of which is fixed over the hatch,
25 J. Delisle, Translation: an interpretive approach. University of Ot‐ the other over the ship’s side
tawa Press, 1988, p.200 Off station Not in charted position
26 Examples of incorrect, ineffective, counter‐productive automatic, (of buoys)
_______________________________________________
non‐selective or involuntary word‐for‐word translations,
27The translation received from the free multilingual machine trans‐
lation service developed by Google, to translate text in April 2019. The SMCP is based on basic knowledge of the
Interestingly, the machine does not translate languages directly, it
first translates the given text to English and then to the target lan‐ English language where grammatical, lexical and
guage. idiomatic varieties have been simplified to necessary
https://translate.google.com/?hl=pl#view=home&op=translate&sl=a minimum and standardized to offer precise, simple
uto&tl=en&text=Nie%20psuj%20sobie%20krwi. and unambiguous language block so as to avoid
28https://translate.google.com/?hl=pl#view=home&op=translate&sl=
au‐
confusion and error while communicating at sea. This
to&tl=en&text=Si%C5%82ownia%20okr%C4%99towa%20pali%20si means that the compiled phrases have been subjected
%C4%99. to a number of adaptations, omissions and exclusions
29https://translate.google.com/?hl=pl#view=home&op=translate&sl=
including:
au‐ avoiding synonyms and ambiguous words,
to&tl=en&text=Statek%20zawin%C4%85%C5%82%20zgodnie%20z
%20rozk%C5%82adem%20rejs%C3%B3w.
avoiding contracted forms,
651
providing fully worded answers to ʺyes/noʺ Table 5.
_______________________________________________
questions and basic alternative answers to Maritime Legalese General English
sentence questions, English
_______________________________________________
providing one phrase for one event, amendment change, addition or improvement
structuring the corresponding phrases according repatriation returning to the country of origin
to the principle: identical invariable plus variable e.g. denunciation termination
I require ... (a) pilot / tug assistance / divers / depositary functions treasury functions
medical assistance. Implement and apply
omission of the function words e.g. the, a/an, is/are enforce
(in this respect, however, flexible approach is indemnity repayment/refund
advised) authoritative official languages
spelling of letters and digits, languages
expressing positions, bearings, courses, distances, entitlement (e.g.to right to (e.g. to compensation)
_______________________________________________
compensation)
speed, times, and
application of message markers.30
Since the maritime language is to a certain extent 4.3 Formal and dynamic equivalence
detached from the everyday language, the commonly
accepted grammatical and lexical rules do not always The table below illustrates examples of Nida’s
apply. In order to protect naturalness and the agreed concepts of translation ‐ formal equivalence and
“correctness” of the ship‐to‐ship and ship‐to‐shore dynamic equivalence. Translation with the use of
communications, which paradoxically may be formal equivalence demands greater attachment to
regarded as an evident mistake or an intolerable the source text by the application of foreignisation. By
simplification, a translating person needs to be aware contrast, dynamic equivalence (domestication) puts
that such simplifications and restrictions are a part of naturalness and general comprehension before
maritime language and apply them when legitimate. precision and attachment to the original text.
Table 4.
_______________________________________________
Maritime English General English 4.4 Denotative and connotative equivalence.
_______________________________________________
funnel chimney Koller distinguishes denotative and connotative
starboard / port side right / left side equivalence. The former refers to denotates, that is
galley kitchen terminology relevant to a given legal system. The
bulkhead wall latter one ‐ connotative equivalent ‐ refers to
overhead ceiling associations of the target language terminology.
head restroom
bunkering refueling
porthole round window
_______________________________________________
31 NUTS in the EU Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics.
In Poland regulated by Rozporządzenie Rady Ministrów z dnia 14
30 IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases, B. Katarzyńska listopada 2007 r. w sprawie wprowadzania Nomenklatury Jedno‐
(trans.), Fundacja Promocji Przemysłu Okrętowego i Gospodarki stek Terytorialnych do Celów Statystycznych (NTS) (Dz.U. 2007 nr
Morskiej, Gdańsk, 2011 p.28 214 poz.1573)
652
Table 6.
_______________________________________________ the right attitude, and the right equivalence requires a
P POLISH PROPER NAME lot of preliminary preparation. We have also shown
D DENOTATIVE EQUIVALENCE how crucial it is to determine who the target
C CONNOTATIVE EQUIVALENCE
_______________________________________________ communication person is, for the translation cannot
P LICEUM be detached from target receiver and his/her
D LYCEUM expectations. All that requires from a translator of
C
SECONDARY SCHOOL pragmatic texts knowledge and expertise in a given
P EGZAMIN MATURALNY field, cultural awareness, familiarization with
D MATURA EXAM differences and similarities in legal and
C administrative systems and awareness of the
FINAL EXAM
untranslatability of a number of terms and on the top
P MARSZAŁEK SEJMU
D SEYM MARSHAL
of it the ability to collate all the dependencies to
choose the most appropriate translation equivalence.
C SPEAKER
Once the equivalence has been chosen, the translator
P KWESTOR should remain attached to this option for the sake of
D QUESTOR
C BURSAR
consistency of the entire text. Finally, the person
_______________________________________________ undertaking the translation must not mislead the
target recipient.
4.5 Pragmatic equivalence. In this regard we would like to quote Tadeusz‐Boy
Żeleński, who was a Polish stage writer, poet, critic
We also distinguish pragmatic equivalence, which and, above all, the translator of over 100 French
imposes on the translator the use of specific terms. We literary classics into Polish: “Translation is a difficult
talk about pragmatic equivalence when the client or process; in formal terms, it is more difficult than
recipient of the translation is, for example, an writing, for it is easier to find a form for oneʹs own
institution that orders a specific translation, eg. thought, (...) not for someone elseʹs thought arising
Wyższa Szkoła Bankowa WSB Universities, from a completely different spirit. It requires not only
Akademia Marynarki Wojennej w Gdyni Naval knowledge of a foreign language (it is the least of a
University of Gdynia, Uniwersytet Morski w Gdyni problem), but general knowledge of literature and
Gdynia Maritime University. The three schools culture of a given country; and last but not least, a
represent different status in Polish hierarchy of good command of your own native language”33.
schools of tertiary education but due to
incompatibility of education systems worldwide their
English equivalents do not indicate the difference.
Pragmatic equivalence refers to terminology having BIBLIOGRAPHY
the same effect on the target message receivers in both
languages. C.W. Morris, Signs, Language and Behavior, The Catholic
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on translation of academic degrees, titles, and Jopek‐Bosiacka A.(2006),Przekład prawny i
certification advise using the original version to avoid prawniczy,Warszawa: PWN
IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases, B.
any valuing judgment due to the incompatibility of
Katarzyńska (trans.), Fundacja Promocji Przemysłu
education systems in different countries. Only Okrętowego i Gospodarki Morskiej, Gdańsk (2011)
equivalents determined on the basis of international KielarB. (2003) Zarys tranlatoryki,Warszawa: zakład
agreements or nostrifications can be applied. Graficzny UW
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untranslated. For these, it is widely accepted to Translegis
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terminology or a domesticated equivalent in the komentarzem ,Warszawa:Translegis
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note roughly equivalent Jan Kowalski, M.Sc. According Wrocław: Słowo Polskie; Gazeta Wrocławska
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