201615131 FREN1070 Portfolio

School of Languages,
Cultures and Societies
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures

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Student ID: 201615131

Module Code: FREN1070
Tutor’s Name: Dr Terry Bradford
Assessment description (eg essay 1): Portfolio
Word count 1939 (Glossary: 943, Reflection: 996)

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201615131 FREN1070 Portfolio

Glossaire du système nerveux central

Acheminement (l') / Transmission

Definition: The passage of a nerve impulse across an anatomic cleft by activation of a
specific chemical mediator that stimulates or inhibits the structure across the synapse.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary, Transmissions. Available at: www.medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Transmissions (Accessed 7 December 2022)

Synonyms: Communication, transportation, conveyance

Bulbe rachidien (le) / Medulla oblongata

Definition: The lowest part of the brain and the lowest portion of the brainstem.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, ed. Kara Rogers, Pons. Available at:
www.britannica.com/science/pons-anatomy (Accessed 7 December 2022)
Synonyms: Respiratory centre

Cervelet (le) / Cerebellum

Definition: The part of the brain concerned with the coordination of muscles and the
maintenance of bodily equilibrium.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Cerebellum. Available at:
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebellum (Accessed 7 December 2022)
Synonyms: Cerebellar hemispheres, hindbrain

Clignement (le) / Blink

Definition: To close and open the eyes quickly, once or several times.
Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary, Blink, (Cambridge University Press). Available at:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/blink (Accessed 9 December 2022)
Synonyms: Flicker, flutter [one’s eyelids]
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Colonne dorsale (la) / Thoracic spine

Definition: Comprised of twelve vertebral bodies that make up the mid-region of the spine.
Spine health, Veritas, Available at: www.spine-health.com/glossary/thoracic-spine
(Accessed 9 December 2022)
Synonyms: Mid-spinal column

Couche de la matière piaque (la) / Pia mater

Definition: The innermost of the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Collins English Dictionary, Pia Mater (HarperCollins Publishers). Available at:
www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/pia-mater (Accessed 9 December 2022)

Crâne (le) / Skull

Definition: The bone structure that surrounds and protects the brain.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Skull, (Oxford University Press). Available at:
www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/skull (Accessed 9 December 2022)
Synonyms: Scalp, skullcap, cranium

Cycle diurne (le) / Circadian rhythm

Definition: Physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a twenty-four-hour cycle.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Circadian Rhythms, (National Institutes of
Health (US)). Available at: https://nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/Circadian-
Rhythms.aspx (Accessed 9 December 2022)
Synonyms: Biological rhythm, body clock

Déchirures (les) / Tears

Definition: Drops of saline fluid secreted by the lacrimal gland.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Tear. Available at:
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tear (Accessed 9 December 2022)
Synonyms: Teardrops, lacrimal secretions
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Écoulement du sang (l') / Blood flow

Definition: The movement of blood through a vessel, tissue, or organ.
Scopeheal, ed. Dr Cameron Troup, Blood flow. Available at: https://scopeheal.com/blood-
flow (Accessed 13 December 2022)
Synonyms: Bloodstream, circulation

Éternuements (les) / Sneezing

Definition: To expel air forcibly from the mouth and nose in a spasmodic involuntary action.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary, Sneeze. Available at: www.thefreedictionary.com/sneeze
(Accessed 13 December 2022)
Synonyms: Sternutation

Évanouissement (l') / Fainting

Definition: A sudden and temporary loss of consciousness.
Medicalnewstoday.com, ed. Dr. Heidi Moawad, What is fainting, and what causes it?
Available at: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/182524 (Accessed 13 December 2022)
Synonyms: Collapsing, syncope, passing out

Éveil (l') / Wakefulness

Definition: The state of being unable to sleep.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary, Wakefulness. Available at:
www.thefreedictionary.com/wakefulness (Accessed 13 December 2022)
Synonyms: Insomnia, sleeplessness

Fente (la) / Cleft

Definition: An indented formation between ridges or protuberances.
Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Cleft. Available at:
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleft (Accessed 20 December 2022)
Synonyms: Aperture, fissure, schism
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Glucides (les) / Carbohydrates

Definition: Substances such as sugar or starch that provide the body with energy.
Cambridge Dictionary, Carbohydrate (Cambridge University Press). Available at:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/carbohydrate (Accessed 20 December
2022)
Synonyms: Saccharides, complex sugars

Hypophyse (l') / Pituitary gland

Definition: An endocrine gland situated beneath the base of the brain.
The Pituitary Society, Pituitary gland function. Available at:
www.pituitarysociety.org/pituitary-gland-function (Accessed 20 December 2022)
Synonyms: Ductless gland

Moelle épinière (la) / Spinal cord

Definition: A tightly packed column of nerve tissue, extending downwards from the
brainstem through the central column of the spine.
Queensland Brain Institute, Spinal cord, University of Queensland. Available at:
https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/spinal-cord (Accessed 20 December 2022)
Synonyms: Vertebral column

Motricité fine (la) / Fine motor skills

Definition: The movements and coordination of the small muscles of the body.
Rodil, J, Fine Motor Skills Defined by an Occupational Therapist. Available at:
https://napacenter.org/fine-motor-skills/ (Accessed 20 December 2022)
Synonyms: Motor coordination, movement capability

Mésencéphale (le) / Midbrain

Definition: Region of the developing vertebrate brain, composed of the tectum and
tegmentum.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, ed. Adam Augustyn, Midbrain. Available at:
www.britannica.com/science/midbrain (Accessed 20 December 2022)
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Synonyms: Neural structure, mesencephalon

Noyaux gris centraux (les) / Basal ganglia
Definition: A group of brain structures linked together, handling complex processes that
affect the entire body.
Cleveland Clinic, Basal Ganglia. Available at:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23962-basal-ganglia (Accessed 20 December
2022)

Ouïe (l') / Hearing

Definition: The process by which sound vibrations are transformed into nerve impulses
interpreted as sounds by the brain.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Cochlear nerve and central auditory pathways. Available at:
www.britannica.com/science/ear/Cochlear-nerve-and-central-auditory-pathways
(Accessed 23 December 2022)
Synonyms: Audition, listening, auditory perception

Paupière (la) / Eyelid

Definition: A movable fold of skin and muscle that can be closed over the eyeball.
MedicineNet, ed. Dr. Charles Patrick Davis, Eyelid, Available at:
www.medicinenet.com/eyelid/definition.htm (Accessed 23 December 2022)
Synonyms: Palpebra, blepharon

Seuil membranaire (le) / Membrane threshold

Definition: The difference between the electric potential in the intracellular and extracellular
matrices of the cell.
Vaskovic, Dr Jana, ed. Salvador, Francesca, Membrane potential. Available at:
www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/membrane-potential (Accessed 23 December 2022)
Synonyms: Membrane potential/voltage, transmembrane/threshold potential

Toxicomanie (la) / Substance addiction

Definition: A physical dependence on a chemical substance.
Harvard Health Publishing, Substance addiction, (Harvard Medical School). Available at:
www.health.harvard.edu/addiction/substance-addiction (Accessed 23 December 2022)
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Synonyms: Dependence, obsession

Tronc cérébral (le) / Brainstem
Definition: The area at the base of the brain that serves a critical role in regulating certain
involuntary actions of the body.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Central nervous system (ed. Kara Rogers), Available at:
www.britannica.com/science/central-nervous-system (Accessed 23 December 2022)
Synonyms: Reticular formation

Vaine (la) / Blood vessel

Definition: The tubes through which blood is carried, including arteries, arterioles,
capillaries, venules, and veins.
Gupta, Dr Jessica and Shea, Dr Michael, MSD Manual (Consumer Version) (University of
Michigan). Available at:
www.msdmanuals.com/home/heart-and-blood-vessel-disorders/biology-of-the-heart-and-
blood-vessels/biology-of-the-blood-vessels (Accessed 23 December 2022)
Synonyms: Venation
201615131 FREN1070 Portfolio

In translation, it is important to develop a full understanding of the source texts, through

both reading and wider research, before embarking upon translating them. In terms of a
glossary, the main purpose of each of the various source texts from which information is
obtained is to be empirical and informative1. Therefore, the translation of these medical
terms in the glossary has to be a literal one; there is little room for divergence from the
approach taken by the source texts, except to provide clarity. To take an example from my
glossary; although ‘basal ganglia’ is not a commonly used term in English, even in medical
texts, it was the only direct translation available for ‘les noyaux gris centraux’, hence the
inclusion of this entry without synonyms. The limitations of subject matter and purpose
complicate the process of translation.

The nature and purpose of a glossary is to provide scientifically recognised factual

information to an audience less familiar with this subject-specific vocabulary. As translation
professor James Araki stated following a panel of Problems of Translation, “a translation
cannot be perfectly literal, or word for word, unless the two languages are structurally
identical”2. While the meaning is largely maintained here, it would be unreasonable to
categorise it as a ‘perfect’ translation. This concurs with Jacques Derrida’s somewhat ironic
statement on the difficulties of translation; “nothing is translatable, nothing is
untranslatable”3. Translators must strive for perfection, while not letting this affect their
ability to produce functional documents that fulfil the intended purpose.

According to Hervey and Higgins, “Translation loss is inevitable”4. This can be seen by the
incredibly specific French term ‘couche de la matière piaque’ being translated to the Latin
term ‘pia mater’ for English use. In this case, it can be observed that the Francophone
medical world has devised their own term for this membrane, whereas the Anglophone
sphere continues to use the Latin term, as there is no obvious English equivalent. The direct
English translation of the French term would be ‘layer of piaic matter’, but the adjective
‘piaic’ is used extremely infrequently in English, to such an extent that there is no definition

1
Hervey and Higgins Thinking Translation p.139
2
Araki, J. 1964. ‘A Note on Literal Translation’. The Journal-Newsletter of the Association of Teachers of
Japanese. Vol. 2, No. ½, pp.28/29. (p. 28)
3
Derrida, J., Venuti, L. 2001. ‘What is a “Relevant” Translation?’ Critical Inquiry. (University of Chicago Press).
Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 174-200. (p. 179)
4
Hervey and Higgins Thinking Translation p. 25
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available from an online medical dictionary or journal. As a result of this, the term is
denominalised, resulting in the equivalent being ‘pia mater’.

The idea set out by Hervey and Higgins is to “reduce [translation loss] by deciding which of
the relevant features in the ST it is most important to preserve”5. Alternative interpretations
have been posited, including language philosopher Dorit Bar-On’s conclusion that the best
available translations preserve syntax “at the expense of so-called lexical meaning” 6. In the
case of this glossary, however, the ideas of Hervey and Higgins were adhered to, as the
factor of greatest importance when creating a glossary is the preservation of a term that can
be widely understood by those seeking medical knowledge, rather than a more idiomatic
translation, even if this may have greater lexical clarity.

In the field of translation, it is common for translation agencies to research subject-specific

terminology before the translator begins working on a source text 7. In this case, no explicit
list of vocabulary was provided, so extensive research had to be carried out on medical
terminology in order for the glossary to be of use. Examples of such subject-specific
terminology in the glossary include ‘thoracic spine’, ‘basal ganglia’, and ‘membrane
threshold’. The latter term proved particularly difficult to research, largely as a result of the
sheer number of synonyms available to describe the same concept. The use of ‘threshold’ is
more suitable here than that of ‘potential’ as it is used to describe a specific value (although
this value differs between each individual cell) and can therefore be more precisely defined.
Another contributing factor in this choice was that using one of the less lexically complex
methods of describing the same term facilitated the search for a suitable English-language
definition using online translation software and French/English dictionaries, a key
consideration in the modern approach to translation8.

Throughout the production of the glossary, an attempt was made to move “away from
concentrating on ‘the word’” and develop “an automatic sense of ‘the idea’” 9. For instance,

5
Hervey and Higgins Thinking Translation p. 25
6
Bar-On, D. 1993. ‘Indeterminacy of Translation – Theory and Practice’. Philosophy and Phenomenological
Research. Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 781-810. (p. 782)
7
D’Amours, M., Hamilton, P. 2013. ‘Becoming a Self-Employed Translator: The Structuring Influence of the
Clientele’. Revue française de sociologie (English Edition). (Sciences Po) Vol. 54, No. 2, pp. 261-293. (p. 282)
8
Nunes Vieira, L. 2022. ‘Translation’. Transnational Modern Languages: A Handbook. pp.297-304 (p. 300)
9
Straker, J. 2007. ‘On-line and Between the Lines: The Internet and Glossary Production for Public Service
Interpreters. The Critical Link 4: Professionalisation of interpreting in the community. Ed. Wadensjö, C.,
Dimitrova, B.E., Nilsson, A., pp.280-81.
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‘drug addiction was a given English translation for ‘la toxicomanie’ from multiple sources,
such as the Collins French-English Dictionary and WordReference1011. While this translation
is not incorrect, the English term ‘substance addiction’ is more idiomatic; often, it is used
euphemistically to avoid direct reference to the drug, or ‘substance’, that a specific person is
addicted to. As ‘la toxicomanie’ eschews mentioning drugs in an equivalent way, it can be
said that in this case ‘substance addiction’ is a more faithful translation.

In the process of compiling the glossary, it was important to ensure that every term, both in
French and English, had a pre-existing presence in medical literature. Creating a neologism
through the use of calque would have been inappropriate in this context12. This is evident
from the translation of ‘le cycle diurne’, directly translatable to ‘daytime/daily cycle’.
However, there is little sign of this term being used in a medical context, so the more
subject-specific (albeit less direct) translation ‘circadian rhythm’ is used. In a comparable
way, linguistic transposition had to be used for the translation of ‘l’évanouissement’ to
‘fainting’. Here, what is an abstract noun in French becomes an intransitive verb in English.
The most direct translation to an English noun would be ‘faint’, though this term is more
commonly used as an adjective, referring to weakness. To ensure the meaning of the term is
not fundamentally changed by the translation, transposition is necessary, which some
translators, such as Professor Brian James Baer, class as an entirely separate skill 13. These
issues in translation, along with the aforementioned restrictions posed by the empirical
nature and specific purpose of the source texts, make creating a glossary of terms in two
languages a challenging task, which can only be simplified through exhaustive research.

10
Collins French to English Dictionary, Toxicomanie. Available at: www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/french-
english/toxicomanie (Accessed 17 January 2022)
11
WordReference, La Toxicomanie. Available at: www.wordreference.com/fren/la%20toxicomanie (Accessed
17 January 2022)
12
Heijdra, M.J. 2020. ‘Polyglot Translators: Chinese, Dutch, and Japanese in the Introduction of Western
Learning in Tokugawa Japan’. At the Shores of the Sky: Asian Studies for Albert Hoffstädt. pp. 62-75 (p. 68)
13
Baer, B.J. 2020. ‘From Cultural Translation to Untranslatability: Theorising Translation outside Translation
Studies’. Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics. No. 40, Mapping New Directions in the Humanities, pp. 139-163
(p. 155)