Scientific and Technical Translation in English: Week 2

Dr. Ron Martinez

This man was US president the last time this class was offered.

Homework• Read “Lost without translation: scientific research” –

on the class website. Please also read the “Reader’s comments.” Be prepared to discuss next class.

• Choose 2 of the “problematic” translations and “fix” them.

• Translate “Cocamar” text; bring translation to next class (hard copy preferred).

• For fun: try to come up with a translation for the text in this image

Roman Jakobson (1959) (also online)

“These three kinds of translation are to be differently labeled:

“1 Intralingual translation or rewording is an interpretation of verbal signs by means of other signs of the same language.

“2 Interlingual translation or translation proper is an interpretation of verbal signs by means of some other language.

“3 Intersemiotic translation or transmutation is an interpretation of verbal signs by means of signs of nonverbal sign systems.”

Jakobson (cont.)

• There is ordinarily no full equivalence between code-units.

• Translation involves two equivalent messages in two different codes.

• Translation activities must be kept under constant scrutiny.

Rudolf Jumpelt (1961)

In STT there is an “absolute priority of information content over form, and of the accuracy of its transmission.” (p. vii)

Show your translation to a classmate

• Are they similar?• Any disagreements?• Copy and paste your translations into the

Google Docs (online).

General course outline• Week 1: Introduction to translation and CAPA• Week 2: Research article structure, common discourse problems• Week 3: Hands-on introduction to electronic tools• Week 4: Translation of research articles (1st assignment on e-folio)• Week 5: Disciplinary specificity; glossary building (e-folio)• Week 6: Review of 1st assignment, feedback from Writing V• Week 7: Midterm assessment (in-class)• Week 8: New teams, new “live” assignments• Week 9: Assignments continued• Week 10: Feedback from Writing V• Week 11: Completion of final translations• Week 12: Group presentations• Week 13: Group presentations• Week 14: Final exam (in-class)• Week 15: Final polishing of e-Portfolios

Discuss the articleQUOTE FROM ARTICLE QUESTION FOR DISCUSSION

“A misplaced preposition or poor choice of verb can ruin a convincing narrative, reducing the probability of publication in a top international journal and limiting the impact of the research.”

Do you agree? Is it possible to avoid? How?

“(M)any foreign scientists spend precious research funds on private translation services. But standard translators may not understand the science, the structure of scientific papers or the technical language.”

Does such knowledge of “science” and the “structure of scientific papers” really make a difference?

“(W)e suggest that university departments in non-anglophone countries could hire professional translators with a science background…”

What do you think about this solution?

Some comments from readers:

But there is a third skill that may well be overlooked in the rush to find someone who knows the languages and the subject area in sufficient depth. While mastery of two or more languages and an understanding of the science are two key elements, the act of translation itself is also a skill that must be learned and honed over many years of experience.

They often work closely with authors to ensure the accuracy of their work, and provide added value […].Moreover, ITI’s members must all adhere to a Code of Professional Conduct…

Rudolf Jumpelt (1961)

In STT there is an “absolute priority of information content over form, and of the accuracy of its transmission.” (p. vii)

“fidelity of meaning and register...”

Any ambiguity here?

“O Uso Racional de Medicamentos compreende a prescrição apropriada, o acesso, a dispensação em condições adequadas e o consumo de medicamentos eficazes e seguros, nas doses, intervalos e período de tempo indicados. Implica conhecimentos específicos e atualizados por parte dos profissionais e na compreensão do paciente sobre a importância da adesão ao tratamento. Esta linha de pesquisa contempla projetos que visam oferecer subsídios para o seu uso apropriado, focados na informação, na pesquisa básica e clínica e no uso adequado de medicamentos pelo Sistema Único de Saúde.”

Moreover, publishers we work with have been "looking into translation services" over the past year or so, recognizing that language editing just won't cut it for many non-native, English-speaking researchers. 

I'm sure that teams of translators could be established within individual universities, at least for the most prominent source languages. I think this initiative would not only help many researchers but also increase the yield of published research papers for an institution.

…it is even worth to speak not about separated individuals but about the Centres for Academic Writing and Scientific Translation at universities that could unite professional translators specialized in different scientific fields and help academics and researchers with the papers preparation in compliance with scientific journals requirements, including accurate translation. Additionally, such Centres could accumulate the knowledge in translation systematically within the single quality control system and become the platforms for experience changing.

Research Article Structure

On our website:

• Download the two articles.• What sections do they have in common?• In terms of academic discourse, why do most

research articles follow this pattern? Think about the specific role each section serves in a typical research article.

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: A Look Inside

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: A Look Inside

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: A Look Inside

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: IMRaD

Introduction

Method

Results andDiscussion

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: IMRaD

Introduction

Method

Results andDiscussion

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: IMRaD

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: IMRaD

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Quick Survey:

According to research, which two IMRaD sections are usually the most difficult for non-native speakers of English to write in English?

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Research Articles: IMRaD

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Discuss: Who can an academic writer be compared to?

• Politician?• Salesperson? • Teacher?• Firefighter?• Doctor?• Lecturer?• Architect?• Other?

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

John Swales (1980)

• Published IMRaD articles tended to follow a pattern of foregrounding of novelty.

• This foregrounding usually occurred in the Introduction.

• There seemed to be a pattern in the way authors “created a research space” in the existing literature.

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

“C.A.R.S.” (John Swales)

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

ESTA

BLIS

HIN

GTE

RRIT

ORY

ESTA

BLIS

HIN

GN

ICHE

Analyze it again:

Which grammar forms are mostly present?

A) present simpleB) present perfectC) past simpleD) present continuous

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez ronmartinez@ufpr.br

“C.A.R.S.” (John Swales)

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT SIMPLE/PERFECT

PRESENT SIMPLE

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

C.A.R.S.- In IMRaD Abstracts

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Abstracts: C.A.R.S. in IMRaD

IM

RD

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Abstract-Intro Connections (article online)

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Abstract-Intro Connections

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Abstract-Intro Connections

Cohesion!

TITLE

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez ronmartinez@ufpr.br

What about in Portuguese?

• Online: Identify “CARS”

‘Claiming centrality’

Always think:

OK, so what’s the story

here?

Typical CARS problems

LEVELS OF PUBLICATIONS SUCCESS (or rejection)

Language (vocabulary, grammar, etc.)

Discourse (cohesion, organization, clarity)

Research (relevant theme, appropriate

method, etc.)Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

DIFFERENT LEVELS OF IMPORTANCE!Languag

e (vocabulary, grammar,

etc.)

Discourse (clarity, organization)

Research (appropriate method, etc.)

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez - UFPR

Ron Martinez 65

Ron Martinez 66

MAIN ISSUE NOT ‘ENGLISH’

Anything missing?

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez ronmartinez@ufpr.br

Online:

1. Download “Article Requiring Revision”.2. Identify CARS in the introduction (Section 1).3. Look at the comments from the Journal

Editor (also online). Specifically, focus on the comments from “Reviewer 2”. Do you agree?

4. Discuss with a partner.

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez ronmartinez@ufpr.br

Homework

• Identify C.A.R.S. in 3 engineering articles (online) • Read the Eliana Hirano article on Brazilian

introductions (online)• Are you confident enough to suggest changes to an article?  Read the introduction to the “Corpus Linguistics” article. Any problems? Make notes on what you would tell the author; bring the suggestions to class.

• Read the Doherty article on translation technologies (online)

The science of results sections and other reporting of Method

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez ronmartinez@ufpr.br

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinez ronmartinez@ufpr.br