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French to English Translation. Jennifer Valcke Jennifer.Valcke@ulb.ac.be. Jennifer Valcke. Over 10 years experience in translation and proofreading from French into English Scientific and technological fields Science of sleep Literature Films and subtitling
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French to English Translation Jennifer Valcke Jennifer.Valcke@ulb.ac.be
Jennifer Valcke • Over 10 years experience in translation and proofreading from French into English • Scientific and technological fields • Science of sleep • Literature • Films and subtitling • EAP and ESP lecturer at the UniversitéLibre de Bruxelles (ULB) • Action research in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)
Course objectives • Improve word-power and text-awareness • Appreciation of interlingual distance • How far removed one language is from another • Understanding of translation issues and difficulties • Translation of more demanding texts • Sources: La LibreBelgique, Le Soir, Libération, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le MondeDiplomatique, etc.
Course programme • 2 hours per week over the semester • Wikispace used for course • http://isti-ba3-valcke.wikispaces.com/ • Tips and tools • Texts (collaborative) • PPT presentations • Information on teaching times
How to register on the wiki? • Provide your teacher with your email address • On the Google doc: http://bit.ly/XYptpv • Accept the invitation • Create a username (use your first name and family name) • Get started!
What’s does the wiki look like? LANG-H-300 English III 2010-2011
How to use the wiki (1/5) • Team 1 = Wednesday 8-10h class • Team 2 = Wednesday 10-12h class LANG-H-300 English III 2010-2011
How to use the wiki (2/5) • Select the Project by clicking on your team LANG-H-300 English III 2010-2011
How to use the wiki (3/5) • To add your text, click on the edit button LANG-H-300 English III 2010-2011
How to use the wiki (4/5) • Use the toolbar to add or edit text, to add comments/links/files LANG-H-300 English III 2010-2011
How to use the wiki (5/5) • Always save your work! LANG-H-300 English III 2010-2011
Didactical issues • Developing awareness of language differences and challenges • Developing exam strategies • Developing translation strategies • Researching • Reading “around” • Using tools
Assessment • Project • Details in the next class • 2 students work together • Long text • Final assessment • 2 hours • 350-word text
Translation tips and strategies • Translation tips found on wiki • Translation = PROCESS and SKILL • Translation needs to be PRACTISED
Translation strategiesStep 1: approaching the text • Read the text • Summarize the main ideas mentally • Mark passages that appear ambiguous • Read the text through a second time for clues • Lexical, grammatical, cultural • Linking words • Develop a questioning attitude • Look at the problem passage • Does it exemplify, reinforce or contradict the information that preceded? • Develop problem-solving abilities • Avoid rushing to the dictionary
Translation strategiesStep 2: preparing the translation (1/2) • Look for • Expressions • travailler pour unebouchée de pain • to work for pittance • Collocations • occuperunefonction • to hold a high-ranking position • Words that resemble English words (cognates) • compréhensif, sensible • understanding, sensitive
Translation strategiesStep 2: preparing the translation (2/2) • Consult the section entitled "Words to be wary of" in the accompanying notes and exercises (on the wiki) • Be attentive to spelling differences • développé vs. developed • littérature vs. literature • Refer to vocabulary manuals to compile a list of common expressions and collocations • Look up words in batches • Develop your own "retrieval system" • using index cards • online tools, such as Head Magnet (http://headmagnet.com/)
Translation strategiesStep 3: writing the translation • Untangle long sentences • Find main clause • Find the subject (implicit) • Find the verb • Move sentences around • If you cannot put all the information in one sentence, write two • Vocabulary • Only use words or expressions that you are familiar with or have checked in a monolingual dictionary • Never invent vocabulary or expressions • Use your creative talents to experiment with English-sounding sentence structures • Fragments are often inappropriate forms in formal English
Translation strategiesStep 4: revising the translation • Check your translation for • Accuracy in meaning • Logic in your choice of linking words • Clarity and conciseness • Appropriateness of collocations and French-sounding vocabulary • Word order and grammatical accuracy • Spelling and capitalisation • Punctuation • Put aside your source text and read your translation out loud for naturalness
Translation tools • IATE Database • ProZ.com • Macmillan dictionary (UK) • Merriam-Webster dictionary (US) • Translation theory • Feel free to add more on the Wiki
Project 1Mariage gay: non à la colusion de la haine • What do you think this article is about? • What do you know of the context? • What are the arguments of anti-gay marriage activists? • What are the arguments of pro-gay marriage activists?
Step 1: approaching the text • Read the text • Summarize the main ideas mentally • Mark passages that appear ambiguous
Step 1: approaching the text • Read the text through a second time for clues • Lexical, grammatical, cultural • Linking words
Step 1: approaching the text • Develop a questioning attitude • Look at the problem passage • Does it exemplify, reinforce or contradict the information that preceded? • Develop problem-solving abilities • Avoid rushing to the dictionary
Translation strategiesStep 2: preparing the translation (1/2) • Look for • Expressions • Collocations • Words that resemble English words
Translation strategiesStep 2: preparing the translation (2/2) • Be attentive to spelling differences • Look up words in batches
for next class… • Step 3: writing the translation • Write your suggestions on the wiki • Edit or improve others’ contributions • Add comments and links • Untangle long sentences • Move sentences around • Vocabulary • Step 4: revising the translation • Check your translation for • Accuracy • Logic • Clarity and conciseness • Collocations and French-sounding vocabulary • Word order and grammar • Spelling and capitalisation • Punctuation • Read your translation out loud for naturalness