The Linguist

@CIOL_Linguists WINTER 2022 The Linguist 23 FEATURES Michael Alpert asks what Maigret can tell us about the challenges of translating hierarchical terms The translation of words which denote professions can cause problems, because professional roles and qualifications vary between countries. For example, dictionaries usually translate 'accountant' into Spanish as contable, but this is the word for a less qualified bookkeeper. Again, Google discusses at length the possible English equivalents of the Spanish aparejador, who is the person who supervises the construction of a building according to the architect's design ('quantity surveyor', 'clerk of works'). Furthermore, some fields, including the church and armed services, have hierarchies. The words for the ranks are often cognates, but their meaning may vary in different languages. In translation, one solution is to leave a term in the original language. In his novel Metropolis, the late Philip Kerr wrote either polizeivizepräsident or 'Deputy Police Commissioner' to refer to that rank. I would argue that leaving the term in German (if the context allowed the English reader to appreciate what rank it indicated) or translating it as 'Deputy Police Commissioner' were both acceptable. On the other hand, 'Deputy Chief Constable' would probably have been too culture-bound. False friends may also arise. An English 'vicar' is not a French vicaire; nor is a French curé equivalent to a 'curate'. A Spanish comandante is a British 'major', while a Royal Navy 'commander' is a Spanish capitán de fragata. A French général de brigade is a British 'brigadier', but a French brigadier is a non-commissioned officer. The translation of police ranks is also an issue in detective novels and TV crime series. Georges Simenon's Maigret is one of the most famous foreign detectives in Britain. Over recent years, Penguin has been issuing the Maigret books in English. However, the translations of the ranks of Maigret and his subordinates are questionable. To take his subordinates first, Simenon refers to Torrence, Lucas, Janvier and Lapointe as inspecteurs. This is rendered as 'inspectors', which suggests, wrongly, that they are equal to French commissaires. Lucas's rank is occasionally stated as brigadier, corresponding approximately to 'sergeant'. From the way Maigret talks to them and gives them orders, they seem to be the equivalent of British detective sergeants, and perhaps should be titled as such. Furthermore, Lapointe, the most junior inspecteur, is often given tasks appropriate to a lowly detective constable. Lucas has an office but the others wait in the staff room, or Salle des Inspecteurs, until Maigret gives them instructions. I would suggest, therefore, that inspecteur is not a rank but a generic term, better translated as 'detective'. Maigret himself is occasionally given his full title of commissaire divisionnaire. This is almost the highest rank of commissaire, so it would seem equivalent at least to a British Detective Superintendent. There are other indications that Maigret has a very senior rank, which is not satisfactorily translated by 'Chief Inspector', the title usually given to him in English. He heads the Brigade Criminelle, which investigates murder and kidnapping. He reports directly to the Head of the Paris Criminal Investigation Department – a position he, himself, is offered in the final story, Maigret et Monsieur Charles. This post would likely be occupied by a British Chief Superintendent or even a Deputy Assistant Commissioner. Thus Maigret, who is only one rank lower, would be at least a Superintendent and possibly even a Chief Superintendent. It is clear from these brief examples that translators and interpreters need to take care when translating words indicating professions and their hierarchical divisions. These may occur even in non-specialised texts, such as fiction and newspapers. When is an inspector not an inspecteur? Michael Alpert is Emeritus Professor of the History of Spain at the University of Westminster, where he also taught translation. TL 'MAIGRET' (2017) DVD COVER DETAIL

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