The Linguist

@CIOL_Linguists SPRING 2024 The Linguist 23 FEATURES may use a richer and more precise language. Different types of writing, including academic papers, literature and technical manuals, have their own conventions and expectations, contributing to the diversity and complexity of writing styles. Because writers can take their time to carefully choose words, craft sentences and structure their arguments, this allows for a more refined and nuanced style, which can be challenging to convey accurately in the target language on the spot. Specialised vocabulary and technical terminology can pose further difficulties, especially in fields like science, medicine and law, where terminology can be very precise. Acronyms and abbreviations are often used in technical documents and in various industries. Some instances include CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) from the field of medicine; ADR (alternative dispute resolution) from the legal realm; and VPN (virtual private network) from information technology. Academic texts may also use footnotes or endnotes to provide additional information, citations or explanations for concepts that might be unfamiliar to the reader. Another challenge is balancing accuracy and fluency. Interpreters need to ensure the translated message is coherent and maintains the intended meaning while speaking in a clear and natural manner. Fluency may sound different in speech than in written text because of the latter's more formal style. While written text can convey rhythm through punctuation and sentence structure, it lacks the dynamic qualities of spoken language. The rhythm of speech is influenced by intonation, stress and pauses. Speech can vary in speed and rhythm based on emotions, emphasis or the speaker's natural cadence. The sight translator must produce the suprasegmental features (intonation, loudness, tempo, rhythm, pitch and voice quality) which the text cannot. They must accurately interpret the intended pauses, emphasis and breaks conveyed through punctuation marks, such as commas and semicolons. Emphasis and pauses are used strategically to maintain the flow of communication, enhance clarity and convey meaning. In addition, sight translators emphasise key words or phrases to highlight important information or convey the intended tone of the source text, and introduce pauses between items in a list to delineate each one. Moreover, they emphasise crucial elements in complex sentences to guide the listener's attention and enhance comprehension. Scanning and chunking Anyone wishing to work in ST must develop effective reading techniques that focus on the ability to quickly extract meaning from a written text. This may include scanning or skimming for key information and recognising structural cues. In the 'preview and scan' technique, students are trained to quickly preview the text to get a sense of its overall QUICK THINKING Written texts may use a richer and more precise language than the spoken word, but the sight translator does not have time to carefully construct the translation structure, main ideas and potential challenges before starting the translation. They are asked to look for headings, subheadings and key terms. Then they scan the text to identify any specialised vocabulary or concepts that may require extra attention. This technique allows sight translators to mentally prepare for the content and identify potential stumbling blocks. It helps them to anticipate the structure of the text, making it easier to navigate and translate on the fly. 'Chunking and paraphrasing' is a technique whereby the translator breaks the text into smaller segments and focuses on translating one chunk at a time. As they translate, they try to paraphrase the information rather than translating closely. This ensures they convey the intended meaning effectively while maintaining a natural flow in the target language. Breaking the text into manageable chunks reduces cognitive load and allows for a more focused and accurate translation. Paraphrasing helps interpreters to avoid literal translations that may not capture the nuances of the source text. Syntacrobatics Interpreters need to quickly and accurately navigate intricate sentence constructions, embedded clauses and other syntactic © PEXELS

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