Researchers in translation are most of the time quality conscious and aspire to determine the accuracy of the transferred text. They perceive back-translation as a reliable quality assurance mechanism. However, some specialists maintain that back-translation is not an efficient quality control mechanism. It is, therefore, the purpose of this paper to determine whether back-translation is a reliable quality assessing instrument between the source text and the target one.
The researcher applies a hermeneutic phenomenological investigating method within the qualitative paradigm to amplify the findings in this study.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
I. LINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF REVERSE TRANSLATION
I.1. TRANSLATION THEORIES: A GENERAL VIEW OF PROOFREADING PROCEDURE
I.2. THE CONCEPT OF REVERSE TRANSLATION EXPLAINED
I.3. DIFFICULTIES TO OVERCOME WHILE CARRYING OUT A REVERSE TRANSLATION
II. IMPLEMENTING THE REVERSE TRANSLATION IN PRACTICE
II.1. TEXTUAL LEVEL REVERSE TRANSLATION
II.2. TERMINOLOGY ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BACK TRANSLATION
CONCLUSIONS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ANNEX
Objectives and Topics
This project aims to investigate the efficacy of reverse translation (back-translation) as a quality control and proofreading instrument within the translation process. By examining the methodology through a case study, the work explores how back-translation can effectively identify discrepancies between source and target texts, while also highlighting the limitations and potential pitfalls of this technique in various professional and academic contexts.
- The theoretical framework of back-translation in modern translation studies
- Methodological challenges and the role of linguistic equivalence
- Practical implementation of reverse translation at the textual and terminological level
- Evaluation criteria for assessing translation accuracy and quality
Excerpt from the Book
II.1. THE TEXTUAL LEVEL OF THE REVERSE TRANSLATION
English version: “Monaco - who has not heard of the small state without taxes, where luxury is natural and is part of the normal daily life. It was a secret dream of mine - to get there, to see the places where they live rich, to walk on the boulevard that bears names of princes and princesses; the country that conquered the cinema world with beautiful Grace Kelly.” [6, p.139].
Romanian Version: Monaco – cine nu a auzit de un stat mic fără taxe, unde luxul e ceva natural și face parte din viața normală de zi cu zi. A fost un vis secret de a ajunge acolo, pentru a vedea locurile unde oamenii bogați trăiesc și să trec pe bulevardele care poartă numele prinților și prințeselor; din țara care a cucerit lumea cinematografica cu frumoasa Grace Kelly.
Back translation: Monaco - which is known as a small country without taxes, where luxury is a natural and normal part of everyday life. It was a secret dream to get there, to see the places where rich people live and walk the boulevards that bear the names of princes and princesses; of the country that conquered the cinematographic world with the beautiful Grace Kelly.
Commentary: Even from the beginning of the back translation, the meaning is distorted by deleting the „people” (implicitly mentioned) and turning the entire attention to the subject itself: Monaco. Nevertheless, the sentence meant to say that „there is no one” that didn’t hear about Monaco as a dream country; but due to the fact that the back translator dealt solely with the translated text, and didn’t compare it with the original, a meaning-error has occured.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: The author outlines the scope of the study, defining reverse translation as both a method and an assessment tool, and states the objectives of analyzing its validity through a case study.
I. LINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF REVERSE TRANSLATION: This chapter provides a theoretical overview of translation quality evaluation, explaining the concept of back-translation and the common difficulties encountered during the process.
I.1. TRANSLATION THEORIES: A GENERAL VIEW OF PROOFREADING PROCEDURE: It examines various translation quality theories and the controversial nature of back-translation as a proofreading mechanism.
I.2. THE CONCEPT OF REVERSE TRANSLATION EXPLAINED: This section details the definition of reverse translation and provides examples of its application in history and modern research.
I.3. DIFFICULTIES TO OVERCOME WHILE CARRYING OUT A REVERSE TRANSLATION: The author discusses the challenges of literal translation and the necessity of precise word choice to maintain semantic integrity.
II. IMPLEMENTING THE REVERSE TRANSLATION IN PRACTICE: This section presents the practical application of back-translation through case studies and examples.
II.1. TEXTUAL LEVEL REVERSE TRANSLATION: It analyzes how back-translation functions at the sentence and text level, noting where meaning can be distorted.
II.2. TERMINOLOGY ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BACK TRANSLATION: This chapter evaluates specific terms and identifies how polysemy and lack of context can lead to translation errors.
CONCLUSIONS: The concluding section summarizes the necessity of using back-translation as a text analysis tool, emphasizing that it should be used with precaution and professional judgment.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: A comprehensive list of academic sources and dictionaries used to support the research.
ANNEX: Provides the source texts and translations used for the practical case study analysis.
Keywords
Reverse translation, back-translation, translation quality, proofreading, linguistic equivalence, terminology analysis, text analysis, translation methodology, semantic accuracy, quality control, source text, target text, polysemy, professional translation, translation evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this project?
The project investigates the use of reverse translation (also known as back-translation) as a means of proofreading and quality assurance in professional translation.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
The themes include the theoretical foundations of translation assessment, the role of linguistic vs. conceptual equivalence, practical terminological challenges, and the limitations of back-translation in ensuring total accuracy.
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to determine if reverse translation serves as a reliable quality control mechanism by testing it against a specific case study to identify how and when it effectively flags errors.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The researcher uses a hermeneutic phenomenological research method within a qualitative paradigm, focusing on data collection, reconciliation of translations, and interpretive analysis of translation flaws.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the linguistic aspects of the procedure, a detailed terminological analysis of specific travel-related texts, and a practical examination of how back-translation can distort or preserve the author's original intent.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The most defining keywords are reverse translation, back-translation, quality control, proofreading, linguistic equivalence, and translation methodology.
How does the author define the "Terminological Nihilism" mentioned in the study?
Terminological nihilism describes the problem where translators fail to adhere to proper domain-specific terminology, often due to a lack of understanding of the subject area or a fear of challenging the client's preferences.
Why is the "resort" example considered significant in the study?
The "resort" example highlights the danger of simplistic back-translation, where a word like "resort" is incorrectly translated back as "station," causing a loss of context and distorting the original author's intended meaning.
What is the main recommendation provided for translators?
The author recommends that translators should constantly improve their active vocabulary, maintain a deep understanding of the subject matter, and use back-translation as a tool for text analysis rather than as a definitive replacement for professional proofreading.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Alexandrina Barajin (Autor:in), 2016, Rеvеrsе Trаnslаtion as a Method of Proofreading Translation, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/344602
