Written Activities

Short Answer Questions: Answer the following questions in your own words.

1. Why should the translator avoid mirroring the form of the source language when translating?

2. How does the translator act as a bridge?

3. What are our goals in translation?

4. What are the most important elements of an idiomatic translation?

5. What do you think is your main weakness in translating? What personal goals do you have for this course?

Translation Exercise 1

The following translation was completed from Spanish to English with too much attention to form and not enough to message. Back-translate to get as close as you can to what you imagine the original Spanish source text was, and then translate that to English, prioritizing message over form.

Esteemed Sirs,

I direct myself to you with the end of asking for an extension for my payments of child support. I have all the intention to pay everything that I owe, only that now it is not possible for me to make the payments completely. They fired me from my last employment for the topic of the economy and now I barley can pay my own expenses.

Thankful for your attention,

Francisco Hernández Ramos

Spanish back-translation (refer to the English translation to re-create what you think the original Spanish source text was).

English translation (translate your version of the source text in a way that communicates the message in a natural way in English)
 

Translation Exercise 2

Translate the following letter from a client from Spanish to English, keeping in mind the goal of prioritizing message over form while communicating the complete message.

July 12th, 2011

A quien corresponda:

Les escribo esta carta para decirles que ya puse medical a mi hijo Roberto Nuñez Hidalgo, hasi que el ahora tiene su propio medical. Por eso escribo este carta porque creo que todavía me están quitando ami cheque por este medical de mi hijo. Yo e cumplido con los pagos de child support desde el principio y agradezco si no me quiten demas de lo que debo. Por favor, diganme cuando reciven esta carta y si estan deacuerdo.

Gracias ustedes,

Tomás Rodas Nuñez