Lesson 2

Lesson 2. ANGL-113405 A Translator’s Work
& Les sept principaux procédés de traduction
Firstly, check the homework translation of ‘Eau de toilette’ and ‘Le groupe PSA’
Lesson 1. Redone as Vocabulary exercise
Are You Interested in a Career in Translating?
Translators and interpreters are trained in different ways. Translators receive extensive
practice with representative texts in various subject areas and they learn to efficiently use
general paper dictionaries such as the Hachette-Oxford Grand dictionnaire, or specialised
terminology dictionaries Harrap’s Dictionnaire juridique/Law Dictionary, by Dalloz and
online dictionaries such as the Inter-Active Terminology for Europe (http://iate.europa.eu),
Reverso’s online dictionary (http://dictionary.reverso.net), l'Office québécois de la langue
française (www.granddictionnaire.com), Google’s translator (http://translate.google.com),
and Word Reference (http://www.wordreference.com).
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Translators also need general computing skills with current document-related software (for
example, word processing programs (e.g. Word, Open Office), and training with specialised
computer-assisted translation (CAT) software (e.g. Trados, Wordfast, Déjà Vu). They also
require introductory training with WYSIWYG desktop publishing software (e.g. Adobe
PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher), and maybe training with specialised software such as in
graphics art software (e.g. Paint, Photoshop, GIMP) and presentation software (e.g.
Powerpoint, Open Impress) andOCR (Optical Character Recognition) software (e.g. ABBYY,
Tesseract) and PDF conversion programs (e.g. ABBYY, Adobe online PDF conversion)
Vocabulary:/PAO/logiciels/TOA/les compétences générales en informatique/ courant-
actuel/ logiciels de présentation/logiciels de traitements de texte/ROC reconnaissance
optique de caractères/
Interpreters, by contrast, don’t have time to look up words in dictionaries when they are
working. They don’t need to use overly specific terminology (unless they specialise in
construction, legal, political interpreting) because they only interpret speech, which uses less
vocabulary than writing. However they need immediate and unhesitant mental access to the
large amount of vocabulary stored in their memory. They are trained in precise listening
skills under taxing conditions, memory and note-taking techniques for consecutive
interpreting (in which the interpreter listens and takes notes while the speaker speaks, and
then after several minutes provides the version in the other language), and they are trained in
split-attention techniques for simultaneous interpreting (in which the interpreter, usually in
a booth with a headset and microphone, listens and speaks at the same time, usually
producing the interpreted version only seconds after the speaker provides the original). Both
translators and interpreters can be either ‘in-house’ or ‘freelance’.
Vocabulary:free-lance – indépendant/cabine/attention devisée ?/un accès immédiate et
sans hésitation/microphone / interprétation consécutive/ prise de notes/interprétation
simultanée/ casque/interne (à l’entreprise)/épuisantes/mémoire/
The in-house translator is employed by a business or a translation company or agency, to
provide translations in the workplace, on either a permanent or a fixed term contract. The

advantage of being in-house for a newcomer to the profession is the opportunity to gain
experience quickly, in an environment where mentoring and feedback are usually given.
Though it may take time to find a job placement or post, this kind of experience is extremely
valuable. A good place to find companies who offer in-house placements or posts is the
Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) Bulletin. Newspapers publish job vacancies
and your local ‘Yellow Pages’ directory will provide you with a list of translation companies or
agencies operating in big cities.
Vocabulary:nouveau venu/stage/ remarques-retour/ CDI – CDD/ maîtriser /
poste/mentor*/lieu de travail /
Setting up as a freelancer is a more complex issue. Generally speaking, offers of work are only
made to translators with a ‘track record’ and a specific qualification in translation, such as the
Diploma in Translation of the Institute of Linguists (IOL), which can be considered the first
step on the professional ladder, or membership of the ITI, which is gained by examination
and experience. The optimal freelance translator will need to be able to offer two or possibly
more foreign languages at a very high level of competence. Moreover, experience and
knowledge of a number of subject specialities are required; most translators concentrate on
either technical translation (e.g. IT, engineering, construction) or what is called ‘general
translation’ and usually includes legal, financial and business texts. Few translators cover a
very wide range of subjects. In addition to the above knowledge skills, the translator needs
general computing skills and suitable equipment, comprising a computer, broadband
internet (virtually all translations are sent back to the client by e-mail these days), a printer
(preferably laser), a scanner and a telephone and fax machine.
Vocabulary: quasiment/ADSL/le premier pas/bonne réputation-être connu-un bon CV/sur
le chemin de la réussite (move up the ladder=monter les échelons)/imprimante/très grande
variété/ utilisation de ses compétences/compétences informatiques/se mettre à son
compte/client/ IT= Technologies de l'information et de la communication/en général
Working as a freelance means being self-employed, and it is important to find out before
taking this step what self-employment entails. All translators have to grapple with taxation,
pension contributions, accounting, grants and subsidies, training, marketing and legal issues
at some point. Help is at hand though. Your local Chamber of Commerce may also be able to
provide you with useful information and sometimes they have their own lists of translators
available for work, which you may be able to join.
One disadvantage of working from home is isolation. A body like the Institute of Translating
and Interpreting (ITI) offers a valuable lifeline to members by providing a range of services.
These include: links with the world of employment, guidance for new entrants to the
profession (e.g. a forum for new translators at the annual conference), training and
professional development (also in conjunction with universities and professional institutions),
information on IT and reference materials and the promotion of professional standards of
competence. Students on an approved course of study can become Student Members on
payment of a small annual sum, and those who are not students but interested in the
profession may become subscribers. Membership is gained by assessment and examination
only. All categories of affiliation may attend ITI events, and students benefit from very
advantageous rates for courses and the annual conference. ‘The Bulletin’published by ITI
every two months contains useful articles and tips, job offers and a calendar of events. This is
a good way of keeping abreast of developments in the field of translation. Networking is also
important and ITI has a number of forums for subjects, languages and regions, which enable
translators to share their experiences, meet and pass on work.
Vocabulary: à un moment donnée/ conseils-tuyaux /formation/prix avantageux/conseils/
se tenir au courant / avoir des contacts /subventions et subventions/travailleur

indépendant/à portée de main/bouée de sauvetage/lutter/normes de compétence
professionnelle/les études homologués/ comptabilité/impliquer/fiscalité-impôts/offres
d’emploi/cotisations sociales - retraite/domaine/ abonnés
Another website to help translators feel less isolated and that offers the same sort of sharing
forums is Proz.com (which has excellent glossaries). They also have group buying prices for
translation software such as Trados.
If you do decide that you want to make a career in translation, bear in mind that you need to
be enthusiastic, motivated and determined. Freelancing, in particular, is not for faint-hearted
people! Work flows are usually erratic, at least until you become established and have several
work-providers. Therefore, if you are considering changing jobs and abandoning the nine-to-
five office job for translation, make sure you have enough funds to see you through at least
the first two years, where cashflow and income will be irregular. However, once you have
become successfully established, you will be unlikely to want to return to a routine job, as the
independence of freelancing is interesting and stimulating.
For a good list of all the universities in France offering Masters Degrees in translating and
interpreting, see www.lexicool.com/courses_france.asp?IL=1. Or you could study translating
overseas. An organization that can give help anywhere in the world is FIT, the Fédération
Internationale des Traducteurs (http:/www.fit-ift.org).
Vocabulary: revenues/imprévisible/un travail stable d’employé de bureau/craintif/flux de
travail/ garder à l’esprit/vous financer/flux de trésorerie/glossaires/
Spontaneously translate this extract by Céline Graciet
1
5
10
I really love translating. I’ve been doing it for 8 years and I just can’t get bored of it. I’ve
often been asked why I offer translation services in just one language pair, when I could
be opening up my client base and earn more by teaming up with translators working
with other languages. My problem with that is that it would mean cutting down on my
translation work to take on more project management-type work, and I don’t want to
do that. I want to translate all day long! I don’t really have any greater ambition than
that. The other thing I love is that to me, a computer has always been a big toy and I still
can’t believe I’m allowed to play on it all day. I love being constantly online and in touch
with the news, my friends and family and with everything that’s happening out there.
And of course, being my own boss, nobody will tell me off for playing Scrabble with my
friend in America or checking my favourite blogs…..I get sent documents in English and
I have to send them back in French.
A Translating Method (revision) Between when she gets sent documents in English and
when she sends them back in French, what does Céline have to do?
1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
A Translator’s tools
1. Dictionaries: ..….…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………
2. CAT software: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. Files: ………………..………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. Machines: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. Office Organisation: ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. Official Company Documents: ……………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. Other: ….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………
Check that you know all the above terms in English and French!
Lesson 2. Homework Reading, Writing and
Application Exercise
Lisez le texte et libellez chaque procédé souligné dans la traduction suivante.
Complétez la dernière page.
Les sept principaux procédés de traduction

Grâce à la recherche en linguistique et en stylistique comparée, on a pu établir un certain
nombre de particularités en anglais d’une part, en français d’autre part.
Sans chercher ici à trop entrer dans le détail, rappelons que, d’une manière générale,
l’anglais est plus concret et le français plus abstrait, l’anglais plus dynamique et le
français plus statique, l’anglais peut être plus elliptique et/ou plus synthétique que le
français.
Ces grandes tendances, dues à l’évolution historique et culturelle de chacune de ces
deux langues, se traduisent concrètement par des potentialités linguistiques différentes:
contrairement au français, l’anglais permet de composer et de dériver les mots presque à
l’infini; l’anglais dispose souvent de deux termes pour désigner la même notion, l’un plus
savant d’origine latine et l’autre plus simple d’origine germanique.
Dans un deuxième temps, à partir de cette étude en parallèle, on a cherché à établir des
«ponts» entre les deux langues, des correspondances entre telle façon de s’exprimer en
anglais et telle autre en français. Ainsi, on ne pourra pas traduire littéralement en français un
adjectif composé anglais comme mule-headed, puisque ce type de formation adjectivale
n’existe pas. La question est de savoir comment on exprimerait spontanément la même idée
en français on pense à « têtu comme une mule » ou « tête de mule ». Ensuite, on peut
analyser les transformations qui ont eu lieu entre la structure de départ (adjectif composé
formé d’un nom et d’un nom + suffixe -ed) et la structure d’arrivée (adjectif + conjonction
introduisant une comparaison avec un groupe nominal) ou (nom de nom).
Cette démarche a permis de définir sept procédés de traduction principaux, qui sont
autant d’outils dont dispose le traducteur face à une difficulté donnée. Les trois premiers, que
nous n’étudierons pas ici sont appelés procédés de traduction directe, car la transformation
du texte original est inexistante ou minimale.
Translation (Libellez chaque procédé souligné)
Source Text (ST)
CAT translation
(using Reverso Professional)
Target Text (TT)
La maison des Produits
Régionaux, véritable
vitrine du Poitou-Charentes,
est une structure pour la
distribution et la promotion
des produits de la région.
Tous nos produits sont
dégustés, testés et notés par
un jury de professionnels et
de consommateurs avertis,
avant d'être proposés à la
vente.
Seuls les produits ayant
obtenu une note supérieure
à 70 points sur 100 sont
retenus.
L'ensemble de nos produits
The house of the
Products Regional, real
window of the Poitou-
Charentes, is a structure for
the distribution and the
promotion of the products of
the region.
All our products are tasted,
tested and noted by a jury of
professionals and aware
consumers, before being
proposed to the sale.
Only the products having
gotten a note superior to 70
points on 100 are kept.
The set of our products
comes directly from the
The House of Regional
Productsis a window onto
the Poitou-Charentes region,
selling and promoting the
region's best products.
Before being put on sale, all
our products are tasted,
tested and graded by a jury
of professionals and
informed consumers.
Only the products that
scored 70/100 or above are
kept.
All our products arrive
directly from the producers
and all production facilities
are regularly visited by our