Translation as a process of scientific popularization

SEDDIKI Halima
University of Oran 1 – Ahmed Ben Bella
Laboratoire Traduction et typologie des textes

Abstract: This article addresses the issue of Translation as a process of scientific popularization. The reason behind choosing this research subject is due to the fact that new scientific terms are being created almost every day, and what matters is the translation of these terms into Arabic. At first, we should shed light on the arabization process, then on the main methods put forward by the Arab grammarians to create and introduce new Arabic terms in order to cope with the flow of modern terminologies. In the light of the findings of the research, It is obvious that Arabic can cope with the new influx of scientific terms. What we need is an open channel of communication among Arabic language academies to coordinate their efforts to unify and standardize the use of Arabic terminology in all fields. This would helpfully assist the field of translation in enriching the Arabic language.

Keywords: Translation – Scientific popularization – Concepts – Terminology – scientific texts – Language for specific purposes – Equivalence.

Introduction

Translation is considered as an important tool and a means in terms of scientific popularization, especially when dealing with scientific texts.This type of texts is characterizedby using very precise concepts and words. The importance of translating this type of texts back to the vast amount of scientific texts that flows into our daily life , which carries with it the conclusion reached by the science of development and prosperity in all fields and areas.

1. Concepts

The problems encountered in the translation of a conceptor a term are found in all languages of the world, it is a phenomenon that interests Arabic and non-Arab linguistic learners. The concept is a linguistic unit, it is also a part of language which is the means of communication of each person with his surroundings.

Maria Térésa Cabré says:

‘Les termes sont des unités composées de formes (la dénomination) et de contenu (le concept) qui coïncident avec les mots seulement en apparence’¹

Maria Térésa Cabré‘ s statement confirms the notion that the term or the concept includes ‚The ‚signifier‘ and ’signified ‚, expressed in the words ‚La dénomination‘ and ‚Le concept‘.

Thus, the concept is ‚utterance‘ and ‚meaning‘, it expresses things with certain labels.

2. Terminology

From the linguistic side, the Larousse Dictionary states that terminology is:

‘Etude des dénominations de concepts et objets dans les domaines spécialisés du savoir’².

‚Study of designations of concepts and objects in specialized fields of science‘.Our translation.

It is clear from this definition that terminology concerns the study of designations that refer to concepts in a particular field.

It is worth noting that terminology belongs to the field of applied linguistics and has been acknowledged by more than one linguist

3. Language for specific purposes

Language for specific purposes expresses special concepts in special terms, it is a language predominantly pragmatic. This is confirmed by Pierre Lerat, who says:

‘La notion de langue de spécialité est plus pragmatique, c’est une langue naturelle considérée en tant que vecteur de connaissances spécialisées‘³.

‚The concept of language for specific purposes is more pragmatic, it is a natural language that is considered as a conveyor of specialized knowledge.‘ Our translation.

In this context, ISO defines llanguage for specific purposes as a language used in a particular field and uses expressive linguistic means, including special terms and methods, to eliminate confusion in communication in that field.

4. Scientific texts

Initially, it should be noted that the scientific text is characterized by the objectivity. It also has a scientific material which is more important than the linguistic creativity.The scientific text focuses on the cognitive content and the presentation of data. That is why it employs clear, direct and scientifically agreed terms.

Scientific texts use a scientific language which is characterized by the following points:

– Accuracy and idealism and intellectual stereotypes

– Unilateralism at the label.

– The direct relationship and the obvious subject goal.

– A theoretical level.

– Emotional objectivity and neutrality.

5. Equivalence

The question of equivalence is always raised in the translation. The problem is whether the translator should look for the equivalent in terms of meaning, or in terms of form and vocabulary?

On this problem, Mathieu Guidère says:

‘L’équivalence est un concept largement répondu dans les études traductologiques, mais il est également très controversé en théorie comme en pratique’⁴.

‚Equivalence is a widespread concept in the field of translational studies, but it is controversial at both the theoretical and applied levels.‘ Our translation.

Mathieu Guidère argues that equivalence is an important issue in translation, and that the term is still controversial among his scholars. He also argues that Pym criticizes the circulation and transmission of equivalence because it is always defined on translation basis.

Catford: Catford argues that translation is the replacement of a text in a language with another text in another language. He considers the equivalence as the beating heart of the translation process.

In his opinion, translation becomes impossible when we notice a linguistic lack, or a cultural lack, or both of them in the target language. The first emerges from the lack of equivalents in the target language, and the second can be caused because of the absence of cultural elements.

This theory was not very successful because it restricts translation in a purely linguistic context.Therefore, this theory does not serve the phenomenon of scientific popularization.

Nida: The theory of Nida came as a development version of the linguistic theory, because of the different meanings and arrangement of symbols in the language, the theory concluded that it is impossible to have absolute equivalences between languages. This makes the translation process a matter of equality.

6.The interpretive approach

This approach is linked to the School of Higher Interpreters in Paris ESIT. It proposes a theory that it is possible to be applicable for all types of texts.

It is built on the process of interpretation, linguistic disassembly and re-expression. For the proponents of this approach, also called the theory of meaning, they focus on understanding the meaning of the original text in order to re-express it in the target language, where they consider that the theory of interpretation is a translation by equivalence.

In this context, the theory of meaning suggests valid translation principles for any language and for any subject, especially when it comes to technical translation and the translation of scientific texts.

This approach is certainly very close to the phenomenon of scientific popularization because it takes into account the specificities and requirements of the target audience.

In general, the scientific simplification of translation requires a special effort in rewording, where this effort far exceeds the translation of specialized texts

7.Is the scientific popularization a translation?

Popularization in this article specifically refers to “a vast class of various types of communicative events that involve the transformation of specialised knowledge into ‘everyday’ or ‘lay knowledge’”.

So, it is not to be confused with the meaning which is usually associated with the adjective popular, i.e. to be liked, or enjoyed by a large number of people.

Lay public is different from science experts in that, they are more concerned about the application, the utility and the consequences of science findings in relation to their daily life, rather than the advancement of science theories or methods .

Popularization can take place in different modes, not only in the written form, but also through audio-visual channels, internet. Therefore, popularization research often involves multimodal analysis. 

In fact, the emergence of new media is the main reason of the wide dissemination of science knowledge to the public.

Popularization of science is nothing else than an endeavour to image scientific ideas in such a way that everyone (especially non-scientists) can grasp the fundamental concepts and have an idea of what science in essence is.

Popularization of science comes to bridge a gap in communication channels between science and society. We have to consider popularization of science as an informative vehicle of registered scientific knowledge.

Translation of scientific texts has been always intertwined with the development in all domains. This aspect highlights its interdisciplinary nature. So, it seems to be room for the integration of new methodologies.

In no way can scientific popularization be clearly and accurately defined.

As an answer on the question that says ‘Is the scientific popularization a translation?’ we can say that:

‘The attempt to define scientific popularization often leads to a translation or a certain level of translation’⁵.

Translation in the sense of scientific popularizationis the presentation of a very understandable text to a future reader from another text written in a language that is difficult to understand for this reader.

8.Translation stapes based on scientific popularization

The first thing is the documentation step: It is the stage of understanding the text, this requires a thematic research, and a terminology research in order to avoid semiotic problems of the text field.

In the terminology research, translators always face language problems.

• The problem of similar words in two languages, these words are similar at writing and different in meaning.

• The problem feminine and masculine.

• A Problem with linguistic symbols: Each scientific field has its symbols that increase the troubles of the translator. In some cases, we find similar symbols where the characters are similar in both languages, but they are different in meanings. The translator here must be careful when dealing with.

Often these problems lead to translation damage resulting from misunderstanding.

Once we finish with the documentary research, we move to the language level selection. At this step, we look for the type and the level of the target audience.

We start the translation taking into account the equivalence in meanings.

9.Scientific texts translation strategies

The aim here is to find out how the information of science and technology is translated from a language to another.

The informative function is the main feature of scientific texts. Therefore, the interpretation of these texts should carefully process the primary and secondary meaning, the values and functions of these parts of the text in order to convey the introductory and conclusive function of the original.

The translator translates specialized language into ordinary language. This type of translation is not at all easy, especially if we know that the specialized language loses much of its strength during this course, because the science here is not transmitted properly.

One of the strategies adapted by scientists now is resorting to laying the foundations of what we call the diffusion of the scientific language, that is, injecting the minds with the new concepts where the media are working to integrate them into the general thinking in a way where scientific terms are independent of each other.

New scientific terms are being created almost every day, and what matters is the translation of these terms into Arabic.

Arabization is one of the strategies adapted by scientific popularization (Not always possible). Language may not always have satisfactory equivalents for a foreign term.

10. Arabic expanding techniques

The term “Arabic expanding techniques” is used to refer to the process of finding an equivalent for the scientific term by means of loan translation, derivation from Arabic roots, an-Naħt, compounding (at-Tarkëb), and translation by definition.

Amplification: This is done by adding explanatory elements to the text and deriving what is implicit within the text. This procedure is frequent when the nature of the starting language is more than the nature of the target language.

Omission:This action deletes words that can be omitted from the target text, thus simplifying the meaning

In addition to these strategies, a translator should respectthe following points:

– The text should be correct in terms of language.

– Keep the meaning and order sentences (if possible).

–Re-establish the temporal element within sentences.

–The simplified text style should be retained on the tone of the original text.

–Exclude common and logistic phrases

–Respect the audio frequency of the original text.

11. Conclusion

At the end, we would like to say that directing our attention to the study related to the translation as a process of popularization reveals the interest in understanding science which is a step toward communication in society.

References

• COLLOMBAT C.F; LAVALE Isabelle: Le discours imagé en vulgarisation scientifique, Etude comparée du français et de l‘anglais, vulgarisation scientifique

• BEJOINT, Henri & THOIRON, Philipe: Le sens en terminologie, Paris: Lion, Presse universitaire de Lyon, 2000

• DUBOIS Jean et autres: Dictionnaire de linguistique. Larousse-Bordas VUEF, Paris, 2002

• GUIDERE Mathieu: Introduction à la traductologie. Bruxelles, Groupe de Boeck, 2^ème ed.2010

• LERAT, Pierre: Les langues spécialisées, France: Paris, 1ére ed. 1995

---

1Henri Bejoint.PhilipeThoiron. Le sens en terminologie. Paris : Lion. Presse universitaire de Lyon. 2000. P23.