FIT Translation Techniques & Language Proficiency 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The technique of 'compression' in translation is most commonly used in which context?
- Literary prose translation where elegance is paramount
- Subtitling and audiovisual translation where space and time are limited (Correct answer)
- Legal translation where precision requires full retention
- Technical manuals requiring complete procedural detail
Correct answer: Subtitling and audiovisual translation where space and time are limited
Compression condenses the source text to fit spatial or temporal constraints, a necessity in subtitling where character limits and reading speed apply.
Question 2: A translator working with a Spanish source text changes a passive construction ('Se firmó el contrato') to an active English sentence ('The parties signed the contract'). This is an instance of:
- Modulation
- Transposition (Correct answer)
- Equivalence
- Adaptation
Correct answer: Transposition
Transposition changes the grammatical category or structure (here, from passive to active voice) while preserving meaning.
Question 3: According to FIT's definition of translator competence, 'transfer competence' specifically refers to:
- The ability to switch between multiple software translation tools
- The capacity to convey meaning from a source language to a target language accurately (Correct answer)
- Financial knowledge needed to invoice clients and manage contracts
- The skill of training junior translators
Correct answer: The capacity to convey meaning from a source language to a target language accurately
Transfer competence is the core ability to analyze source texts and re-express their content accurately and appropriately in the target language.
Question 4: When a French text uses 'vous' as a formal singular pronoun, an English translator must decide how to render the formality because English lacks a T-V distinction. This challenge relates to:
- Lexical gaps
- Morphosyntactic asymmetry
- Pragmatic equivalence and register transfer (Correct answer)
- Orthographic conventions
Correct answer: Pragmatic equivalence and register transfer
The translator must convey formality through other pragmatic means—word choice, syntax, honorifics—since English lacks the T-V pronoun distinction.
Question 5: Which quality standard is most directly applicable to professional translation services and is recognized by FIT-affiliated bodies?
- ISO 9001 (general quality management)
- ISO 17100 (translation services requirements) (Correct answer)
- ISO 27001 (information security)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management)
Correct answer: ISO 17100 (translation services requirements)
ISO 17100 specifically governs translation service provider qualifications, processes, and quality assurance for translation services.
Question 6: A translator must render a German compound noun 'Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän' into English. The most effective strategy is:
- Leave it untranslated with a footnote
- Use a multi-word English phrase that captures the full meaning (Correct answer)
- Transliterate it phonetically into English letters
- Replace it with the nearest single English noun regardless of precision
Correct answer: Use a multi-word English phrase that captures the full meaning
German compound nouns are typically unpacked into multi-word English equivalents that convey the full semantic content of each component.
Question 7: In the context of translator ethics, 'confidentiality' as emphasized by FIT means:
- Translators must refuse assignments in sensitive industries
- Translators must not disclose client information or document contents to unauthorized parties (Correct answer)
- Translation memories must be deleted after each project
- Translators should only work with public-domain documents
Correct answer: Translators must not disclose client information or document contents to unauthorized parties
Professional translators are ethically bound to protect all client information and document contents as part of their duty of confidentiality.
FIT Translation Techniques & Language Proficiency 3
The technique of 'compression' in translation is most commonly used in which context?