ITI Language Proficiency & Accuracy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A translator renders a source phrase that uses a subjunctive mood into a target language that lacks a grammatical subjunctive. What is the best approach?
- Omit the phrase entirely
- Use a modal verb or conditional construction to convey the hypothetical meaning (Correct answer)
- Translate word-for-word and add a footnote
- Replace it with the indicative mood without adjustment
Correct answer: Use a modal verb or conditional construction to convey the hypothetical meaning
When a grammatical category is absent in the target language, compensating with modal verbs or conditionals preserves the hypothetical nuance.
Question 2: Which term describes the phenomenon where a translator unconsciously imports syntactic patterns from the source language into the target text?
- Calque
- Interference (Correct answer)
- Transposition
- Modulation
Correct answer: Interference
Interference (also called negative transfer) occurs when source-language structures inappropriately influence the target-language output.
Question 3: A source text reads: 'He kicked the bucket last Tuesday.' A translator renders this as a literal description of someone kicking a container. What error has occurred?
- Mistranslation of register
- Failure to recognize and render an idiomatic expression (Correct answer)
- Incorrect use of tense
- Omission of cultural reference
Correct answer: Failure to recognize and render an idiomatic expression
Idioms must be recognized and rendered with an equivalent target-language expression rather than translated word-for-word.
Question 4: In translation quality assessment, 'accuracy' most precisely refers to:
- The fluency and naturalness of the target text
- The faithful transfer of the source text's meaning and intent (Correct answer)
- The adherence to the target-language style guide
- The absence of typographical errors
Correct answer: The faithful transfer of the source text's meaning and intent
Accuracy measures how faithfully the semantic content and communicative intent of the source are represented in the target text.
Question 5: A legal translator encounters a Latin maxim in a contract. The best course of action is to:
- Leave the Latin as-is with no explanation
- Translate it literally regardless of legal equivalence
- Provide the accepted target-language legal equivalent and, if none exists, translate and annotate (Correct answer)
- Replace it with plain language without noting the original term
Correct answer: Provide the accepted target-language legal equivalent and, if none exists, translate and annotate
Legal terminology requires functional equivalence; where none exists, a translation plus annotation preserves both accuracy and transparency.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a 'false friend' that could cause a proficiency error?
- Using 'assist' in English to mean 'attend' (influenced by French assister) (Correct answer)
- Translating 'house' as 'home' in an informal context
- Choosing a synonym to avoid repetition
- Adapting a measurement unit for the target market
Correct answer: Using 'assist' in English to mean 'attend' (influenced by French assister)
False friends are words that look or sound similar across languages but differ in meaning, such as French assister (to attend) vs. English assist (to help).
Question 7: When translating a passive construction from a language that uses it frequently (e.g., German) into English, the translator should:
- Always retain the passive voice to mirror the source
- Always convert to active voice regardless of context
- Evaluate whether the passive or active voice is more natural and appropriate for the target context (Correct answer)
- Omit the agent in all cases
Correct answer: Evaluate whether the passive or active voice is more natural and appropriate for the target context
The choice between passive and active voice should be guided by what sounds natural and conveys the intended emphasis in the target language.
ITI Language Proficiency & Accuracy 2
A translator renders a source phrase that uses a subjunctive mood into a target language that lacks a grammatical subjunctive.
What is the best approach?