STC Translation Techniques 3

Question 1

When translating legal texts from Spanish to English, a translator encounters 'buena fe.' The best approach is usually to:

Accepted Answer

Use the established legal equivalent 'good faith'

Answer

Established target-language legal terminology ('good faith') should be used when it precisely matches the source concept.

Question 2

The term 'back-translation' is most commonly used to:

Accepted Answer

Translate from a target language back into the source language to verify accuracy

Answer

Back-translation retranslates a translated text into the original language to check for shifts in meaning.

Question 3

Which technique best handles culture-specific humor that has no equivalent in the target language?

Accepted Answer

Adaptation or substitution with a comparable target-culture joke

Answer

Adaptation replaces the source-culture joke with a functionally equivalent target-culture humorous element to preserve the comedic effect.

Question 4

In the STC exam context, 'sight translation' refers to:

Accepted Answer

Translating a written document orally on the spot

Answer

Sight translation is the immediate oral rendition of a written source text, common in legal and medical settings.

Question 5

The concept of 'dynamic equivalence,' developed by Eugene Nida, prioritizes:

Accepted Answer

Equivalent effect on the target reader as the original had on source readers

Answer

Dynamic equivalence aims to produce in the target reader the same response that the original text produced in its audience.

(STC) Spanish Translator Certification Practice Test