Translation Techniques 4

Question 1

In the source-target sentence 'He swims well' becoming 'He is a good swimmer', which technique was used?

Accepted Answer

Transposition

Answer

The adverb-verb structure shifts to noun-adjective, a classic transposition.

Question 2

Rendering 'don't forget to' as 'remember to' illustrates which technique?

Accepted Answer

Modulation

Answer

Switching from a negative to a positive framing of the same idea is modulation.

Question 3

When the English idiom 'it's raining cats and dogs' is rendered with the target language's own heavy-rain idiom, the technique is:

Accepted Answer

Equivalence

Answer

Idioms are best handled with an equivalent expression natural to the target language.

Question 4

Which technique risks producing 'false friends' errors if applied carelessly?

Accepted Answer

Borrowing or literal translation of similar-looking words

Answer

Words that look alike across languages but differ in meaning (false friends) trap literal or borrowing approaches.

Question 5

Generalization, where a specific source term is rendered by a broader target term, is a form of:

Accepted Answer

Modulation by changing level of specificity

Answer

Choosing a more general term (e.g., 'vehicle' for a specific car model) shifts specificity, a modulation strategy.

Translation Practice Test