Techniques of Translating Idioms: Mona Baker’s Model
By: Lecturer Sameerah Atshan Al-Fayyad
There are many techniques and tools in translation used in the transformation of source texts into target ones, helping and/ or solving the problem of translating idioms.
Baker’s Strategies
Strategies, such as those drawn by Mona Baker are useful in dissimilar ways. First, they support solving equivalence problems. Second, they favor translation-as-a-process mindfulness. Third, they support interpreters with chances to discuss and reflect on contextualized theoretical matters.
These strategies are:
(1) Using an idiom of similar meaning and form.
This approach entails utilizing an idiom in the target language (TL) that has essentially the same meaning as the source language’s idiom and also contains lexical elements that are similar. Such a combination is really rare to happen upon.
(2) Using an idiom of similar meaning but dissimilar form.
Finding a fixed phrase or idiom in the target language that is composed of different lexical elements but has a comparable meaning to the source language’s expression or idiom may be achievable.
(3) Translation by paraphrase
Due to variations in the stylistic preferences of the source and target languages, this is now the most popular method of translating idioms when a match cannot be found in the TL or when it seems undesirable to employ idiomatic language in the TT.
(4) Translation by omission
An idiom could occasionally be completely omitted in the TT, just like it does with single words. It might not have a close equivalent in the target language (TL), its meaning may be difficult to interpret, or it might be for aesthetic reasons.
Before dealing in detail with the translation strategies suggested by Baker, the translators must be introduced to some elementary notions in the theory of translation. They are instructed in the diverse factors that are elaborate in the process of translating. Such factors, which will be later related to specific strategies, are:
The translators should be aware that their work as translators is developed in four levels translation as a science, which requires knowledge of the facts and the language that describes them as well as verification; translation as a skill, which calls for appropriate language and acceptable usage; translation as an art, which separates good writing from undistinguished writing and is the creative, intuitive, and occasionally inspired level of the translation; and translation as a practice. Decisions are constantly presented to translators. They are either intentionally following a translation theory while creating them or doing it instinctively. What translation theory actually does is identify and define a translation problem, list all the factors that must be considered in order to solve the problem, make a list of all the potential factors that could affect translation procedures, and then suggest the best translation procedure and translation. Because of the following, translating involves making decisions and addressing problems:
1-decision-making due to the options the translator must choose from. Translation is a matter of choice, but choice is always motivated, according to Hatim & Mason, who also note that “omissions, additions, and adjustments may be justified, but only in connection to intended meaning.”
2- The ability to solve difficulties, as the translator is always “working to solve a thousand tiny problems in the setting of a major one.
Using such strategies has shown a rate of success in translating idioms from English into Arabic, and vis versa.
ايدو خضرا is translated as; (has a green thumb).
ايدو واصله is translated as; (king has a long arem), and so on.
