Translating from English Unit 4: Reformulating the Message

Discussion Questions:

1. What is reformulation? What is the difference between analysis and reformulation?

During analysis you study the text to determine the meaning of the source text. Reformulation is the visible result of the analysis and transfer stages of translation. Reformulation is the stage in which you write or sign the translation.

2. How does knowing the author’s intent help you reformulate the message?

If you know what the author intends to convey it is easier to create a translation that is in line with the author’s goals than if you do not know the intent, or if the intent is not stated, or if the intent is stated but not met.

3. How does knowing the context and having prior experience help you in the reformulation process?     

If you have an idea of how something works, looks, or operates you will have a better chance of rendering a faithful translation than if you have no prior knowledge of how things operate or look.

4. How does visualization help you reformulate the message?

If you can visualize where actors and objects may be in relation to each other, you can render a logical translation even when the specific locations of actors and objects is not explicitly stated in the source text. Once you have established their locations, you must be consistent in referring to them, especially in signed languages.

5. What is the goal in restructuring?

The goal is to render a grammatically appropriate translation that does not violate the syntax rules of the target language and that includes the impact of the source message.