Rivista internazionale di tecnica della traduzione n.12 - 2010

This paper aims at presenting the results of a terminographic work on criminal preliminary investigation in Spain and in Italy through the theoretical framework of Sociocognitive Terminology (Temmerman 2000). The analysis has revealed a significant anisomorphism in the conceptual organization of the structure and procedure of criminal trials in the two countries, which entailed challenging problems of terminological equivalence. These were dealt with through the prism of the sociocognitive approach. From a methodological point of view, the study is based on the notion of Temmerman’s “template of understanding”, a tool that is particularly suitable to cope with vague and flexible units of understanding typical of the Criminal Procedure of both countries. Temmerman’s approach has proved to be particularly apt for legal terminology: prototypically structured categories are an invaluable means of enhancing the conceptualization of the inevitable gaps and asymmetries between the two frames, i.e. the two legal systems. The paper applies this methodology to a select number of terminographic units, by focusing on the crucial role of Temmerman’s template categories in the identification of terminological equivalents.

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of a translation project, carried out with an innovative approach to computer translation: the combined use of machine translation systems and translation memory tools. The text Osnovy primenenija technologij komp’juternych perevodov (CAT technologij), Càast 1, a handbook about computer translation tools, has been collaboratively translated by two students as their dissertations in the field of translational studies. This collaboration was made possible by the combined use of the HAMT and MAHT systems. The paper begins with a presentation of the various types of computer translation tools on the market, and a description of their key role in the translation process. It then continues with an explanation of the combined use of computer translation technologies and the advantages their use provides to the translator. The core of the paper is dedicated to a detailed description of the translation process applied to the text of the manual. After a short preamble about the type of text being translated, every single phase (terminology extraction, automatic translation with HAMT systems, creation of a translation memory, post-editing) is explained with the help of schematics. The paper ends with some conclusions about the overall experience.

The aim of the present research is to examine the impact of recent technological developments in machine translation (MT) in the language industry. The objectives are: 1. To define the value of MT in terms of suitability and convenience in meeting expressed requirements in those cases where MT is demanded; 2. To examine the potential increase in productivity through a conscious use of the tool; 3. To analyse those activities aimed at satisfying the customer’s explicit and implicit needs with MT. The use of MT is a matter of fact, and it deserves serious attention: its advantages and disadvantages can be outlined only by looking at translation as an inherently economic activity and by considering MT more for its potential, than for its limits. The evaluation of MT needs to be focused on functionality and economic utility, while quality assessment methods for human translation and for MT Need to be considered separately and in a more functional perspective. MT needs to be seen no longer as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution but as a means to differentiate services and to satisfy expressed needs. Suppliers need to adjust their idea of quality to that of customers, for whom the highest quality isn’t always the only demand.

Being of utmost importance in ensuring the quality of translation services, the process of revision is gaining an increasing interest among professionals and academics alike. Thus the potentially never-ending process of improving the quality of a translated text is being closely studied in order to identify clearly the tasks of the reviser and his/her ideal professional profile, as well as to minimize costs. This paper aims to contribute to the study of revision by looking at the revisions implemented in the English-to-Italian translation of a textbook on macroeconomics. In order to classify and quantify the changes made to the translation by the reviser, ad hoc revision parameters have been devised by integrating two existing typologies of revisions (Rega 1999; Mossop 2007). On the basis of raw quantitative data relating to the different types of revisions, some tentative conclusions on the quality of the revision as well as on the role and expertise of the reviser are finally drawn.