Concretization

Some groups of lexical units require concretization in translation. This is due to the difference in the proportion between abstract and desemantized words on the one hand and concrete words on the other in the S and T languages.

Abstract words in English distinctly fall into several groups:

1. Numerous nouns formed by specific suffixes of abstract meaning. Many such nouns have no counterparts in the Russian language, e.g. ministership, presidency, electorate, statehood, etc.

2. Abstract words which have no equivalents in Russian, the so-called lacuna, such as exposure, occupant (unless as a military term).

3. Generalizing words having equivalents in Russian but differing in usage, e.g. man, woman, creature, person.

4. Words of wide meaning which require concretization in translation, some words of this group are on the way to becoming desemantized, e.g. place, piece, stuff, affair, etc.

5. Words of wide meaning which in fact have become partly deictic signs: -thing, -body (something, somebody).

Words belonging to the first group require lexical and grammatical replacements by words possessing a concrete meaning:

C.P.Snow resigned from his ministership because he did not like the way the Labour Government was developing.

Чарльз Сноу ушел со своего министерского поста потому что ему не нравилась нынешняя политика лейбористского правительства.

The abstract noun “ministership” is rendered by a concrete noun (пост) with adjective.

An ageing Speaker cannot take the burdens of the presidency (in case of the president’s and vice-president’s assassination).

Стареющий спикер не может принять на себя всю тяжесть президентской власти.

The abstract noun “presidency” is rendered by means of a concrete noun with an adjective as in the preceding example.

Every form of pressure and violence is used by reactionary regimes to compel a reluctant electorate to go to the polls.

Реакционные режимы используют все формы давления и насилия, чтобы принудить упрямых избирателей принять участие в выборах.

Puerto Rico may launch a drive for US statehood.

Возможно, Пуэрто Рико начнет кампанию за то, чтобы стать штатом США.

The abstract word “statehood” is concretized by means of an adverbial subordinate clause of purpose.

Words of abstract meaning which for some reason or other have no equivalents in the Russian language are translated by some concrete word determined by the context. Their meaning is usually conveyed with the help of replacements or additions. It should be borne in mind that in this case the use of the same parts of speech is of no relevance.

He was heavily built. – У него грузная фигура.

The role and the significance of the context is well illustrated by the following example, the translation of which is determined by the macro context.

Two of the shipwrecked seamen died of exposure.

Двое из потерпевших крушение моряков погибли (от холода или от зноя).

It was a good solid house built to withstand time and exposure.

Это был хороший, прочный дом, рассчитанный на то, чтобы противостоять действию времени и непогоды.

Willa, the canary, had flown away. But now there was a vigorously alive little occupant. (D.Eden).

Канарейка Вилла улетела, но вместо нее в клетке была очень живая и всегда веселая птичка.

Generalizing words such as man, woman, child, creature etc. which do not have equivalents in Russian but which differ in usage are concretized either by a proper name, the name of the breed (собака, кошка) or some concrete word according to the context.

“Anything”, Benjamin said, falling into a highbacked chair across from the man’s kingly desk.

«Что угодно», сказал Бенджамин, опускаясь в кресло с высокой спинкой, стоявшее с другой стороны великолепного письменного стола Мастерсона.

The replacement of the noun “man” by a proper name is natural as Benjamin knew Masterson and was in his house.

“Burn it, man, and who will be the wiser, eh?”

«Сожги бумагу, и никто ничего не узнает?»

Another group is formed by a large number of words of wide meaning. Their reference has widened to such an extent that they have come to be used in a variety of contexts. This ability to be used in different contexts has, in its turn, affected their reference: on the one hand, they have developed new lexical-semantic variants, on the other, their semantic boundaries have become vague and indefinite. This is due to the fact that their meaning is often contextual. Some of them move towards desemantization, such as piece, place, thing, affair, stuff, stunt etc.

The place was full, and they wandered about looking for a table, catching odds and ends of conversation as they did so. (A.Christie).

Ресторан был переполнен; они ходили по залу в поисках свободного столика и невольно слышали отрывки разговоров.

Desemantized words form one more group.

The word place which is practically desemantized is translated by the concrete word ресторан.

We had a quick breakfast and then our oxygen sets on to our backs. “This oxygen is certainly the stuff”, was my thought. (Edmund Hilary).

Мы быстро позавтракали и затем взвалили на спину баллоны с кислородом. «Да, без кислорода нам не обойтись», подумал я.

Equivalence in this case is achieved by means of both lexical and grammatical substitutions.

The point of exchanging the E.E.C. is to make it stronger.

Весь смысл расширения Европейского Экономического Сообщества в его укреплении.

She (grandmother) was a peppery old party with a will of solid granite and a hot flaring temper. (Ilka Chase).

Бабушка была с перцем, как кремень, с горячим вспыльчивым характером.

The desemantized colloquial word “party” (особа) is omitted in the translation as it serves here merely as a prop-word.

Such words as piece, thing, body fulfill a double function – lexical and grammatical; they can be used as lexical units possessing reference or as a grammatical sign. The noun piece in its lexical function means “a bit of something” (a piece of bread); in its grammatical function it concretizes an uncountable noun, turning it into a countable one (a piece of furniture, a piece of advice, two pieces of furniture, two pieces of advice).

The words “thing” and “body” have, as a matter of fact, moved from one morphological class into another; apart from belonging to referential nouns, they are used as deictic signs or prop-words and in such cases are omitted in translation.

She took things terribly seriously. (A. Huxley).

Она все принимала очень близко к сердцу.

In this case the noun “things” is translated by a generalizing word. But there are also cases when this word requires concretization.

He came in sight of the lodge, a long, low frowning thing of red brick.

(A.Wilson).

Он увидел домик привратника, длинное низкое, хмурое здание из красного кирпича.

Special attention should be paid to the translation of verbs of wide meaning, such as: to come, to go, to turn, to say, to tell, to get, to die and others. They are rendered either by concrete words suitable to the context or by verb equivalents used in corresponding collocations.

So far 65 people have died in floods in Dacca province.

По имеющимся сведениям, 65 человек утонуло (погибло) во время наводнения в провинции Дакка.

At the by-election victory went to the labour candidate.

На дополнительных выборах победу одержал кандидат лейбористской партии.

The rain came in torrents. – Полил сильный дождь.

The canary got out of the cage. (D.Eden).

Канарейка выпорхнула из клетки.

Concretization is often resorted to in the translation of verbs of saying.

“Father!” she cried, “the diamond is gone!”

“Are you out of your mind?” I asked her.

“Gone!” says Penelope. “Gone, nobody knows how!” (W.Collins).

«Отец!» закричала она, «алмаз пропал».

«Да ты с ума сошла!» воскликнул я.

«Исчез», повторила Пенелопа. «Исчез, и никто не знает каким образом».

Another verb which has become partially desemntized is the verb “to involve”. Its concrete lexical meaning, its lexical-semantic variant is largely dependent on the context.

“I’ll tell you what… you are not involved. You are remote”. (Irwin Show).

«Вот что я вам скажу…вас это не трогает. Вы стоите в стороне».

Concretization is often resorted to in translating the verb “to be” in different functions. The principle of semantic agreement is to be observed in such cases.

…first he was terrified, then he was sick, then he was in Paris.

…сначала он испугался, потом его затошнило, потом он оказался в Париже. (Josephine Tey).

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