TECHNICAL & SCIENTIFIC

TRANSLATION
 General Introduction

• Scientific translation is not like other translations, it goes

beyond just rendering words from one language into
another. It is rather considered a tool that helps people
around the world develop and progress in the field of
science. Thus a translator needs to ensure an accurate
delivery of information and shows faithfulness and
commitment to the source and the target language, so that
the translated information can be used easily and help in
developing other countries.
Definition of Scientific Translation

• Scientific translation is mainly about translating terms in the

fields of science and technology of all kinds, medicine, physics,
chemistry, mathematics, computer sciences...etc from one
language into another (Ghazzala 1995).

• Scientific translations do not involve literary texts; they only

deal with texts from the world of electronics, medicine, law,
economics, engineering, chemistry, computer science,
automotive engineering, geology, etc.
• The scientific translation is considered as one of the
most important issues, as the world develops, new
technology appears, and along with them emerge new
terms to which finding an equivalent may pose a
problem.
Definitions of Technical Translation
• Defined by Wright & Wright (1993), “[t]echnical
translation encompasses the translation of
special language texts, i.e., texts written using
Languages for Special Purposes (LSP).

• As such, technical translation (and “technical

terminology” as well) includes not only the
translation of texts in engineering or medicine,
but also such disciplines as economics,
psychology and law”(p. 1).
• In the broader sense, technical translation
is synonymous to specialized translation. In
the narrower sense, “technical translation is
one part of specialized translation”
(Newmark, 1988, p. 151).
• Despite the obvious connection between
technical and scientific translation, Newmark
(1988) notes, “in science, the language is
concept-centered; in technology, it is object-
centered” (p. 155).

• Likewise, Byrne (2006) argues that, “scientific

translation relates to pure science in all of its
theoretical, esoteric and cerebral glory while
technical translation relates to how scientific
knowledge is actually put to practical use”(p. 8).
The Aim of Scientific Translation
• Byrne (2006) claims that, scientific translation primary
goal is to deliver scientific information; it aims at
presenting well expressed information, that may be used
easily, properly and effectively. He referred to scientific
translation as a communicative service, which offers new
information for new audience.
• He added also, that it is much more than just rendering
source text language and style. Its main concern is to
ensure delivering information accurately and correctly,
in that it insures that the reader may use this
information easily.
Requirements of a Scientific Translator
• Scientific translators are not like other ordinary translators.
There are certain qualifications that they should have in order to
accomplish a good translation of scientific texts as well as to
deliver the exact information. This is because scientific
translation is not just to transfer ideas or information, but rather
to transfer technology and new invention that may help other
countries.
• Following the same sense, Al-Hasnawi (2010) noted six
characteristics– taken from the London Institute of Linguistics- that
the scientific translator should have:
• 1. Broad knowledge of the subject-matter of the text to be translated;
• 2. A well-developed imagination that enables the translator to
visualize the equipment or process being described;
• 3. Intelligence, to be able to fill in the missing links in the original
text;
• 4. A sense of discrimination, to be able to choose the most suitable
equivalent term from the literature of the field or from dictionaries;
• 5. The ability to use one's own language with clarity, conciseness and
precision;
• 6. Practical experience in translating from related fields.
 Scientific versus Literary Contexts
  

•    By setting off scientific against the

literary translation, their characteristics and
the problems that are likely to be
encountered in each, become more salient
as illustrated below.
 Scientific Texts Literary Texts
.Logicality - .Lack of argumentative progression -

.Precision - .Vagueness -
.Reason - .Emotion -
.Truth to particular reality - .Truth to the ideal -
.Generalization - .Concretion -
.Referential meaning - .Emotive meaning -
.Denotation - .Connotation -
.Lexical affixation - .Grammatical affixation -
.Idiomatic expressions are rare - .Idiomatic expressions are frequent -

Use of abbreviation, acronym, - Very few abbreviations, acronyms, -

.and registers .and registers
.Standard expressions - .Almost all varieties -
Use of scientific terminology, - No use of scientific terminology, or -
.specialized items, and formulae .formulae

No use of elements of figurative - Expensive use of figurative -

.language .language
Scientific Register
•  Generally speaking, the technical use of language
manifests itself in several ways.  The most obvious
one is non-deviation from ordinary grammar,
logically and argumentative progression.  This may
entail the adherence to items that are
conventionally used.
• For the purpose of more vivid characterization of
these texts, we shall mention some major ones of
these features by referring to Bakr-Serex (1997:
54-7):
• First, this register is characterized by the logical order of
utterances with clear indication of their interrelations and
interdependence.
•  Second, it flourishes the use of terms specific to each given
branch of science; in modern science; however, there is a
tendency to exchange terms between various branches of
science.
•  Third, another characteristic feature of this register is the
frequent use of specific sentence-patterns, usually
the Postulatory-“ A thing that is accepted as true or as
certain to happen, without proof”, the Argumentative and
the Formulative “express an idea in a concise or systematic
way” patterns. The impersonality of this type of writing can
be revealed in the frequent use of passive voice constructions
with which scientific experiments are generally described.
•         
• Fourth, one more observable feature of the
scientific register is the use quotations, references,
and foot-notes in accord with the main requirement
of this register, i.e. the logical coherence of the
ideas expressed.
• Finally, science does not have its own syntax
only, but also its own terminology. And we have
already hinted at the importance of the familiarity
with this terminology resting on a solid foundation
of previously acquired knowledge on behalf of the
translator. Therefore, it is not the language itself
which is special, but certain words or their
symbols.
Definition of terminology
• Webster’s new world college dictionary defines
Terminology as follows:
• 1. the terms or system of terms used in a specific
science, art, etc.; nomenclature lexicographer's
terminology
• 2. the systematic study of terms”
Scientific Terminology

• Scientific terms are not simple words; they are special and
complex ones. Scientific terms are the most significant feature in
science, they discriminate it from other registers (literary). These
terms make scientific texts incomprehensible for lay people; they
are directed to experts of the science.
• Scientific termonlogy problems are likely to be
manifested in the continuous development in the field
of science and technology as well as the effect of mass
media on people who almost, everyday, receive new
ideas and innovations. Some of these problems can be
identified as follows:
• First, English utilizes Latin or Greek compound morphemes to
express some of these technical terms, e.g. television which is a
term made up of two free morphemes telos, meaning remote and
vision meaning sight or image. English also encompasses terms
which are built of Greek or Latin roots or combination of the two
such as automobile, telephone. Experience has shown that apart
from changes in orthography, scientific terms taken from Greek
or Latin are admissible by the entire scientific world regardless
of language.
• Arabic, in contrast, is not as flexible as English in either
borrowing from other languages or in using compound
morphemes. This could be attributable to its rigorous
grammatical rules which were formulated in the medieval
period.
• Second, many of these technical terms are the products
of the West, i.e. they stand for products invented in
Europe or America which made it easier for the
inventors to name them either after their own names,
or resorting to European languages instead of Latin or
Greek. For instance, Watt stands for the electric
current unit which is named after the person who
invented this unit of measurement.
• Third, there is no agreement among the Arabs on the
rendering of scientific and technical terms. For instance, the
English term engine which is of a Latin origin has no agreed-
upon Arabic term; in some parts of the Arab world it is
transliterated as ‫موتور‬and in other parts where people are
reluctant to use foreign names they instead prefer to give it
the Arabicized name ‫محرك‬. Another example of this problem
is the term mobile which has about eight Arabic equivalents:
sililūr, mubāyl, burtāble, maHmūl, jawwāl, hātif mutaHarik,
khilyawī and naqqāl the matter that give rise to the
abundance of terms.
• Fourth, most of the foreign terms are strange and new
to the Arab environment and culture making it difficult
if not possible to find equivalents for every term in
Arabic. For example, the term satellite causes a lot of
trouble for translators; some translators opted for
keeping its original Latin name satalayit others
translated it semantically as ‫ناعي‬JJ‫مر ص‬JJ‫ق‬
Strategies of Translating English Technical Terms
into Arabic

• Dealing with terminology requires specific skills in the

form of some strategies that are likely to be fruitful
and serve the target language.
• There are several methods of translating
scientific terms into Arabic; each method differs
from the other in the use and the results it
produces. Those techniques will be discussed
and “ordered from the poorest to the best” .
A-Transcription/Arabicization

• Transcription or Arabicization is one of the strategies

widely used to translate scientific terms by introducing
minor phonetic and morphological changes to the foreign
term. It consists of writing the English scientific terms
using the Arabic alphabet with no alteration to their
pronunciation in the source language. Take the following
examples:
• 1. Microwave→‫میكرویف‬
,
• 2. Mega bite →‫میجابایت‬
• 3. Tetra bite→‫بایت‬J‫یترا‬JJJ‫ت‬
• The problem with Arabicization/ Transcription is that it does not
give the meaning of the word in Arabic, besides the transcribed
terms are not pure Arabic ones; they are just borrowed and shaped
in Arabic letters.
• Using transcription neither serves the Arabic language nor enriches
its vocabulary. In fact, it is just an offence to the Arabic language,
because it implies that Arab translators are unable to invent new
pure Arabic terms and prefer the easy way to translate scientific
terms, thus, neglecting the significant statue of the Arabic language.
• Following this line of thought, Ghazzala (1995) argued that this
method should be avoided except in the case where translators
could not find equivalent for the term in Arabic language.
• For example:
• 1. Sandwich→‫اندویتش‬JJ‫س‬
• Yet, if the terms have equivalent in Arabic, translators
have to use them instead of transcription, for example:
• 1. Computer→‫ح@اسب‬
• 2. Virus→ ‫ج@رثومة‬
• This method will be considered as a critical problem
opposed to translators, if they use it for ordinary terms
that have equivalents in Arabic as shown by the word
‘email’ usually transcribed as ‫ ا@@اليمیل‬and for which the
phrase ‫ ا@@لرسا@@لة ا@@الكترونیة‬can be used.
• According to Baker (1987) transcription and naturalization
have not received acceptance from the language purists
because they threaten the identity of Arabic. Thus,
translators are likely to come across a situation where they
need to be more creative by following certain methods that
may ensure the high quality and smoothness of translating
scientific terms. In an attempt to get over this obstacle,
Ghazzala (1995) suggested that coinage is the best method
for translating scientific terms. As for Baker (1987);
coining new terms is the only way that ensures the creation
of new specialized glossaries for the Arabic language.
B-Coinage
• This method aims at presenting new terms in the Arabic language via
three main processes.
• 1. Derivation
• Baker (1987) said that the Arabic language is usually referred to as the
language of derivation. She explained that the Arabic language word root
system is built up on three fundamental consonant roots; each one holds a
given meaning. The roots are used for the production of nominal and
verbal forms by adding prefixes, suffixes, infixes and vowels. For
example:
• 1. Data→‫ معطیات‬from‫عطى‬J‫ أ‬to give
• 2. Generator→ ‫ مولد‬from ‫ولد‬JJ‫ ی‬to generate.
• 3. Factory→ J‫ مصنع‬from J‫نع‬JJ‫ ص‬to manufacture
• 4. Studio→ J‫ مرسم‬from . J‫رسم‬JJ‫ ی‬to paint
• According to Ghazzala (1995) derivation is based on
measurements; it aims at using certain measures found in the Arabic
language to derive new terms. The most used ones are machine-
names. For example:

• 1 .‫مفعل‬
• a. Laboratory→ ‫مخبر‬
• b. Anchorage→‫مرسي‬
• 2 .‫مفعلة‬
• a. Grease box→ ‫مشحمة‬
• b. Butchery→ ‫مجزرة‬
• 3 .‫مفعالة‬
• a. Refrigerator→ ‫ث@@@الجة‬
• b. Mixer→ @‫خالطه‬
• 4 ‫مفعال‬
• a. Drill→‫مثقاب‬
• b. Iron→ ‫مكواة‬
• 2. Revival
• Revival attempts to put back into use old Arabic words that
were used but fade away with the time and assigns them new
meanings.
• For example:
• 1. Train→ ‫طار‬JJ‫ ق‬originally used to mean a line of camels
• 2. Car→ ‫یارة‬JJ‫ س‬originally used to mean the night travelers
• 3. Environment→ ‫یئة‬JJJ‫ ب‬originally used to mean domicile
• 4. Newspaper→ ‫ریدة‬J‫ ج‬originally used to mean the small palm
stick was used to write on
• Revival has proved its efficiency, however, it is still
not easy to look for old Arabic words; it consumes
time and effort and cannot be applied to cover all new
introduced terms in the field of science. Using this
method is not always successful because some of the
attempts to revive archaic words did not suit modern
Arabic vocabulary
• 3-Neologisms aim at introducing new terms and concepts into
the Arabic language by translating the meaning. This method
according to Baker (1987) enjoys much acceptance. For
example:
• 1. Computer programming→ ‫لكمبیوتر‬JJ‫رمجة ا‬JJJ‫ب‬
• 2. Software→‫رمجیات‬JJJ‫ب‬
• 3. Hardware→ ‫زة‬J‫جھ‬J‫أ‬
• 4. Phonetics→‫ت‬J‫ألصوا‬JJ‫ ا‬J‫علم‬
• 5. word processing→‫لكلمات‬JJ‫لجة ا‬JJ‫ا‬J‫مع‬
• 6. Psychoanalysis→‫لنفسي‬JJ‫لتحلیلا‬JJ‫ا‬
• Finally, there have been great efforts to bring new
technical terms into Arabic, by any means available,
yet these methods should not threaten the Arabic
identity. Translators should consider the linguistic
differences between English and Arabic, for that they
need to coin terms that linguistically conform with
Arabic norms.
Conclusion

• As it transpires, the problem of terminology is compounded in

Arabic due to the lack of standardization which springs from
the different varieties of Arabic (classical Arabic, modern
standard Arabic, Arabic vernacular) because such varieties have
made the phonological connection between the foreign term and
its Arabic equivalent confused in newly-coined Arabic term. As
a result, the semantic connection is sometimes also lost as the
relationship between the foreign term to which Arabic speakers
are already exposed to and the newly-coined equivalent is not
readily obvious.
References
• Methods of Creating and Introducing New Terms in Arabic
Contributions from English-Arabic Translation
• Aspects of Scientific Translation: English into Arabic

• Scientific Translation and Terminology

• Nature of Scientific and Technical Texts

• Translating technical terms into Arabic: Microsoft Terminology

Collection (English-Arabic)as an example