How does ambiguity occur during language translation involving English? by Irina Liu

What is Ambiguity?

s2174406_ — 2023-10-27 02:06:46 UTC

Ambiguity: Capable of being understood in two or more possible ways.

It was described as ‘disease of language’ (Graham 2001).

One example : Translation ambiguity in Mandarin-English bilinguals happens...

s2174406_ — 2023-10-27 04:03:42 UTC

Research focused on the cognitive processes surrounding bilingual language representation has revealed the important role that translation ambiguity plays in how languages are stored in memory (Tokowicz & Kroll, 2007)

How to solve ambiguity？

s2174406_ — 2023-10-27 04:15:36 UTC

1, Context is the key: The paper evaluates the translation accuracy and shows that translating triples as units is more precise than a word-by-word translation.

2, Consider Cultural Nuances: Be aware of cultural nuances and adapt the translation accordingly.

Classification of Ambiguity according to William Empson

s2174406_ — 2023-10-27 07:18:24 UTC

Semantic Ambiguity: Multiple word meanings.
Syntactic Ambiguity: Different sentence structure interpretations.
Scope Ambiguity: Varied conclusions from quantifier usage.
Ambiguity of Part of Speech: One word as multiple parts of speech.
Referential Ambiguity: Unclear word reference.
Modal Ambiguity: Differing interpretations of modal verbs.
Pun: Wordplay with multiple meanings or homophones.

Is ambiguity bad?? Ambiguity is inherent to human communication!

s2174406_ — 2023-10-27 08:02:47 UTC

‘It sometimes happens that one of my translators will ask me the following question: “I am at a loss as to how to render this passage, because it is ambiguous. It can be read two different ways’ (Confessions of a Young Novelist, 2011:33).

General challenges and types of ambiguity in language translation

s2174406_ — 2023-10-27 08:36:12 UTC

Conclusions

• 1. Ambiguity in translation is inevitable.

•2. There are two main types of ambiguity: lexical and grammatical ambiguities.（2min24Sec in Video）

• 3. Context of situation plays a far major rule in disambiguating the ambiguous words or expressions.

"Is ambiguity far from us?"

s2174406_ — 2023-10-29 12:25:01 UTC

"Ambigious sentences" in our life...

What are some examples of ambiguous sentences?

a: " I only write letters when I have to."

b: “Senator left Community feeling frustrated"

c: "I went to the bank"

See! Ambiguity is not Far from us! We are using it almost every day.

Translation ambiguity involving English occurs when...

s2174406_ — 2023-10-29 12:59:11 UTC

When a word in one language can be translated in more than one way into another language.

How to deal with it when ambiguity occurs in language translation involving English?

s2174406_ — 2023-10-29 13:02:26 UTC

In the late 4th century : Insisting on only one truth to avoid ambiguity of message by the Roman Catholic Church when they were dealing with ambiguity.

Postmodern literature: Seeing ambiguity a way to question what we once thought was clear. This now affects how we communicate in writing and speaking.

Modern-day translation : It is more complicated due to the popularity of ambiguity and other factors like cultural differences and varying interpretations. It can help express ideas but also make it harder to be understood.

Interpreters on the world stage influence international affairs through translated ambiguity.

s2174406_ — 2023-11-06 16:16:25 UTC

In the case of "One China," the ambiguity around its translation and interpretation has had serious consequences for ties between China, Taiwan, and other countries, particularly the United States.

As a result of the possible influence of ambiguity in international affairs, we need exact and culturally sensitive translation in diplomacy and foreign relations to encourage clear communication.

Reflection

s2174406_ — 2023-11-06 16:57:53 UTC

1, Why this topic?

"In exploring the topic, 'How does ambiguity occur during language translation involving English?' I reflected on the lessons from my past experiences. During my first semester break, I returned to China and worked as a translator intern at the Ministry of Agriculture of China. My main task was to translate documents related to Chinese Beef Cattle breeding technology into English for African students. It allowed me to witness firsthand how ambiguity can have real-world consequences, especially in critical situations where clarity is paramount. What’s more, another reason for choosing this topic is it allows for a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from linguistics, culture studies, and practical translation experiences.

2, How to do this Blendspace Assignment?

When I designed this topic "How does ambiguity occur during English language translation?", I imagined myself as a teacher who is going to introduce this topic to students. What kind of materials am I going to curate? What content is most valuable and actionable to them? In addition to the practical aspects of translation, by delving into the cultural, historical, and sociolinguistic dimensions of ambiguity, I aim to make the subject more relatable and practical, demonstrating the significance of precise translation and its potential impact on international affairs.

3, What's the future implication?

I hope that by studying this, we can all get better at making communication clearer worldwide.