ATA - American Translators Association Translation Transfer Skills Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A translator encounters the phrase 'a Pyrrhic victory' in a source text. A literal translation would be meaningless in the target language. Which of the following demonstrates the strongest translation transfer skills in this scenario?
- Omitting the phrase entirely to avoid confusion.
- Translating it literally and adding a lengthy footnote explaining the classical allusion to Pyrrhus of Epirus.
- Replacing it with a target-language idiom that conveys the meaning of a victory won at too great a cost. (Correct answer)
- Requesting clarification from the client on how to handle the idiomatic expression.
Correct answer: Replacing it with a target-language idiom that conveys the meaning of a victory won at too great a cost.
Strong translation transfer skills involve conveying the meaning and intent of the source text, not just the words. Replacing a source-language idiom with a functionally equivalent target-language idiom shows a high level of competence in bridging cultural and linguistic gaps to produce a natural-sounding and accurate translation.
Question 2: According to the ATA's Framework for Standardized Error Marking, a 'faithfulness' error occurs when the translation:
- Follows the source text word-for-word, resulting in an awkward rendition.
- Introduces grammatical mistakes not present in the source text.
- Fails to respect the meaning and intent of the source text as much as possible. (Correct answer)
- Uses a register that is inappropriate for the specified target audience.
Correct answer: Fails to respect the meaning and intent of the source text as much as possible.
A faithfulness error specifically relates to how the meaning of the source text is rendered in the target text. The core principle is to translate the author's meaning and intent accurately, without making unauthorized 'improvements' or changes that alter the message.
Question 3: In a scenario for the ATA exam, the source text contains a sentence with a complex subordinate clause structure common in that language, but highly unnatural in the target language. A failure to restructure the sentence, resulting in a translation that is grammatically correct but difficult to read and unidiomatic, would be primarily considered a weakness in:
- Source text comprehension.
- Target language mechanics.
- Following translation instructions.
- Translation transfer skills. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Translation transfer skills.
This scenario tests the candidate's ability to move beyond a literal, word-for-word rendition and restructure the source text information into a form that is natural and idiomatic in the target language. This process of recasting sentence structure to preserve flow and meaning is a key component of translation transfer skills.
Question 4: Which of the following errors is considered a 'transfer' error rather than a 'mechanical' error under the ATA's grading framework?
- A spelling mistake in the target text.
- An addition of information that was not present in the source text. (Correct answer)
- Incorrect punctuation according to target-language conventions.
- A subject-verb agreement error in the translated sentence.
Correct answer: An addition of information that was not present in the source text.
Transfer errors concern the accuracy and completeness of the meaning conveyed from the source to the target text. Adding information is a transfer error because it alters the original meaning. Mechanical errors, in contrast, relate to the rules of the target language itself, such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Question 5: A translator is working on a text where the author uses a slightly ambiguous term. The context provides clues, but does not definitively resolve the ambiguity. The translator decides on the most probable interpretation and renders it clearly in the target language. This decision-making process is a core component of:
- Advanced translation transfer skills. (Correct answer)
- Target language proofreading.
- Source text misunderstanding.
- Improving upon the source text.
Correct answer: Advanced translation transfer skills.
Professional translation often involves making informed judgments to resolve ambiguities. The ability to analyze context, weigh probabilities, and produce a clear and defensible rendering in the target language is a hallmark of strong transfer skills. It is not considered 'improving' the text, but rather a necessary step in the transfer process.
Question 6: During the ATA exam, a candidate translates a sentence literally, which results in a correct but awkward and unidiomatic phrase in the target language (e.g., 'reductions of taxes of income' instead of 'income tax reductions'). According to the Framework for Standardized Error Marking, what type of error is this?
- Faithfulness (F)
- Misunderstanding (M)
- Literalness (L) (Correct answer)
- Grammar (G)
Correct answer: Literalness (L)
The ATA specifically defines a 'Literalness' error as one where a translation that follows the source text word for word results in an awkward and/or unidiomatic rendition. While the meaning might be technically correct, the transfer is poor because it fails to use the natural forms of the target language.
ATA - American Translators Association Translation Transfer Skills Questions and Answers
A translator encounters the phrase 'a Pyrrhic victory' in a source text.
A literal translation would be meaningless in the target language.
Which of the following demonstrates the strongest translation transfer skills in this scenario?