Types, characteristics and requirements of technical translations

Abstract

In Hungary most of the non-literary translations (approx. 75 per cent) produced outside the puhlishing trade are of technical nature. The majority (93-95 per cent) of these are translations of foreign-language texts into Hungarian. These translations are carried out by some 2000 specialists working in various translation and documentation bureaux as well as in enterprises and institutions. A substantial majority of the translators are extemal collaborators working on ad-hoc contracts, only a smaller part (100-150 translators) are full-time staff members. Pull-time and external documentalists (more than one thousand) are also involved in the problems of scientific-technical translations.
Technical translation is not a homogeneous category. According to the special fields - in practice of the Hungarian Central Technical Library and Documentation Centre - approximately 150 main groups are to be distinguished. In consequence we cannot speak either of technical translation or general technical translator, but only of technical translations or translators in a special field. The technical-economic translation as a homogenous category does exist to an even lesser degree; these texts are either technical with the relating economic content or economic with complementary technical data. In another respect specific categories are formed by translations pertaining to two or more fields, requiring therefore an additional knowledge from the translator or the participatlon of a co-operating translator or subject specialist.
Differencies in layout of translated texts developed many forms of translations and each of them created specific requirements towards translation work. From the point of view of translation work 15 such types are analyzed in the study from scientific books until commercial correspondence with technical content. As to the quantity the two most significant groups cover journal articles and operator's manuals, handling instructions.
The basic conclusion of the study applies to all types. Consequently - from the point of view of language-transmission - the crucial difference is implied in the nature of technical publications i.e. excluding the simple description or even popularizing publications, the results are already available before putting in writing differing so from the social sciences where they are established by putting ideas in writing. Therefore scientific texts do not reach a high standard in technical fields, besides wording is not relevant but the real content expressed. Therefore, considering the texts, general knowledge of the source language plays a minor role, on the other hand particular importance is involved in terminology and its correct translation. Technical field is very broad: the estimated quantity of technical terms and expressions is 6 million (the wordstock of an exhaustive general technical dictionary is only 200-500 thousand entries). This fact proves also that an accurate realization of technical translation requires profound knowledge of a special field which could be acouired generally only by a long practice. Special dictionaries cannot provide complete instructions in terminological details.
For perfecting the quality of translations the author thinks right to return to the practice of the pre-1961 years when each translation was made controlled by the translating bureau whereas nowadays revision and control of the content is made only on the request of the costumer.
With respect to the future a specific task is lying up on the translation agencies i.e. to obtain new (and young) specialist translators, to introduce them into translation work as well as to organize and employ supervisors who can perform the duties of control with the necessary care and responsibility.