Translation Theory

SGU
Choose the correct answer for each question
1. Which of the following best defines translation?
A. It replaces text in one language with equivalent text in another.
B. It converts spoken language to written form in a new language.
C. It communicates messages free from language and cultural limitations.
D. It conveys messages without preserving the author’s intended meaning.
2. What is a drawback of analyzing the whole text before translating?
A. It takes extra time to understand. C. It lowers accuracy.
B. It reduces understanding. D. It complicates revisions.
3. Which text style focuses on colloquialism?
A. Narrative B. Description
C. Discussion D. Dialogue
4. Which contributes to the authority of a translated text?
A. The translator's opinion about the subject C. The length of the translated text
B. The author's expertise in the field D. The popularity of the target language
5. What does "transference" refer to in the context of translation?
A. A method that adapts cultural references for the target audience
B. A technique that focuses on the emotional tone of the source text
C. The process of converting different alphabets through transliteration
D. The replacement of a word with its synonym in the target language
6. What does the functional equivalent procedure in translation refer to?
Using a technical term in the target language
A. Employing a similar method without direct translation
B. Translating a word literally
C. Adapting cultural references in the text
7. What is incorrect about word-for-word translation?
A. Preserving word order
B. Translating words singly
C. Being context-based
D. Using the most common meaning of each word
8. What is incorrect about the adaptation method in translation?
A. It is used for plays.
B. It changes the plots.
C. The SL culture is converted to TL culture.
D. The text should be rewritten.

KEY: 1A 2A 3D 4B 5C 6D 7C 8B
9. What is a possible drawback of translating sentence by sentence?
A. It misses the details of the text.
B. It ignores the overall structure of the text.
C. It limits the translator's creativity.
D. It skips over difficult parts of the text.
10. Which text style focuses on abstract nouns (concepts), verbs of thought, mental activity
(“consider”, “argue”, etc.), logical argument and connectives?
A. Narrative B. Description
C. Discussion D. Dialogue
11. Which scale of generality is only understood by experts?
A. Neutral C. Educated
B. Technical D. Opaquely technical
12. What are the degrees of feeling in translation?
A. Agreeable, neutral, disagreeable C. Strong, moderate, and weak
B. Positive, Neutral, and Negative D. Emotional, rational, and descriptive
13. What does the cultural equivalent procedure in translation mean?
A. Changing the meaning entirely
B. Directing word-for-word translation
C. Using similar term for a cultural word in the target language
D. Using broad terms instead of specific ones
14. What is the purpose of using synonymy in translation?
A. To use similar meanings when exact translations aren't available
B. To create a literal translation of the source text
C. To adapt idiomatic expressions for the target language
D. To simplify complex sentences for better clarity
15. What translation method is this?
It tries to produce the precise contextual meaning of the original within the constraints of the target language
grammatical structures.
A. Word-for-word translation
B. Faithful translation
C. Free translation
D. Communicative translation
16. What translation method is this?
It produces the target language text without the style, form, or content of the original.
A. Free translation
B. Idiomatic translation
C. Communicative translation
D. Adaptation
KEY: 9B 10C 11D 12B 13C 14A 15B 16A
17. Which text style is static?
A. Narrative C. Discussion
B. Description D. Dialogue
18. What are the three primary functions of a text in translation?
A. Expressive, Informative, Vocative
B. Descriptive, Analytical, Summative
C. Persuasive, Narrative, Directive
D. Cultural, Stylistic, Linguistic
19. What contributes to the quality of a translated text?
A. The translator's proficiency in both languages
B. The length of the original text
C. The number of references used in the translation
D. The date of publication of the source text
20. Which of the following correctly shows the translation process?
A. Source language text, transfer, analysis, restructuring, target language text
B. Source language text, restructuring, transfer, analysis, target language text
C. Source language text, analysis, transfer, restructuring, target language text
D. Source language text, transfer, restructuring, analysis, target language text
21. What is the purpose of using a descriptive equivalent in translation?
A. To find an exact word that matches the source language
B. To use the names of source language terms and explain them
C. To adapt cultural references for the target audience
D. To simplify complex technical terms for easier understanding
22. What does modulation in translation allow a translator to do?
A. Change the viewpoint of the message
B. Translate phrases literally
C. Keep the original structure
D. Use only technical language
23. What translation method is the freest form of translation?
A. Free translation
B. Idiomatic translation
C. Communicative translation
D. Adaptation translation
24. What is the primary goal of communicative translation?
A. To focus on word-for-word accuracy
B. To make the content and language acceptable to readers
C. To retain the original structure of the text
D. To prioritize idiomatic expressions over meaning
KEY: 17B 18A 19A 20C 21B 22A 23D 24B
25. Which of the following is the highest level of formality in translation?
A. Formal
B. Official
C. Officialese
D. Colloquial
26. What does "denotation" mean in the context of translation?
A. The broader meaning beyond core meaning
B. The core meaning of a word
C. The grammatical structure of a sentence
D. The usage of idiomatic expressions
27. Why is the translator considered as producer in the translation process?
A. The translator creates a new version of the original message in the target language.
B. The translator focuses solely on literal word-for-word translations.
C. The translator is responsible for editing and proofreading the source material.
D. The translator randomly selects phrases from the original text to translate.
28. What text style describes a dynamic sequence of events?
A. Narrative
B. Description
C. Discussion
D. Dialogue
29. What is through-translation?
A. Adapting cultural references
B. Translating idioms directly
C. Changing technical terms
D. Using loan words for common phrases
30. What is the purpose of reduction and expansion techniques in translation?
A. To match the original text exactly in structure
B. To translate each word with the same emphasis
C. To modify length and detail for clarity or cultural fit
D. To change the tone and vocabulary of the source text
31. What is a key feature of idiomatic translation?
A. Retaining the exact words
B. Reproducing the message but distorts nuances
C. Avoiding colloquialisms and idioms
D. Focusing only on literal meaning
32. What is a main feature of an 'intralingual translation'?
A. It involves translating between two different languages.
B. It uses vocabulary that is simpler than the original.
C. It provides a paraphrase longer than the original.
D. It directly matches the original text word-for-word.

KEY: 25C 26B 27A 28A 29D 30C 31B 32C

33. What does "connotation" mean in the context of translation?
A. The strict, dictionary definition of a word
B. The core meaning of a word
C. The broader meaning beyond core meaning
D. The order of words in a sentence
34. Why is a translator considered as receiver in the translation process?
A. The translator creates new ideas and content for the target reader.
B. The translator interprets the original message before conveying it.
C. The translator focuses solely on the grammar and syntax of the target language.
D. The translator chooses words randomly to fit the target language.
35. What does the intention of a text in translation refer to?
A. The author's writing style
B. The attitude to the subject matter
C. The length of the text in translation
D. The number of characters in the original text
36. How many stylistic scales are there in translation?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
37. What does shift or transposition in translation involve?
A. Changing the structure of the source text
B. Using the same structure as the source text
C. Translating the source text word by word
D. Changing only the vocabulary of the source text
38. What does the naturalization procedure in translation involve?
A. Adapting the source word to common pronunciation and form
B. Translating directly without changes
C. Keeping the original structure of the source language
D. Only focusing on the meaning of the source word
39. What is true about semantic translation?
A. It focuses on adapting the text to sound natural in the target language.
B. It prioritizes the emotional tone over the exact meaning of the original.
C. It uses creative methods to reinterpret the original message.
D. It is dependent on the source language, often sounding unnatural.
40. What is true about literal translation?
A. Converting grammar to the nearest equivalents
B. Translating lexical words in groups
C. Being context-based
D. Translating idiomatic expressions word-for-word

KEY: 33C 34D 35B 36D 37A 38A 39D 40C

GOOD LUCK!