A lexicological analysis of the translation of English natural sciences scientific and technological terms for English-Northern Sotho bilingual dictionaries.
Matlala, Mashoto Matthews
Matlala, Mashoto Matthews
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyse and examine the strategies employed in the translation of English Natural Sciences (NS) and technical terms in English-Northern Sotho (N. Sotho) selected bilingual dictionaries, and to investigate the reasons behind the choices of these translation strategies. The study also aimed to test the potential influence of borrowing and/transliteration as feasible translation strategy. Some bilingual dictionaries present translated terms in an unfriendly way, and thus, the practice does not accommodate all the target users of the language with special reference to English-N. Sotho selected bilingual dictionaries. Borrowing and/transliteration are the most preferred translation strategies in this practice. This study was conducted within a mainly qualitative framework. Using mixed-method approach, the study utilised three data collection techniques, viz. quantitative content analysis, interviews and questionnaires. One hundred and twenty-two (n=122) scientific and technological terms sourced from the selected English-N. Sotho bilingual dictionaries were analysed. Bilingual lexicographers (n=14) were also involved to respond to some key research questions through interviews and questionnaires and were sampled purposively. The findings reveal that, even though borrowing may contribute to terminological development of N. Sotho, borrowing for scientific terms in bilingual dictionaries does not solve the problem of non-equivalence. It is highlighted in the study how borrowing and/transliteration affect N. Sotho, thus leading to language shift and death as users no longer consider using N. Sotho coined, indigenous equivalents. The findings in this study hope to make a contribution regarding terminology development within the fields of bilingual lexicography and translation by highlighting and suggesting domesticated, and accommodative strategies for scientific translation.
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Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Magister Technologiae: Language practice in the Department of Applied Languages Faculty of Humanities.
Date
2018-04-01
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Tshwane University of Technology
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Keywords
Lexicology, Bilingual Dictionaries, Terminology Translation, Scientific Vocabulary, Language Standardization