Oldal 19 [19]
CONTRASTIVE LINGUISTICS
+
+
An important lexical contrast between languages is that most, if not all, words
in all languages are polysemous, and the different meanings of a word may cor¬
respond to different words in another language. This is a major source of lexical
errors, because we do not usually notice that the words of our native language are
polysemous.
Consider bikaviadal: it may correspond to bulifight or bullfighting. Can you
find out which one is needed in this context?
In a similar way, the Hungarian words támad, kendő, rajongó, késztet, köpeny,
meglengetni, elkerülni are polysemous, and have several English correspondents.
How can you find out which English correspondent of kendő and köpeny is used
in English in the context of bullfighting?
If you read English texts on bullfighting, you may find that occasionally a Span¬
ish word is used to express the meaning "someone who admires or supports a
person, sport, sports team, etc.”? You may use it in this context.
You will remember (from your study of descriptive English grammar) that animals
may be referred to by the neutral pronoun it, or by the gendered pronouns he and
she if we know what gender they are or if there is a personal relationship between
them and humans. But how should we refer back to the bull in this context: him
or it? Consult English grammars on the gender of animals and study parallel texts
on bullfighting.
If you read English texts on bullfighting, you will find that torreddor is not tore¬
ador in English.
If you want to translate Az igazsdg az by To tell the truth — don't. You can use this
phrase when you reluctantly admit the truth (synonymous with Az igazat megvall¬
va). Here you have a different meaning, corresponding to a different phrase: Asa ....
A phraseological problem: Tamadasra keszteti.
+
Cook, bake, fry, or roast? Pot or pan? Why? How do the manner of cooking and
the utensil define each other? If you use one ofthe above words, how will it influ¬
ence the translation of burgonyat?
The phrase when the alarm was raised often occurs in English newspapers in
connection with firefighters. Can you use it in this translation exercise?
Was this tizolté a fireman or a firefighter? Do, fulfil, discharge one’s duty — what
is the difference? Does an exact equivalent of derék exist in English? Egett - is
the verb burn the only solution?
A grammatical point: which past tense is needed in translating elfelejtette? And
if you use that tense, do you have to translate ugyanis? When is namely (the dic¬
tionary equivalent of ugyanis) used? If you insist on translating ugyanis with a
separate word, what conjunctions can you use?
D
+ 17 »