Parallel texts in translation

Through my research, I found that Professor Li Changshuan has defined parallel texts as follows: parallel texts refer to the original text and its translation placed side by side, allowing for sentence-by-sentence comparison. When numerous parallel texts are collected and organized according to certain standards, they form a parallel corpus. These materials can include specialized articles, entries from encyclopedias, and even explanations and example sentences from dictionaries. This is the narrow definition of parallel texts. In a broader sense, parallel texts also encompass translated materials that are similar in content to the original text, primarily used for a deeper understanding of the original. Simply put, parallel texts are any reference materials that closely relate to the content of the original.

Looking at the term "parallel texts," it may not seem familiar, but we have been utilizing them throughout the translation process. As mentioned earlier by Mr. Li Changshuan, parallel texts are any reference materials that closely relate to the original content. When translating, we encounter various types of materials. The different knowledge domains involved mean we must correspondingly understand the specialized knowledge. Whether in the gaming field or the financial sector, each has its own set of terminologies. If we do not grasp the knowledge and terminology inherent to a particular field, we could easily make significant mistakes, and the translated text would lack credibility and professionalism. It's akin to what our teachers used to advise us about writing essays: they would always say that reading more essay collections would help us write better pieces. This principle is quite similar to the use of parallel texts in translation. When we engage with materials from an unfamiliar field, the more we learn about that field's knowledge, the better we can accurately understand the original text and comprehend what it is trying to convey. Furthermore, when translating, if we are well-versed in the terminology of a specialized field and familiar with its discourse habits, the translation will exude professionalism—this aligns with the common saying that input leads to output.

For instance, let me refer to a piece of material I translated recently:

パラグアイ共和国の首都アスンシオンの南西約40Kmに位置する、常石造船株式会社のグループ会社です。中長期的な需要が見込まれている河川輸送の手段である、平底バージやプッシャーの建造を2011年から行っています。質の高い船舶の提供と造船人材の育成を通じて、パラグアイ社会の発展に貢献しています。(Located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Asuncion, Paraguay, it is a subsidiary company of Joso Shipbuilding Corporation. Since 2011, the company has been constructing flat-bottomed barges and pusher boats, which are river transportation tools that meet the medium to long-term demand. By providing high-quality vessels and nurturing shipbuilding talents, the company contributes to the development of Paraguayan society.)

When we look up the term "プッシャー" on its own, it can be translated as "pusher" or "propelling device." However, if we directly use this term in the original text, it would confuse the readers. In this case, we need to research and understand the background knowledge of the original text. Through research, we can find out that Joso Group focuses on shipbuilding, and "プッシャー" refers to a type of vessel they construct, known as a "pusher boat." By incorporating this information, the translation becomes more aligned with the facts and more accurate and professional.

So, how do we find parallel texts? Taking a translation material as an example, the original text reads as follows:

常石グループの南米パラグアイ共和国における造船拠点ATP (所在地：パラグアイ国セントラル州ビリェタ市)は8月6日、ビリェタ市の工場に新オフィスを開設しました。(Joso Group, located in the shipbuilding base ATP (located in Villarrica, Central Department, Paraguay), opened a new office at its factory in Villarrica on August 6th.)

When I first saw this translated text, my mind was blank and my heart was in a panic because it was clearly a professional field I had never encountered before. Upon a closer look, I realized that the original text revolved around "常石グループ" or "Joso Group." So, I searched for information about the Joso Group on Baidu. However, Paraguay, the country mentioned in the translation, is a small nation with limited information available online, let alone its city "ビリェタ市." Additionally, ATP, the shipbuilding base, seemed unfamiliar, causing me to hit a dead end in searching for the location of the base. Subsequently, I reexamined information about the Joso Group and found its official Japanese website. Following the site's instructions, I located their four shipbuilding bases, including ATP, where I naturally found Villarrica as its location.

In summary, finding parallel texts involves skimming the original text to identify the central topic and then using keywords to search for relevant information in the field. When it comes to translating a specific term, further research on the original text is necessary by continuously converting keywords to find the most accurate translation.

It is evident that learning to find and effectively use parallel texts is a crucial skill for enhancing translation quality. Through parallel texts, we can acquire knowledge in specialized fields, which benefits both deepening our understanding of the source text and improving the professionalism of the target text.

Intern Cheng Yuxiang.

◀️：The Help of Parallel Texts in Translation

▶️：Translator's Choice