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Some considerations about the translation techniques of sayings and proverbs

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of different techniques of the translation of sayings and proverbs. These complex didactic sayings reflect cognitive activity of the people, the centuries-old wisdom which pose a challenge to the translator. The article studies and emphasizes four principal techniques of translation of sayings and proverbs: parallel equivalent, functional analogue, occasional calque and descriptive expression. It is a complex process of translation which gives great importance to different linguistic and extra-linguistic factors, such as the denotative and connotative meanings of the saying, its metaphoric basis and cognitive-pragmatic potential, the context, the background knowledge of the readers of the target language, historical and social contacts between two cultures, etc. The article investigates the techniques of translation of proverbs and sayings based on the material of French translation of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.

Keywords:
Proverb; saying; translation techniques; linguistic and extra-linguistic factors

Programa de Pos-Graduação em Letras Neolatinas, Faculdade de Letras -UFRJ Av. Horácio Macedo, 2151, Cidade Universitária, CEP 21941-97 - Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil , - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
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