Ideal and real receiver of instruction manuals: when the translator is to create the A' language code
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/RP.2011.003Keywords
receiver, communication process, pragmatic text, translation of special textsAbstract
This article is to show three types of the target audience that are the receivers of pragmatic texts (i.e., instruction manuals). They are divided into three groups: the first is the group of perfect receivers; the second group is represented by receivers with sufficient education though still not perfect, and the third group embraces persons who are real, although not perfect, receivers. The focus is laid on the last group with the aim of showing what kind of problems may appear when the translator of pragmatic texts (instruction manuals) is to cooperate with real receivers. The main problem is the fact that the receivers are not able to understand specialist language even in their mother tongue. This might be the result of the lack of education; still, this situation poses difficulties for translators as the message which should be received by e.g. workers who need to understand instruction manuals cannot be comprehended due to the absence of language competence. The article discusses various processes that appear when real receivers try to adapt specialist texts to their language level. The basis for these activities is the economy of language but quite frequently users of instruction manuals change word forms and thus they create a different ‘language’ of lower register. We can also notice that language users modify the language in a variety of ways: we can distinguish the loss of correspondence between words used in manuals as well as terms that they use in everyday work. The register of words is lowered, inappropriate expressions are used and the sense is distorted – all these factors may result in misunderstandings. The translator can solve these problems by creating the second language code of the dominant language. The code must be parallel to the first code but should have a lower register and, at the same time, it should be faithful to the overall sense and should be in accordance with the universal features of discourse. This seems to be the best solution to deal with differences between levels of register in technical texts and in the language of users. It also might be the best way to help real receivers to understand technical texts and to work more effectively.
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