For this project, I've selected a segment from a TED Talk by Lýdia Machová, "The secrets of learning a new language." This segment is clear, engaging, and offers excellent examples of various translation procedures.
00:00 - 00:20
Now, I want to start by asking you a question. What do you think is the biggest secret of polyglots, people who speak many languages?
00:20 - 00:40
When I ask this question, people usually tell me things like, "Polyglots are gifted. They have a special gene for languages." Or, "They have a special brain."
00:40 - 01:00
Well, it's a very common myth, but as a polyglot myself and having learned eight languages and having met hundreds of other polyglots, I can assure you that we are not gifted.
01:00 - 01:20
In fact, a lot of polyglots are actually very average people with average memory and average talent for languages.
01:20 - 01:40
So what is the secret? The only thing that all polyglots have in common is that we have found ways to enjoy the language-learning process.
01:40 - 02:00
And we have transformed it from a boring school subject to a fun part of our lives.
00:00 - 00:20
Ahora, quiero empezar haciéndoles una pregunta ¿Cuál creen que es el mayor secreto de los políglotas, las personas que hablan muchos idiomas?
00:20 - 00:40
Cuando hago esta pregunta, la gente me dice cosas como: "Los políglotas son superdotados. Tienen un gen especial para los idiomas". O, "Tienen un cerebro especial".
00:40 - 01:00
Bueno, es un mito muy común, pero siendo yo misma una políglota, habiendo aprendido ocho idiomas y habiendo conocido a cientos de otros políglotas,
les puedo asegurar que no somos superdotados.
01:00 - 01:20
De hecho, muchos políglotas son en realidad personas muy normales con una memoria normal y un talento normal para los idiomas.
01:20 - 01:40
Entonces, ¿cuál es el secreto? Lo único que todos los políglotas tienen en común es que hemos encontrado formas de disfrutar el proceso de aprendizaje del idioma.
01:40 - 02:00
Y lo hemos transformado de una aburrida materia escolar a una parte divertida de nuestras vidas.
Literal Translation: This is the most direct translation procedure, where the translator aims to translate the source text word-for-word while maintaining grammatical correctness. In this TED Talk, much of the content is translated literally to preserve the speaker's direct, conversational tone. An example is the phrase "What do you think is the biggest secret" translated as "¿Cuál creen que es el mayor secreto." The literal approach ensures the core message is accurately conveyed.
Modulation: This procedure involves a change in the point of view or perspective to make a translation sound more natural in the target language. For example, the phrase "The only thing that all polyglots have in common is that we have found ways to enjoy the language-learning process" is translated as "Lo único que todos los políglotas tienen en común es que hemos encontrado formas de disfrutar el proceso de aprendizaje del idioma." The Spanish verb structure "hemos encontrado formas de disfrutar" (we have found ways to enjoy) is a modulation of the original.