Handbook for translators of Spanish historical ... - University Library

PROCEDURE IN TRANSLATION
The first sentence of the second paragraph is readily
selected "by substituting a period for the conjunction £.
"To leave to chance this "branch, which is so necessary to
the existence of the troops, cannot be."
Continuing to read the original, a break in the thought
is noted between the words tp3 . and no; and, therefore, a
period is placed at that point. One now wonders if the
first sentence in this paragraph should have been extended
to this point. One reasons, however, that a short sentence
in this case is more emphatic because it translates
the feeling expressed by the original. In place of the
connective £, which was eliminated upon translating the
first sentence, the connective "Consequently" is placed, as
it is believed this word conveys the idea of result expressed
by the original. Thus this sentence is translated:
"Consequently, I find no other alternative than to appeal
to your superior office which alone can overcome difficulties
that cost me the greatest loss of sleep and occupy a
great part of my time."
The final sentence is now translated: "I have not succeeded
in keeping this branch [Of the service] well supplied;
despite my diligence there have been parties which
have been without rations for a time because of the lack
of mule trains and the difficulties of the roads."
Third Operation: Check each word or phrase in the translation
with its correspondent in the original.
In this operation, the process is reversed and the word
or phrase of the translation is compared with its correspondent
in the original.
Upon comparing the first phrase: "The matter of provisions..."
with its correspondent in the original, El punto
de abastos . it is found that the word "provisions" is not
an exact correspondent of abastos . Close examination of the
term abastos discloses the fact that it is derived from
the Latin bastus, sufficient, and the Greek bastadso . to
transport. It is seen, therefore, that, according to its
roots, the term abastos should convey a combination of the
ideas of sufficiency and transporting. Consequently, the
word "provisions" is changed to the phrase "supplying
provisions.
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