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

HANDBOOK FOR TRANSLATORS OF SPANISH HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
Continuing with this comparison, no difficulty is encountered
until the expression "...to speak to Your Lordship
sbout it..." is reached. The pronoun "it" here
stands for el particular; hut this version does not indicate
accxirate translation. Therefore, "it" is changed to
"the matter."
The next obstacle worthy ci" attention is the translation
of "may issue" for se_ sirva emplear. It is true that
emplear means "to employ" and not "to issue," hut in English
one "issues" and not "employs" a measure or an order. The
addition of the term "thereon" in brackets completes the
idea of the original in the translation.
In using the adjective "wise" to translate asertadas the
subtle flattery implied in the original has been borne in
mind; the terms "adequate," "proper," or "well-directed"
would be an approximate but not so accurate a translation.
No difficulty worth noting is encountered until the noun
"office," in the second paragraph, which translates the
term autoridad is reached. Unquestionably, there is an apparent
discrepancy here, for "office" and autoridad cannot
be said to have the same meaning, according to definitions
given by dictionaries. The term "office," is retained however,
because, according to the context of the original, in
this case "office" and autoridad have a corresponding meaning.
The next expression that arouses suspicion is "loss of
sleep," which is given for desvelos . The verb desvelar .
from which the noun desvelo is derived, means "to stay awake,"
but, in this case, it is difficult to find a useful word to
substitute for the cumbersome phrase "to stay awake." Of
course, "sleeplessness," or "wakefulness," both awkward,
could perhaps be employed; but in such a case the adverb
"greatest" would have to be changed to "much." If the adverb
is thus changed an additional inaccuracy will be given,
for the force of los mayor es would be lost by substituting
for it mucho, or "much." Therefore, a phrase that will retain
the force and meaning of the original, "loss of sleep."
is adopted.
As one continues with the examination of each word of
the translation and its correspondent in the original, no
further trouble is encoimtered. Therefore, the original is
-32-