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

PROCEDURE IN TRANSLATION
put away and the fourth and final operation of this procedure
is undertaken.
Fourth Operation: Working on readability.
The translation has now reached the following form:
"The matter of supplying provisions for the auxiliary
troops of this province is of such importance that I find
it my duty to speak to Your Lordship about the matter in
order that [Your Lordship j may
issue your wise measures
[thereon]... Inasmuch as all the resources of this province
and of Coahuila, which are under my care, are exhausted,
I will barely have supplies for two months, but no mules or
wagons on which to transport them to their destination. I
have no doubt that, because of the mortality of mules experienced
by the muleteers, flour transporters, they will refrain
in the future from entering this remote country.
"To leave to chance this branch, which is so necessary
to the existence of the troops, cannot be. 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. I have not succeeded in keeping this branch [Of the
royal 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."
In the first sentence, although the word "find" is the
exact correspondent for hallo , it does not seem to fit into
the thought of the sentence. The expressions, "I find it
necessary," and "I deem it my duty," are well known, therefore,
the definition of both verbs "to find," and "to deem"
is examined in an unabridged dictionary of the English language.
After comparing definitions, the conclusion is
reached that "deem" is more accurate and more readable in
this case.
Further on, the expression "about the matter" is encountered,
and the fact is at once noted that "the matter" was
used to initiate the sentence. In order to avoid the repetition,
therefore, the word "matter" is changed to "duty"
in the first instance.
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