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Explicitation 151
Table 3. Frequencies of punctuation marks in the EHC
Genre Text Colon Semicolon Brackets Total
E–H E–H E–H E–H
L CA 1114 14 4 1 1 26 19
L UP 2 7 1114 1 1 14 22
L PA 0 4 1 9 3 2 4 15
L ME 1 9 2 7 0 0 3 16
Total 1434 2834 5 4 47 72
N-L DA 1025 10 7 4 7 24 39
N-L EY 3 5 3 3 35 33 41 41
N-L HA 2 11 0 5 10 10 12 26
N-L HI 6 9 4 4 13 13 23 26
Total 2150 1719 6263 100132
(1) Paley here appreciates the difference between natural
physical objects like stones, and designed and manufactured objects like
watches.
Paley itt azokat a különbségeket értékeli, amelyek a
természetes fizikai objektumok (mint a kő) és a megtervezett és elkészített
dolgok (mint az óra) között fennállnak.
Back translation: Paley here appreciates the difference that occurs between
natural physical objects (like stones) and designed and manufactured
objects (like watches).
Apart from handling extra remarks introduced by appositive like, the translator
also makes the sentences more straightforward by inserting brackets. The
summary of frequencies of punctuation marks in EHC (Table 3) reveals an
overall rise in this feature, and moreover, reveals the differences in translators
styles on the scale of preservation – alteration of the ST punctuation marks’
patterns. Dashes were excluded from the analysis because of the essential
difference in marking dialogues. The English language has a preference for
quotation marks while Hungarian prefers dashes.
Shifts in punctuation marks into the stronger direction can be seen as “part
of a subconscious strategy to make things easier, simpler, by making them more
clear-cut” (Baker 1996:182). It is also possible that the translators’ ultimate aim
initially is to make things clear-cut and more cohesive. Therefore, a simpler and
easier-to-read text is the consequence of this strategy.