The Connotative Dilemma; On Interpretation and Translation

Quick: What do you call the person for whom you work? Such a simple question could open the floodgates to a list of words of varying registers that all mean essentially the same thing, in spite of its perceived simplicity. This revealing quandary is made all the more difficult for interpreters and translators, where more than one language is involved in the transmission of a message. “What do you call the person for whom you work?” Think about it. Even if you work for yourself, how do you describe this situation? The myriad answers could be overwhelming.

You can take your pick: Boss, director, supervisor, manager, foreman, et cetera, et cetera.

Say you work for yourself, though: Self-employed, sole proprietor, independent contractor, et cetera, ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

You may use a term of your choosing from the above lists to describe this particular concept. Nevertheless, perhaps any of the other terms listed above, or even an additional synonym not listed there, could be entered in the same context and is understood just as readily and successfully. Furthermore, there are homophones and homographs to make things all the more confusing.

While a synonym describes the many words for the same (or same-ish concept), a homophone is a word that has two different meanings but the same pronunciation (e.g. “heir” and “air”). A homograph includes the more well-known homonyms, which are words that are spelled the same but mean different things. An example of this is “cup” the verb and “cup” out of which one drinks delicious tea.

While they all certainly differ in their meaning through subtle nuances, the general concept that they attempt to convey is very much the same. Certainly, each of the above terms is at times confined to a particular sector or industry, and its frequency of usage may also vary depending on the region, and so retains a constant meaning within this area. Conversely, there are also words whose meanings are manifold regardless. In the fields of interpreting and translation, these are hindrances that can cloud a proper translation or interpretation unless they can be adequately cleared up. A lot could depend on the meaning of just one word.

The possible complications increase exponentially when another language is thrown into. Whereas before the ambiguities of language were confined to one language and, therefore, manageable to a native speaker, introducing a second language –replete with its own regional and dialectic differences—creates a much more difficult situation. In light of this, the importance of a highly educated and well-trained interpreter becomes readily apparent; hence the frequent use of a “language professional”, a blanket term for a translator or an interpreter (or even someone who does both).

Historically, the phenomenon of such a fluid lexicon has many incarnations. One of my favorite examples are kennings from literature. Kennings are the many words used to describe a single thing, especially in Norse mythology. It is not uncommon for figures in mythology of folklore to refuse to give out their name, as offering such information grants some power over them. They are also useful for giving some variety in addressing the figure being spoken in in epic poems. So, you always forget that one aunt’s (depending on which region you’re in, that’s a homophone!) name at the family reunion every year? Look all of the names of Odin and see if you remember who Galdraföðr, father of magical songs, is.

It’s easy to see how all of this complicates our understanding of speech or writing. Another frequent occurrence that makes use of the many linguistic confusions is the pun. They are the most oftenly used example of humor, usually impossible to transpose from one language to another but found in every language or culture. One of the most daunting situations is interpreting in a fast-paced environment only to hear a pun or an idiom, losing valuable time thinking of a suitable rendition of these abominations of language. Of course, this description of puns and idioms is strictly tongue in cheek.

Without context and a relatively fluent familiarity with the language and its intricacies, a message could very well become entirely lost. Thus, at times we have to engage in intralingual translation even within the dialect of language spoken in our own particular country, and at times in even smaller units still (as in family, friend, or work groups), in order to accurately convey what we are trying to communicate.

Language professionals are brought in during situations where people need to communicate in two or more languages. This doesn’t always involve the spoken ones, either. Sign Language notably has variants belonging to pretty much every country. American Sign Language, Canadian Sign Language, and British Sign Language are all distinct from each other with limited amounts of mutual intelligibility, as an example. When an element like the variety in language –an element adding such complexity to understanding– is coupled with the attempt to communicate over two systems, the need for someone who understands nuances is undeniable.