THE ROLE OF TEXT ANALYSIS IN TRANSLATION

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe and explain the function of text analysis for understanding a source text, producing an acceptable translation and the assessment of that translation. Basic concepts (e.g. extratextual and intratextual factors, stages of the translation process, understanding of the source text, readability of the target text, and translator competences) are discussed in terms of translation theory in the theoretical part of the paper. Translator analysis of internal and external textual factors contributes to the knowledge of external and internal text factors of the source text and enables the translator to better understand the text itself, its function and aim, which the client (one who orders the translation) wishes to achieve, so that the translation fully meets the translation order. In the course of a text analysis, the translator forms an overview of the source text and acquires a clear idea of how the text should and will look.

Students of the University of Economics in Bratislava, Faculty of Applied Languages are expected to acquire knowledge and skills that would enable them to translate relevant documents from the source language to the target language, and vice versa, as well as to search, analyse, and process foreign language materials for their future employers’ needs. The final part of the paper contains an example illustrating how the training of the initial stage of text analysis should be conducted. It contains the description of the authors’ experience in translating professional German and English texts and teaching translation classes at the University of Economics in Bratislava.