Chapter 2. Light Verb Constructions in English-Spanish translation
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Rosa Rabadán
Abstract
Light Verb Constructions (LVCs) are combinations of a partially delexicalized verb and a noun indicating an action or an event (e. g., give a description). Studies modelled on the Meaning-Text theory and qualia roles of the Generative Lexicon model propose that LVCs combine nouns and verbs according to shared underlying, underspecified semantic features. This paper explores these features’ role in translating English LVCs into Spanish. Data come from the parallel corpus P-ACTRES 2.0, including fiction and nonfiction materials. Results indicate that translation choices for LVCs with have, take, make/do, and give are governed by the same notions of transference, inception, and volition that determine their combinatorial compatibility. Register also seems to influence the choice. This information may prove significant to machine translation, bi/multilingual writing support, and post-editing.
Abstract
Light Verb Constructions (LVCs) are combinations of a partially delexicalized verb and a noun indicating an action or an event (e. g., give a description). Studies modelled on the Meaning-Text theory and qualia roles of the Generative Lexicon model propose that LVCs combine nouns and verbs according to shared underlying, underspecified semantic features. This paper explores these features’ role in translating English LVCs into Spanish. Data come from the parallel corpus P-ACTRES 2.0, including fiction and nonfiction materials. Results indicate that translation choices for LVCs with have, take, make/do, and give are governed by the same notions of transference, inception, and volition that determine their combinatorial compatibility. Register also seems to influence the choice. This information may prove significant to machine translation, bi/multilingual writing support, and post-editing.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Cross-linguistic research and corpora 1
- Chapter 1. Light Verb Constructions as a testing ground for the Gravitational Pull Hypothesis 12
- Chapter 2. Light Verb Constructions in English-Spanish translation 34
- Chapter 3. Reporting direct speech in Spanish and German 51
- Chapter 4. “Ich bekomme es erklärt” 67
- Chapter 5. Exploring near-synonyms through translation corpora 91
- Chapter 6. run away! 108
- Chapter 7. Film dialogue synchronization and statistical dubbese 124
- Chapter 8. Opera audio description in the spoken-written language continuum 142
- Chapter 9. Using a multilingual parallel corpus for Journalistic Translation Research 157
- Chapter 10. Domain-adapting and evaluating machine translation for institutional German in South Tyrol 179
- Chapter 11. Word alignment in the Russian-Chinese parallel corpus 195
- Chapter 12. Building corpus-based writing aids from Spanish into English 216
- Index 235
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Cross-linguistic research and corpora 1
- Chapter 1. Light Verb Constructions as a testing ground for the Gravitational Pull Hypothesis 12
- Chapter 2. Light Verb Constructions in English-Spanish translation 34
- Chapter 3. Reporting direct speech in Spanish and German 51
- Chapter 4. “Ich bekomme es erklärt” 67
- Chapter 5. Exploring near-synonyms through translation corpora 91
- Chapter 6. run away! 108
- Chapter 7. Film dialogue synchronization and statistical dubbese 124
- Chapter 8. Opera audio description in the spoken-written language continuum 142
- Chapter 9. Using a multilingual parallel corpus for Journalistic Translation Research 157
- Chapter 10. Domain-adapting and evaluating machine translation for institutional German in South Tyrol 179
- Chapter 11. Word alignment in the Russian-Chinese parallel corpus 195
- Chapter 12. Building corpus-based writing aids from Spanish into English 216
- Index 235
