Spanish/Mayan-English Translation of the book “Kaambal, baaxal yéetel k'iimak óolal” with a detailed explanation of the techniques used by Anahí Ramírez.

1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
TRANSLATION
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMME
RESEARCHER’S NAME: ANAHÍ MAGDALENA RAMÍREZ SÁNCHEZ
STUDENT’S REGISTRATION NUMBER: 09-10394
WORKING TITLE: SPANISH/MAYAN-ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK “KAAMBAL, BAAXAL YÉETEL K'IIMAK
ÓOLAL” (PAGES 30-67) WITH A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE TECHNIQUES USED BY THE TRANSLATOR.
GENERAL LINE OF RESEARCH: APPLIED LINGUISTICS
NATURE OF RESEARCH: DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH
DATE: DECEMBER, 12TH, 2014.

2. INTRODUCTION
 “La lengua forma parte de la cultura, es el medio
convencional que utiliza una comunidad cultural para
pensar y comunicarse.” (Reiss K, Vermeer H.)
Primarily, it is essential to define the significance of
language in our lifetime. Language is the key for anyone
who has the need to be communicated and to
communicate; since it is both, the simplest and complex
way to transmit feelings, thoughts, concerns, ideas
among others. Language is everywhere, it has been
experimenting several changes through decades and
the changes have been increasing until our days.
Nevertheless, the purpose of language has been the
same: communication.

3. Communication seems to be an easy matter and it is as
far as you speak the same language. However, what
happens when you cannot speak the same language
towards the people you want to communicate? Or even
simpler, what happen when you want to read something
in other language and you cannot do it? There is when
translation comes into scene. The act of transferring the
meaning of a text from one language to another,
preserving the pertinent denotation of the original source
is what Peter Newmark considers as Translation. This
monographic work focuses on recalling the most
important details when translating in order to achieve an
accurate translation.

4. Objective.
 The main objective of this project is to provide the
same message the authors wanted to transmit from
Spanish/Maya into English as well as analyzed and
point out the procedures and problems confronted
as well as solutions applied during the translation
process of this book. My prevalent objective and
concern is to make and precise translation of this
sample as a way to give appropriate information to
future readers, teachers and students.

5. Significance/relevance of the research project.
 The relevance of this work lies on the importance of
going beyond the barriers of language. This
research will lead to an important improvement
towards language on educational fields. A trilingual
book is fantastic way to do more than the usual.
Reading/practicing three languages can make the
difference in somebody future life. For this reason it
is important embark more often on this kind of
translation.

6. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
 In this section, remaining methods and translation
techniques from diverse authors will be mentioned
and explained. Respectively, they would be
followed by a number of examples for a better
understanding of the concepts presented.

 There are several methods and translation
techniques and as a translator it is important to
enlarge your knowledge about it for a better and
proper translation. It will help you to avoid errors or
misunderstandings from the target to the source.

7. TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES
 Direct Translation Techniques are used when structural and conceptual elements
of the source language can be transposed into the target language.
Direct translation techniques include:
 Borrowing
"English borrowings are entering languages everywhere, and in more domains than
just science and technology. (Carol Myers-Scotton, Multiple Voices: An Introduction
to Bilingualism. Blackwell,2006).
 Calque
A calque or loan translation (itself a calque of German Lehnübersetzung) is a
phrase borrowed from another language and translated literally word-for-word.
An unsuccessful calque can be extremely unnatural, and can cause unwanted
humor, often interpreted as indicating the lack of expertise of the translator in the
target language. Peter Fawcett, Translation and Languages (1997)

8. Literal Translation
 Literal translation refers to a translation technique that can be used when
the languages involved share parallel structures and concepts; NOT to a
translation made word for word: Literal translation carries the imprint of
the original.
 This technique is used when it is possible to transpose the source
language (SL) message element by element into the target language
(TL) and obtain a text that is idiomatic. (Dr. Angelo Pizzuto)
 Examples: Come here! = ¡ven aquí!
Oblique Translation Techniques
 Oblique Translation Techniques are used when the structural or
conceptual elements of the source language cannot be directly
translated without altering meaning or upsetting the grammatical and
stylistics elements of the target language. Peter Fawcett, Translation and
Language (1997).

9. Oblique translation techniques include:
 Transposition
This is the process where parts of speech change their sequence when they are
translated (blue ball becomes boule bleue in French). It is in a sense a shift of word
class. Grammatical structures are often different in different languages. He likes
swimming translates as Er schwimmt gern in German.
Peter Fawcett,Translation and Languages (1997).
Example: When he starts speaking everyone stayed in silent.
Literal translation: cuando él empieza a hablar todos se mantienen en silencio.
Transponed: Todos se mantienen en silencio cuando el empieza a hablar.
 Modulation
Modulation: changing the point of view without changing the meaning of the
message. (Vinay and Darbelnet identified 10 different types of modulation. IT IS
NOT DIFFICULT → IT IS EASY (Dr. Angelo Pizzuto)
Examples: It is rare = es diferente.

10.  Equivalence
Here you have to express something in a completely different way, for example
when translating idioms or advertising slogans. The process is creative, but not
always easy. Peter Fawcett, Translation and Languages(1997)
Example: Two heads are much better than one = Dos cabezas piensan mejor que
una.
 Adaptation
 Adaptation occurs when something specific to one language culture is expressed
in a totally different way that is familiar or appropriate to another language culture.
It is a shift in cultural environment. It involves changing the cultural reference when
a situation in the source culture does not exist in the target culture. Peter Fawcett,
Translation and Languages(1997)
 Compensation
Can be used when something cannot be translated, and the meaning that is lost is
expressed somewhere else in the translated text.
Example: Little kinds quickly lose patient = Niños pequeños no son pacientes

11. METHOD
 Nature of the Text
“Kaambal, baaxalyéetelk'iimakóolal” is a bilingual
book (Maya/Spanish). It is divided into seven
chapters 1.-Procesos interculturales, a través de la
lengua maya; 2.- Acercarse a la enseñanza de una
lengua; 3.- El aprendizaje de la lengua a través de
los saberes locales; 4.-Dinámicas y 5.-juegos en
lengua maya; 6.- Rompecabezas, y 7.- Lotería
maya. Nonetheless, I will focus only in 3 of the
chapters (5, 6 and 7).

12. INSTRUMENTS
In order to have an accurate translation of this book
I will be using some tools to make this project more
efficient.
 Dictionaries.
 Web pages.
 Teachers.
 Books.

13. REFERENCES

 Carol Myers-Scotton(2006), Multiple Voices: An Introduction to Bilingualism, Blackwell

 Douglas R. (1997) Becoming a Translator; an accelereted course

 http://es.slideshare.net/apizzuto/translation-techniques-presentation

 Larson Mildred L. (1984). Translation: Theory and Practice, Tension and
Interdependence

 Newmark, P. (1988a). A Textbook of Translation.


 Newmark, P. (1991). About Translation: Multilingual Matters. Clevedon, Philadelphia.

 Peter Fawcett (1997), Translation and Language

 Reiss K, Vermeer H.J. (1991) Fundamentos para una teoría funcional de la traducción.

14. Months Activities
January 2014 I will corroborate that my text is a good
proposal of translation. I will start reading
carefully the whole book and I will be
consulting my tutor for advice.
February 2015 I will do some research about unknown
words and I will ask for tutoring (Maya’s
teacher). I will be reading more about the
topics that the books involves.
March 2015 I will dedicate time for the introduction,
objectives and literature review of the text
and I will be doing my first drafts of the
translation also asking for guidance of my
tutor.
April 2015 I will be finishing my translation and it will
be given to be checked. Tutor advice will
be taking into consideration and I will be
doing needed arrangements.
May 2015 I will be finalizing the abstract part and
making all final conclusions. I will be
finishing the project on time for graduation
period.