National University of Ucayali
Faculty of Education and Social Sciences
English Language Specialization
TOPIC:
“TECNICAS DE TRADUCCION”
Course:Traducción de texto Español-Inglés
Professor: Dra. Cerrón Castillo, Claudia.
Student: Canayo Rios, Roberto Carlos
Cycle: 7
PUCALLPA- PERÚ
2025
Translation Techniques: The Secret Behind
Every Good Translation
"Tiempo" → "Time"
"Juego" → "Play"
"Obtener → "get"
‘Better a bird in hand than a
hundred flying’?
‘Más vale pájaro en mano
que ciento volando’.
"A bird in the hand is worth two
in the bush."
Why do we need translation techniques?
Every text presents challenges: wordplays,
metaphors, cultural expressions.
Techniques help solve those challenges and keep
the original message.
Ejemplo: I’m feeling blue.
General Classification of Translation Techniques
(Based on Vinay & Darbelnet, 1958; Peter Newmark, and
others)
•Direct techniques: similarity.
• Oblique techniques: meaning.
"Direct techniques"
Literal Translation
🟣 Definition: It is when we translate word for word, respecting the original
order.
“La gente está callada.”→ “The people are quiet.”
Calque
🟣 Definition: A literal translation of fixed expressions or structures that do not
exist exactly the same way in the target language. ("Rascacielos → Skyscraper“.)
(“ciencia ficción” →“Science fiction”.) (“día del padre” →“Father’s Day”.) (“Lluvia
de ideas” → "brainstorm“)
Borrowing
🟣 Definition: A word from the original language is taken and used as it is in the
target language. (“Sandwich” → “Sandwich”.) ("Internet" → "Internet“.)
("Computadora" → "Computer“.) ("Marketing" → "Marketing“.) ("Hobby" →
"Hobby“.) ("Pizza" → "Pizza“) ("Taxi" → "Taxi“.) ("Champú" → "Shampoo“.)
("Fútbol" → "Football“.)
“Oblique techniques”
Transposition
🟣 Definition: Changing the grammatical category (like a verb into a noun) without altering the meaning.
("Tomar decisiones“→ "To make decisions“.) ("De manera rápida" → "Quick“.) ("Refuerzo" → "To
reinforce“.) ("Muy rápido" → "Very fast“.)
Modulation
🟣 Definition: Changing the point of view or the way something is expressed so that it sounds more natural
in the target language. ("Hace calor" → "It's hot“) ("No es gran cosa" → "It's no big deal“) ("Eso está
fuera de lugar" → "That's inappropriate“) ("¿A qué hora?" → "What time?“)
Established Equivalent
🟣 Definition: Using a recognized equivalent expression in the target language, usually for idioms, sayings,
or proverbs. ("Más vale tarde que nunca" → "Better late than never“) → ("El que mucho abarca, poco
aprieta“ → "Jack of all trades, master of none“)
Adaptation
🟣 Definition: Changing a cultural reference for another that is familiar in the target language. “En su
cumpleaños, le regalamos una camiseta de su equipo de fútbol favorito: Alianza Lima.”
→ “On his birthday, we gave him a jersey from his favorite sports team.” (“Telenovela” →“Soap opera”)
Discursive Creation
🟣 Definition: Creating a completely new translation, especially for titles or names.
(“¡Qué fuerte!”“Unbelievable!”) (“¡Ni loco!”“No way!”) ("Jaws" (1975) → Tiburón)
("The Sound of Music" (1965) → La novicia rebelde)
Linguistic Amplification
🟣 Definition: Adding more words in the translation to clarify or make the message more
understandable. (“Lo tengo claro.” → “I am clear about it.”) (“Me sentí mal por no ir.” →“I felt bad
about not going.”) (“Lo vi.” →“I saw him.”)
Generalization
🟣 Definition: Using a more general or broader word than the original. ("Coche deportivo" →
"Car“) ("Zapato de tacón" → "Shoe“) ("Gato siamés" → "Cat“)
Particularization
🟣 Definition: Using a more specific word than the original. ("Líquido" → "Water" (agua)
("Tamaño" → "Size XL" (tamaño XL) ("Carne" → "Beef" (carne de res)
Description
🟣 Definition: Explaining a term with a description instead of translating it literally.
("Café cortado" → "Espresso coffee with a small amount of milk“) ("Siesta" → "Short nap taken after
lunch, common in many Spanish-speaking countries“ (“Ceviche → Raw fish marinated in lime juice, mixed
with onions, chili, and cilantro)
Compensation
🟣 Definition: Placing information in a different part of the text when it can’t be
translated in the same place. (“¡Ay, mi madre!” (expresión emocional) → Inglés: “Oh no!”) (“Ese
es mi compadre.” (relación cultural importante) → “He’s a close family friend.”) (“¿Cómo estás, hijito?”
→ “How are you, my dear?”)
Linguistic Compression
🟣 Definition: Using fewer words in English than in Spanish to express the same idea. (“Me
dejó con la boca abierta.” →“He left me speechless.”) (“Se me fue el tren.” →“I missed my chance”)
(“Está en la luna.” →“He’s daydreaming.”)
Variation
🟣 Definition: Changing the style, tone, or even the dialect in the translation, adapting the
message to different linguistic or cultural contexts. ("¿Qué tal?" → "How’s it going?“) (“¡Buena
suerte!” → “Break a leg!”) (“¡No lo puedo creer!” →“You’ve got to be kidding me!”)
“other strategies”
Reduction
🟣 Definition: Removing words or parts of the message without changing its
meaning. (“Durante muchos años, he estado trabajando arduamente para lograr mis metas, lo que me ha
permitido aprender muchas cosas y desarrollarme como profesional.“→ "I have worked hard for years to
achieve my goals.“) ("Es un lugar muy acogedor, con gente amable y un ambiente relajado." → It’s a cozy
place with friendly people.“)
Amplification
🟣 Definition: Adding information that is not in the original text to make the message
easier to understand. (“Paneton” →“Panettone, a traditional Italian Christmas bread”) (“Marinera”

→“Marinera, a traditional Peruvian dance characterized by elegant handkerchief movements”) (“Inti
Raymi” →“Inti Raymi, the Incan Festival of the Sun celebrated every June in Cusco”)
Substitution
Definition: Replacing non-linguistic elements (like gestures or sounds) with words, or
vice versa. (“Está en la flor de la vida” → “She’s in her prime”) (“Se fue al otro mundo” → “He passed
away”)
¿Qué técnica usarías para traducir refranes o proverbios?
¿Crees que usar traducción literal es una buena opción en todos los
contextos?
¿Cuál de todas las técnicas te parece más útil para traducir textos de redes
sociales?
¿Por qué? ¿Crees que es más importante traducir el significado o las
palabras exactas?
How to choose a technique?
It depends on:
• Type of text: literary, technical, legal,
advertising.
• Target audience.
• Intent of the message.
THANKS FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!