The Dimensions of Colloquial American Language and its effects on Translation (Term Paper Sample)

The Dimensions of Colloquial American Language and its effects on Translation
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The Dimensions of Colloquial American Language and its effects on Translation
Introduction
It is important to understand that American colloquial language has been exhibiting different discrepancies amongst different regions, and this has related it to numerous sociolinguistic variables and pragmatic functions (Allen, 1998). This, therefore, makes it difficult to produce it when it comes to translation. It is important to realize that a living language such as English as being a dynamic flow of spoken and written terms which are eternally evolving.
In fact, whenever people use the language they cause it to flow around itself, and this creates new meanings and ways to express. It is important to realize that the term colloquial reflects the dynamics of the language and, therefore, is very obscure as well as ambiguous. In fact, it is critical to realize that although colloquial American English can now easily be found in almost all kinds of contemporary literary works, yet there is no easy mechanism when it comes to identifying it.
Statement and Purpose of the Study
The linguistic system involves derivational processes that add more new words to the existing vocabulary. There are various ways of infusing new words into an existing language. For instance, advertisement and media industry have added several new words into The English language. For instance, The English language has several vocabularies such as Xerox, Orlon, Nylon, and Kodak (Al-azzam et al, 2008). Thus, roots from another language can be used in the coining process of other new words. Eponyms are also used in the coining process of new words in a language. Al-azzam et al (2008) asserts that proper names can coin new words, and this is another way of expanding vocabulary. This paper evaluates the expansion process of English vocabulary using various forms.
English is a Diglossia language with several varieties. American English expands its vocabulary through nouns and lexicalizing names. Colloquial varieties borrow heavily from Standard English versions. The lexicalized stems join the Standard English version as adjectives and verbs. The lexicalized item becomes part of the dictionary vocabulary while the colloquial item is used in the daily usages of the language. After the new items of lexicalized, it is institutionalized and maintains its existence through frequent use and social acceptance in the speech community. Some English names are rooted in the history of American English community. This paper evaluates various colloquial phrases in American languages. The paper also considers the various colloquial expressions in American languages. The paper exemplifies the factors that hinder translation process as well as highlight the success factors that help in the translation process. Idiomatic expressions are frequently used in the American languages and it affects the translation process. Idioms are part of the translation progress that have updated the English language over the years. It is thus one of the building blocks in English language. The paper exemplifies some of the common clichés in American language and evaluates their origin. The paper concludes by identifying the various translation barriers such as subtitling and their various forms of occurrence.
Colloquialism and translation
It is agreed that American Colloquial language has a certain lexical layer that gives it the rank of language that leads to ambiguity as well as miscomprehension. However, the colloquial language can be described as being characterized not only by its use of peculiar use of words but by also by phonetic, syntactical and morphological peculiarities. This often makes it extremely difficult to translate (Allen, 1998). It is important to understand that nowadays, the colloquial language often covers the specific and general sense. Usually it often consists of new words, and extended meanings, and there is also the development of fresh, pungent, and humorous expressions.
The dynamism of the colloquial language is extensive, in fact, according to the linguistic approach, slang is often regarded to as the use of ordinary words in extraordinary senses or extraordinary words when it comes to the ordinary sense. This approach often emphasizes the aspects of novelty as well as the freshness of the slang (Elman, 1995). In fact, the colloquial language often finds amusement in the creation as well as the propagation of new words and in attaching new meanings to the old words.
This, therefore, shows the dynamic nature of the language. In fact, there are those that describe the language as being an experimental language (Allen, 1998). In fact, it is of the essence to realize that the colloquial language is often highlighted and distinguished from the standard language in both its morphology as well as semantics.
Another approach that is used to show the dynamic nature is the stylistic approach. Within this approach, the language is defined as a level of usage. It is often described as the language that is not accepted as good, formal usage by a majority. In brief, colloquial language is at many times put in opposition to formal language.
Furthermore, it is critical to realize that indeed the colloquial language is at many times juxtaposed to other nonstandard varieties. This makes it more dynamic (Allen, 1998). At the moment, the American Colloquial language can be said to be changing at a rapid pace, and therefore, it can be regarded as being short lived or it is accepted in an indefinite manner into the English formal language.
There is a problem when it comes to its translation, and this is because the vocabulary of slang often changes rapidly. In fact, it is of the essence to note that what is new and exciting for one generation might be considered as old fashioned for the text. It is critical to realize that when it comes to old translation slang often either drifts into obsolescence or it becomes accepted into the standard language and this at times loses its eccentric color.
It is important to realize that when it comes to translation of linguistic varieties such as colloquial American English often display forms that rarely have equivalents. These form that are comparable in meaning and scope in a different language. It is critical to realize that indeed relevant theories on translation often state that the translator should assure equivalence of being able to preserve the semantic as well as pragmatic meanings across the two different languages. In fact, the first requirement when it comes to equivalence is the equivalent function. The translator should always be able to keep low semantic and pragmatic transparency this includes polysemy and multi-functionality in the target language (Allen, 1998).
To translate American colloquial language, its lexical complexity should be preserved in the process of translation. Lexical complexity in Colloquial formations is first of all due to a marked, nondiagrammatic relation between the linguistic sign as well as its signature. The cognitive area that is activated by the colloquial term often includes what can be stated as a vast array of extra socio-pragmatic meanings, which often belongs to the restricted community where the slang is used.
Therefore, when it comes to the recreating of the same effect in a different language community, there is a need to create an ‘equivalent' slang formation. However, this is in many cases is impossible. However, it is important to realize that what can be recreated is comparably complex signals relation. There is a need to develop a strong theory of lexical complexity to dig deeper into the colloquial meanings and functions and help develop a more rooted cross-linguistic correlation.
There are several different ways that the American Colloquial language becomes difficult to translate. First it is important to understand that lexicon is viewed as a complex dynamic system. It is dynamic in the sense that in most instances the lexical items are often not static configurations of meaning. However, they can be viewed as fluctuating patterns of interacting systems that reach a state of equilibrium (Allen, 1998). It is further complex because in the sense that its description often requires much information and specifically lexical complexity is a function of several number of cognitive dimensions that are necessary when it comes to the description of possible states.
Semantics and translation
The Colloquial semantics can be described as kind of secondary semiotics which are motivated by the wish to distinguish itself from what can be described as the ordinary use of words and consequently this might be interpreted from its semantic distance from its object as well as what can be described as from the ‘ordinary' semantic function of a certain word (Elman, 1995).
The extension of new meanings in American colloquial language might mean the extension of new meanings to existing forms, and this may increase complexity as well as increase ongoing processing difficult for both the inside participants as well as the outside interpreters (Baker, 1992). It is critical to realize that when it comes to the inside participants, one may predict the complexity and consequent processing difficulty that comes with the connection as well as the negotiation of meaning according to common belonging and similar experience or context. When it comes to the translation of the language, the complexity and difficulty may also be connected with low semantic and pragmatic transparency (Baker, 1992).
It is critical to understand that non-standard language varieties such as Colloquialism often pose serious problems in cultural transition and faithful translation as well. Cross-culturally, it is ofte...