Translation, Sociolinguistic, and Consumer Issues in Interpreting

1. Handling and Incorporation of Idioms in Interpretation

3 Handling and Incorporation of Idioms in Interpretation Roberto R. Santiago and Lisa Frey Barrick The importance of idioms has been identified and discussed by language scholars from many different disciplines such as language acquisition (Lupson, 1984; Boatner & Gates, 1966; Ichikawa et al., 1964; Taylor & Gottschalk, 1960), translation studies (Larson 1984; Horodecka & Osadnik, 1992; Rosenthal, 1978; Vilar-Sánchez, 2002), and psychology (Gibbs, 2002; Keysar & Bly, 1999; Titone & Connine, 1999). All of these authors have noted that idioms are an essential component of language and that mastery of idioms is a determiner of linguistic competence. Therefore, it is surprising that so little empirical research has been conducted on what interpreters do when faced with source language idioms or how they incorporate idioms into their target texts. While there is plenty of discussion in the literature on what interpreters and translators should do (Larson, 1984; Horodecka & Osadnik, 1992; Hatim & Mason, 1997), very little empirical research focuses on what choices interpreters actually make. This chapter discusses interpreters’ actions when working between an idiom-rich language like English and American Sign Language, whose idiomatic tendencies have not yet been fully investigated. The data consist of several interpretations of a single source text by both hearing and Deaf interpreters. Analysis of the data shows how interpreters deal with idioms and how native ASL users differ from second language learners in their interpretations. Our focus is not on interpreter comprehension of source text idioms but rather on what interpreters do with idioms while interpreting. We examine emergent patterns in the interpretations and study the ramifications they have for our work as interpreters. Larson (1984) states that “All languages have idioms, i.e., a string of words whose meaning is different than the meaning conveyed by the individual words” (p. 22). Indeed, several works focus on helping both second language users (Taylor & Gottschalk, 1960; Ichikawa et al., 1964; Lupson, 1984), and native speakers (Rawson, 1995) understand 4 : s a n t i a g o a n d b a r r i c k the wide variety of idioms that occur in language. Writing about figurative language in general, Rawson states, “They are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plain spoken, ever get through the day without using them” (ibid.). Additionally, Horodecka and Osadnik state that “Idioms are not separate parts of language that one either can choose to use or omit, but they form an essential part of the vocabulary of English” (1992, p. 37). These comments support Rawson’s claim that idiomatic language is ingrained in language users. These authors identify idioms as a prevalent linguistic feature. Because interpreters encounter idioms in their work, these expressions are a topic worthy of further research. LITERATURE REVIEW The Functions of Idioms in Language Several authors have discussed the functions of idioms in language in general and in English in particular. Lupson (1984) says, “Idioms can be a most rewarding aspect of language study, offering a fascinating glimpse into the forms of thought unique to a particular language community ” (p. v). Rawson (1995) provides several examples of the ways in which euphemisms are used to discuss delicate topics such as bodily functions, socially awkward situations, and death. Tray (2005) also addresses these topics when discussing indirectness in American Sign Language . These observations lead to a related study of idioms since they are also a way of being indirect. Idioms may be used to discuss taboo topics, but they also spruce up more mundane topics like the weather. In their 1966 book, A Dictionary of Idioms for the Deaf, Boatner and Gates write, “Since idioms are the idiosyncrasies of our language, and they transgress either the laws of grammar or the laws of logic, writers on grammar and language down through the years have given idioms such descriptions as ‘the spice of language’ or the ‘soul of language’” (p. vii). Definition and Perception of Idioms in Discourse Having established that idioms are important to language, we now define and explain how language users perceive them. For this we have adopted Rosenthal’s definition: “1. Idioms consist of at least two or more words, which may or may not be contiguous, inflected or in a specific Incorporation of Idioms : 5 order. 2. Idioms are recurrent constructs. . . . (Some degree of recurrence is necessary to distinguish idioms from metaphors and other style figures )” (1978, p. 1). Horodecka and Osadnik (1992...