Technical Translation: Usability Strategies for Translating Technical Documentation

Conclusions 
There are numerous translation strategies available to translators such as 
modification, transposition, paraphrasing, literal translation, calquing etc. All 
of these strategies are essential at various times when dealing with various 
different texts. The problem facing us as translators is that depending on 
which theory of translation we subscribe to, one or more of these strategies 
may be prohibited, or at best, inconsistent with the spirit of the particular 
theory. Indeed, these strategies are so different in terms of their effects that 
it seems impossible that they could be comfortably incorporated within a 
single “theory”. For example, the more formal linguistic approaches might 
have difficulties in permitting the use of paraphrasing, primarily because 
they do not regard paraphrases as “real” translations. With approaches based 
on formal equivalence at its most conservative, anything other than word-
for-word translation would be unacceptable. Similarly, it is conceivable that 
if we rigorously pursue the goal of dynamic equivalence as described by 
Nida, we would be prevented from using calques or introducing loan-
words. Yet as translators, we use virtually all of these strategies at various 
stages, sometimes even within a single project, text or paragraph. And this 
seems to be part of the problem with much of the literature on translation, 
namely that a translator can have one overall aim for the translation, for ex-
ample a target-orientated translation, but still use approaches and strategies 
ranging from literal translation to radical paraphrasing, addition and omis-
sion without compromising the communicative purpose of the translation 
process. 
The idea that no one theory of translation, e.g. free, literal, formal, dy-
namic etc., can completely explain technical translation is borne out by 
Skopos theory. Nord (1997:29) explains that the Skopos of a particular 
translation project might require either “a free or a faithful translation, or 
anything in between... depending on the purpose of the translation”. In-
deed, within a given text, we may need to switch frequently between literal 
and free translation for individual phrases, sentences or paragraphs. 
It would seem, then, that the easiest way of maintaining all of the tools 
and strategies in the translator’s repertoire is to adopt a communicative ap-
proach to translation like that proposed by Gutt but without the ambiguity 
as to constitutes a translation. After all, texts are written to communicate in-
formation and translations are no exception. Thus, Skopos theory would 
seem to provide a more flexible framework which ensures that the strategies 
and techniques of translation can be used legitimately wherever the transla-
tor deems it to be appropriate. We simply select the appropriate strategies 

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Conclusions 45 
depending on the Skopos for the project and the text. As Nord maintains, 
“the translation purpose justifies the translation procedures” (1997:124). 
This is not without its problems, however, particularly as translators are 
left to make decisions which can be regarded as, at best, reasoned but 
ad 
hoc
, or at worst, subjective. But this problem is inherent to all theoretical 
approaches to translation and is not unique to Skopos theory. However, it 
is my view that Skopos theory is the only approach that truly acknowledges 
obligations of translators. 
To conclude this chapter, it is worth restating some of the more impor-
tant areas that need to be considered when translating technical texts: 
1. we need to concentrate on the needs of the target audience this is who 
the translation is produced for and these are the judges of whether a 
translation is actually good or not; 
2. we need to understand what it is the target audience needs and wants; 
3. we need to understand how technical communication works in the tar-
get language if we are to produce independent. autonomous texts that 
can “compete” with other texts produced in that language; 
4. we need to remember that it is necessary to add, change or remove in-
formation as part of the translation process in order to achieve effective 
communication via a technical text. 
In the following chapter we will look more closely at the field of techni-
cal communication and in particular at the nature of user guides. Only by 
examining and understanding the circumstances under which such docu-
ments are produced and the environment in which they are used can be 
begin to understand what it is a technical translator needs to achieve in or-
der to make translations function as originals. 
the professional reality of translating and the demands, expectations and

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Chapter 2