La Présentation des Néologismes

Although the presentation of neologisms is the last step to be taken in the translation of new lexical items in scientific and technical texts, it has a significance which should not be overlooked. In the same way as the neologism itself, typography (quotation marks, italics, etc.), explanatory notes and commentaries, can play an important role in giving account of the functional value of the new term in the micro-context in which it is inserted. The translator's function is to weigh up what he considers to be more important and what less important in each particular occurrence of a neologism in a text. Thus, if the neologism is bound to occupy a crucial role in its conceptual area that will affect any future research, it should be treated in a special way. It is clear that, in other cases, the functional value of the term can be perfectly rendered by means of a periphrasis. One way or another, the presence of a new lexical item in the source language should always be pointed out in a target text in which the value of a neologism has a direct influence on its translation and presentation. This article provides some general reflections from a terminological perspective, about the translation strategies to be considered for a variety of cases by means of a series of examples taken from scientific literature.

Published online: 1 January 1997
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.43.2.02ser