Generalisation

Generalisation is a translational technique reverse to the lexical transformation of concretisation. It lies in a cross-language transforming of a SL lexical item with narrow semantics into a TL item with broader semantic field. In a lexicological aspect it’s replacement of a concrete notion by a general one, replacement of a specific notion by a generic one. In a semantic plan it looks like broadening or a hyperonymic operation. It is advisable to carry it out when the information ordering degree in the SL item exceeds that in the TL item.

Let us consider the article heading from an English newspaper:

No Hanging Bill.

The article dwells upon the abolishment of capital punishment in Great Britain. Historically executions were carried out there with the use of a scaffold, that is all condemned were hanged. Therefore to the English hanging means capital punishment in general. But the literal translation of the word hanging into foreign languages does not convey its usual sense to the outside world, and the final receptor may misunderstood the expression as a proposal to replace hanging with shooting or electrocution etc. Therefore Ukrainian translation of the phrase is to be the following:

Законопроект про скасування смертної кари.

Having implemented the generalisation technique we effected a cross-language broadening of the translational item’s semantic field. In another words we carried out a hyperonymic operation.

Another example:

Then this girl gets killed, because she’s always speeding. (J.Salinger).

А потім дівчина гине в автокатастрофі, вона повсякчас порушувала правила.

In translating the sentence we used the generalisation technique since violations of the traffic rules apart from speeding include also incorrect parking, ignoring the red light, whatsoever.

The Ukrainian mentality organically perceives the outer world segmenting the reality in its peculiar ways especially when dealing with spatio-temporal dimensions. Ukrainians prefer lexical items conveying broader degrees of measurement. A Ukrainian would usually say: “Я прослужив у війську півтора року”. An English native speaker would utter instead something of the sort: “I have been eighteen months in the military”.

72 hours in Ukrainian translation inevitably is transformed into три дні.

In fiction when the character’s height is described and no accent is placed upon his/her anatomic or athletic peculiarities then it is recommended to use generalisations.

I haven’t seen him since I was fourteen, that’s when I left home he was already six-feet-two. (T.Capote).

Я не бачилася з ним, відколи мені виповнилося чотирнадцять років, але коли я пішла від батьків, він уже був дебелим хлопцем.

So we do in rendering minor realias:

He showed us his old beat-up Navajo blanket…

Він показав нам свою бувалу в бувальцях індіанську ковдру.

Transformations of concretisation and generalisation being the operations that pertain to the speaking and thinking process are based upon the formal logical category of subordination.

The following intelligible figures of concretisation and generalisation represent the formal logical category of subordination

Concretisation

SL TL

Generalisation

SL TL

Assignment. Analyse translation of the following phrases for the purpose of implementing the generalisation technique.

It might seem bizarre in the United States or in the rest of Europe where for years, the directors of the national security and intelligence agencies have been routinely announced.

У Сполучених Штатах та в решті країн Європи це могло б здаватися дивним, бо там керівники національних спецслужб, як правило, називалися у пресі.

…the boy was reading a pulp magazine with intense concentration. (H.Slesar).

… молодик зосереджено читав дешевий журнал.

On the other hand, she did not like the American cross-talking and dancing pair… (J.Priestley).

А втім, вона не полюбляла американський естрадний дует.