The Difficulties of Translating the Specialized Language of Pyrotechnics from English into Hungarian
The Difficulties of Translating the Specialized Language of Pyrotechnics from English into Hungarian

Author(s): Balázs Rappert
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Scientia Kiadó
Keywords: specialized language; pyrotechnics
Summary/Abstract: Our paper discusses the various difficulties a translator may encounter while trying to translate technical texts, especially those dealing with pyrotechnics and the manufacture of artisanal firework products. Such texts have a complex system of terms and expressions, which may prove difficult to understand, let alone translate without a deep understanding of the way these pyrotechnic devices function – even for a professional translator.The first (theoretical) part of our paper focuses on the linguistic characteristics of Languages Used for Special Purposes (frequently used as LSP in the paper) and certain methods and strategies of translation which may help make the translator’s work easier, such as corpus-translation, for example. Furthermore, we discuss frequent issues which arise in such specific scenarios, such as lack of terms of untranslatability.The second (practical) part of the paper is an analysis of a translated sample-text from George W. Weingart’s Pyrotechnics (a comprehensive guide/manual for professional firework-makers and pyrotechnicians). The translation of the 7-page document was done by a professional translator, and during our research we corrected and analysed the different terminological, grammatical, or contextual mistakes that were connected to the technical nature of the text; furthermore, we provided possible solutions for the correction of these mistakes.

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