C2 · Unit 8
Calques: when imported wording gets in the way
Replace unnatural calques without rejecting every established borrowing.
New words
calque
collocational compatibility
feel for language
literal transfer
foreign-language model
natural collocation
established borrowing
inappropriate translation
bear responsibility
make a decision
pay attention
raise an issue
takes time
have in mind
take notes
owe an explanation
take account of context
sounds foreign
Grammar
Check meaning, collocation and register before labelling something wrong. Bulgarian combines "decision" with "вземам"
and "responsibility" with "нося"
. Foreign origin alone does not make a word bad. Spelling and appropriateness are different questions.
Окончателното решение ще вземем след срещата.
We will make the final decision after the meeting.
Обърни внимание на това кой носи отговорност за превода.
Pay attention to who bears responsibility for the translation.
Examples
Не всяка заемка е грешка и не всяка калка е неуместна.
Not every borrowing is a mistake, nor is every calque inappropriate.
Подготовката изисква време, дори когато текстът е кратък.
Preparation takes time even when the text is short.
Какво имаш предвид под «достъпен език»?
What do you mean by "accessible language"?
Води си бележки, но не копирай словореда на оригинала.
Take notes, but do not copy the word order of the original.
Екипът пое ангажимент да отговори до петък.
The team undertook to reply by Friday.
Поставихме въпроса за заглавието, без да обвиняваме преводача.
We raised the issue of the title without blaming the translator.
Нашият вариант запазва смисъла, но звучи по-естествено.
Our version preserves the meaning but sounds more natural.
Дължим на читателя обяснение, не списък със забрани.
We owe the reader an explanation, not a list of prohibitions.