Translation: Syntax erros

TRANSLATION: SYNTAX ERRORS

ANGEL GOMEZ URIARTE

ADVISOR ARTHUR IDE

CESAR VALLEJO UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to show the importance that has syntax in translation. Each
language has its own grammatical rules. In many cases, they are not the same. The translator
must master the source and target language syntax in order to make a good, efficient, and
coherent translation. Any translator can translate a word literally or wordforword. This
research is the result of reading many Spanish grammar books and motivation of my teacher
Arthur Ide, who is contributing to our education.

Keywords: Grammar, syntax, word order, syntax errors, sentences

TRANSLATION: SYNTAX ERRORS

INTRODUCTION

Each language has its own grammatical rules. In many cases, they are not the same. For example,
in the Spanish language the subject comes before the verb: Yo amo a mama. It is a simple
sentence; however, in the Lakhota language the subject precedes the verb (Valin, 2001, p.2).
However, not only languages have their own rules. Computers also use their own language made
up of combinations of 1 and 0. Programming languages include Visual Basic, PHP, Java Script,
etc. Each has its own grammatical rules.

Grammar plays an important role in constructing the bases for programming languages.
Grammar helps create programming language structure bases in order to develop syntactic
specifications that allow the detection of syntax and code errors 1. This process is possible for
syntactic analyzers that function by examining codes that enter into a computer to determine if
they are correct. This involves correcting inappropriate formats (for example: someone typed
an e-mail address using the word dotcom instead of .com)2 when these rules have violated syntax

1 Es la fase del analizador que se encarga de chequear el texto de entrada en base a unagramtica
dada. Y en caso de que el programa de entrada sea vlido, suministra el rbol
sintctico que lo reconoce.

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or formatted code. This happens in all languages. A syntax error in computer programming has
the same result as in human languages.

Syntax errors in programming computers are more visible as all computers use a binary system.
For example: 3:50 is different than writing $3.50 3. The first one refers to time and the second one
refers to money. This example shows that forgetting or ignoring rules of punctuation let syntax
errors occur. These brief examples give us an important point of what the syntax really studies.
Here are some definitions:

The study of syntax requires knowledge of the rules that govern a sentence (Ide, 2013). This is
true, but I would like to add something more: Syntax does not only study the rules of a sentence,
but how a sentence is structured, also involves wordorder and punctuation.4

If we take into account the ancient word Greek syntaxis, it means to arrange or set out together.
(Valin, 2001, p.1) Arrange what? The answer is obviously. Syntax correlates to create
2

The correction of syntax involves correcting formats, syntactical structures, not only in

computers but also in languages.

Numbers also have their own rules and conventions; 335 can mean many things depending on

context, such as $3.35 US Dollars (USD) indicating cost and being distinct from 3:35 pm, that
shows a certain time.

4 Punctuation is an important aspect in syntax because it is allows determining the mark in the
text. For more information see oxfords dictionary online: www.dictionary.com.

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expressions and phrases, but these expressions and phrases have a defined structure according to
the language. For example, in the Spanish language, a sentence can have two or more wordorders without changing the sense and meaning of it.

Consider this example:

This sentence presents the following word-order: subject verb. Direct object adverb of time.
El avin llega hoy
A sample sentence can be structured in different ways as we read here: Example 1
a)
b)
c)
d)

llega hoy el avin

hoy llega el avin
el avin hoy llega
hoy el avin llega

These four sentences mean the same even though the order has changed; the sense is the same.
This is because the Spanish language is flexible and allows free syntactical constructions
(Ramirez, 1984, p.6). These sentences can be named a well-formed sentence or grammatical
sentences (Valin, 2001).
Consider this example:
Example 2
a)
b)
c)

El hoy llega el avin

Avin hoy llega el
Hoy avin llega el

These three sentences do not make sense even when there are four main categories: subject, verb,
object and adverb of time. However, these sub-examples show us that syntactical constructions
are not correct; in other words, the Spanish language is a flexible language when it follows the

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logic of language. (It also means that Spanish is not truly flexible, but has definite rules.) This is
what (Valin, 2001, p.3) calls: ungrammatical sentences (ill- formed).

The question emerges: Why does the Spanish language allows sentences like: (Example 1): a, b,
c, d and not sentences like: (Example 2): a, b, c? The question is not simple to answer. First, we
have to understand that the subject (avin in the Spanish language is not recognized by location
in the sentence but for its function in the sentence). Second, for a sentence to be considered as an
ungrammatical sentence it has to violate some syntactic rules and principles: in this case, the
logic of language.

This drives the conclusion that in a language there are possible formats for sentences
(grammatical ungrammatical) and it is grammar that provides the rules that allows separating
or distinguishing grammatical sentences from ungrammatical sentences. (Greene, 1980, p. 23).
Syntax can be defined as rules that allow the coherent and understandable formation of
grammatically correct sentences in language.

SYNTATIC ERRORS IN JOURNALISTIC TEXTS

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Mistranslations in journalistic texts also occur when language rules are violated. These errors
occur when the translator is unfaithful to the syntax of the source language; 5 but attempts to use
word-for-word translation process. For example, let us consider this headline translation:

"Charges For Persons Meeting Medical Indigence Criteria May Be Waived Or Reduced."
Costos A Personas Que Califican Como Indigentes Pueden Ser Reducidos O Anulados.6

The error in the following example stems from the fact that, in English, a noun in the subject
position (charges) is not preceded by an article (the). In Spanish, nouns in the subject
position have to be preceded by an article (Los costos)

Suggested translation
A Las Personas Que Califican Como Indigentes, Se Les Puede Reducir O Anular Los Costos.

This is a brief example of how grammatical structures change in different languages. We cannot
translate any word or document literally: word-for-word. The main problem in translating
journalistic texts is that many translators do not know the syntax of the source language. To
understand syntax and explain its structure, it is necessary to define what is (or constitutes) a
sentence (Loffredo, 2012, p. 5-6).

Errors in translation are more visible in syntax. This is due to the translator wants to translate

the verbatim, in other words, a word forword translation.

6This example shows us a literal translation that consists in translating each word.

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Another important thing that translators forget when translating headlines is that each newspaper
headlines has its own special rules and regulations. This is the reason why translators find it
difficult to translate headlines. As Fairclough (1995) says, "Headlines have distinctive syntactic
properties, which make them a grammatical oddity" (as cited by Khodabandeh, 2007, p.).

Others headline mistranslations occur when the writer of the soruce language has made a syntax
error. For example,this headline: Hallan frutas con hongos para hacer panetones. 7 This headline
says something that is wrong. It should have been written down: Hallan panetones para hacer
frutas con hongos. What this sentence really wants to say is that fruits with mushrooms are not
good for human comsuption, and not that mushrooms are used for preparing panetones. This
example show us that when a writer in the source langauge does not have a high level of
understanding syntax, there is a posibility that his/her writing will be misundertood and
mistranslated into target languages.

A bad choice of word-order appear in headlines because of mistranslations. This is because

sometimes syntactic rules of language are not followed. Problems occur when the word-order is
altered or change. When this happens the sense of the sentence changes and makes readers do not
understand what they are reading. For example,this headline: Gianmarco festejar sus 20 aos
cantando8. If this sentence is translated correctly the result is this: Gianmarco will celebrate his
20 birthday singing. However, what the headline really wants to say is that Gianmarco is going
to have a great party for his 20th year of his artistical career. When translating a headline the
translator has to take into account what it is written in the text, in this case what the news reports.
7 A bad choice of word order make mistranslation occurs. This is why many mistranslations have
caused great changes in the history.

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In this example it can be noticed that if the translator does not choose the correct word-order, the
translation can have more than one meaning. For example , in this sentence:

Gianmarco festejar sus 20 aos cantando

The sentence presents Syntax ambiguity that carries more than four interpretations.

1-

Gianmarco is celebrating his 20 birthday

2-

Gianmarco has never stopped singing ( he has been doing this activity for 20 years

without taking a rest)

3Gianmarco is celebrating someones 20 birthday whose name is not mentioned.
This leads to the conclusion that translation requires a very high level of understanding the
source and target level. Not only words, but grammar. This involves syntax and word formation
(morfology). Correct choice of word-order is definitely important to avoid Syntax ambiguities.

SYNTAX ERRORS BY USING GOOGLE TRANSLATOR

Automathic translation (google translator) is not a good choice for translating academic papers.
The problem is that any document cannot be translated coherent, precissely and correctly by
using this kind of translation. For example , in these sentences :

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1.
2.

El gato comi carne / ate the black cat meat

Los nios juegan en el parque/ children playing in the park

All these sentences were translated by Google translator. As I mentioned before syntax studies
the rules that govern a sentence, but in adition, studies the function that words have in a sentence.
These previous sentences were structured badly. Google translator translated literally with taking
into account the wordorder or function of words in sentence.

Let us analyse one of the examples

1 El gato comi carne

According to the typical structure of a sentence in spanish language the verb preceeds the
subject. This typical structure is subject + verb + complemtent ( sujeto + verbo + objeto + modo
+ lugar + tiempo). To analyse this sentence I will use the syntactical model of Chomsky
(Greene , 1890 , p.32)

1. O ( oracin )

FS (frase sustantiva) + FV(frase verrbal)

2. FS

art (articulo) + S ( sustantiva)

3.FS

4. FV

V(verbo) + FS

5. FV

6. FV

V + adj (adjetivo)

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7. S

juana, nio, perro, perros, etc,

8V

gusta, golpea, golpear, vino, fue, etc

9. adj

bueno, desafortunado, etc.

10. art,

un el

1O

FS + FV

2 FS

art (artculo) + S (sustantivo)

5 FV

3 FS

This is the correct form of the sentence: El gato negro comi carne

10 art

el

7S

gato

8V

comi

7S

carne

Now , we will see the same sentence translated into english by using Google translator

Ate the cat meat

8V

ate

10 art

the

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7S

cat

7S

meat

As you can notice , this sentence does not make any sense.Now lets see the correct version of
the sentence in English

10 art

The

7S

cat

8V

ate

7S

meat

As you can notice, no machine translation can replace human translators, even in the most simple
example that I have shown , the process of automatic translation is not recommended for real
and compentent transaltors.8
CONCLUSION

What it is required to correct these problems , especially in syntax , is that translators must take
seriously what it really means transaltion. Tranalstion requires a lot of knowledge not only in
culture or ideological aspects , but also in grammatical aspects.

8 No machine can replace humans. To think that machines can replace humans has been a great
mistake. This is why many of translations are not coherent, precisely, accuracy translated. For
more information see: www.arthuride.com

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Another point to have in mind , is that before to learn a new language , it is required to have a
deep knowledge about the logic of language ( syntax) , the way you speak is the way you write.
Any translator can make a precise , coherent and accurate transaltion if he/she does not have a
very high knowledge in grammar. For last , grammar is the art of writing well , so it is required
that translators must take coruses in grammar.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Greene, J. (1980). Psicolingstica: Chomsky y la psicologa. Mxico: Trillas

Hernn, L. (1984). Introduccin en la gramtica del espaol contemporneo. Lima:
Ediciones Sagsa.
Ide, A. (2013). Translation, Interpretation and the Misuse of words to start wars and
create hate. Retrieved from http://www.arthuride.com/translation-interpretation-and-themisuse-of-words-to-start-wars-and-create-hate/ Accessed 6 November 2013.
Khodabandeh, F. (2007). Analysis of students' errors: the case of headlines. The Asian ESP
journal, 3(1). Retrieved from http://asian-esp-journal.com/April_2007_fk.php Accessed 6
November 2013.
Loffredo, C. (2012). Mastering Grammar: The Sum of All Those Errors: Syntax, Usage,
and Mechanics. Bloomington: Author house.
Valin, R. (2004). An introduction to syntax. United Kingdom, UK: The press syndicate of
the University of Cambridge.

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