Problems of translation of the English Gerund and its components in different system of languages

This article deals with the translation of Gerund and its components in differentsystem of languages, i.e. Russian and Uzbek. It solves difficulty with the translation of the sentences in different context by using factual examples in it.

Keywords: translation, component, communication, text, target language, motivate, investigation, Gerundial construction, illumination, consideration

Translation is now becoming an important issue in this globalization era. Translation is a process aimed at facilitating communication between speakers of different languages. Translation implies understanding the source text and this requires knowledge of the specific terms of the source and target languages. A good translation not only has to express the same content as the source text but it has to do so in the forms that a native reader of the target language would use. Therefore the production of translation is based on the translators'

The problem of rendering Gerund in different languages has been the subject of many researchers. Such scientists as: T. A. Barabash, T. A. Zhrajevskaya, L. M. Belyaeva, L. S. Barkhudarov, V. D. Arakin. R. V. Reznik and others contributed greatly to the problem investigation. Usually, the Gerund has quite motivated meaning and also has difficulties in translation. Using of Gerundial phrase is sometimes a complicated and vexed process and that's why the foreign and Russian grammarians interpret it in different ways.

The scientist T. A. Zhrajevskaya interprets this problem as follows: The Gerund is used and translated in the function of adverbial modifier of time, manner, attendant circumstances, cause, condition and purpose. In these functions the Gerund is always preceded by prepositions. As an adverbial modifier of time the Gerund is preceded by the prepositions after, before, on (upon), in, at. [1.23]. After the prepositions before and in the Gerund is usually rendered into Russian by subordinate clause.

e.g. In trying to devise ways to improve the machinery of the United Nations the Foreign Secretary displayed real ingenuity. BMT apparatini rivojlantirish maqsadida tashqi ishlar vaziri asl mahoratini korsatdi.

As we have seen in above given example the Gerund is translated into Uzbek by the Uzbek infinitive forms ending -sh, — ish or after the prepositions on (upon) and after the Gerund is rendered in Russian by an adverbial participle in the past. [1–24] For example, the scientist Zhrajevskaya 1 The examples in the Uzbek language are given in the Latin inscription, according to language Law of the Republic gives the following example: After making this statement the minister said he was not going to reconsider his decision.- Vazir o’z qarorini aytib, uni qayta ko’rib chiqmasligini aytdi.

Also Uzbek scientist J.Buranov made a notice: In the function of adverbial modifier the Gerund can be translated by the Uzbek participle (ravishdosh). But there also may be some other variants of translation the Gerund in the function of adverbial modifier of time, depending on word compatibility in Russian for instance a combination of the prepositions with noun: after(on) arriving — after checking. Depending on the prepositions the Gerund is usually translated into Russian by the infinitive or by the subordinate clause. The Gerund with the preposition without is interpreted into Russian by negative form of an adverbial participle with the preposition with noun or by word combination, and by negative form of infinitive. In other cases by verbal noun or by noun [2.170,172]. And translated into Uzbek by participle (ravishdosh) with negative suffixes.

R. V. Reznik illustrates it by the following example: e.g. They promised not to undertake any actions without consulting their partners. Ular o’z hamkorlari bilan maslahatlashmasdan hech qanday ish yuritmasliklariga va’da berishdi. As an adverbial modifier of cause the Gerund is used with the prepositions for fear of; owing to; and translated into Russian by verbal noun, noun or by an adverbial participle and into Uzbek by Uzbek participle (ravishdosh). e.g. He did not dare to make public announcements about this plan for fear of being criticized. Tanqid ostida qolishdan qo’rqib, u reja haqida ochiq e’lon qilishga jur’at etmadi. I dared not to attend the funeral for fear of making a fool of myself. (Coppard). O’zimni noqulay ahvolga tushib qolishdan qo’rqib, janozaga borishga jur’at etmadim.

But V. L. Kaushanskaya distinguishes that the Gerund with preposition of also should be translated into Russian by the infinitive or by noun. e.g. Swithin protruded his pale round eyes with the effort of hearing.(Galsworthy) Suizin gaplarni yaxshiroq eshitish uchun, ko’zlarini kattaroq ochdi. He was born with the gift of winning hearts.(Gaskell) U yuraklarni o’ng’ay zabt etish uchun tug’ilgan edi.

The dual grammatical nature of the Gerund is reflected in the ways of translating it into Russian.

So, the Gerund maybe rendered either by verbal noun or by noun. However, it should be noted in the most cases, the choice of translation variant depends not on the function, but on the lexical meaning, so on the convenient usage of suitable form in Russian [3.111]. In the same function the Gerund may be rendered by infinitive. e.g. The habit of speaking in public. Tinglovchilar oldiga chiqish odati.

By noun: The purpose of speaking in public. Tinglovchilar oldiga chiqish maqsadi.

By Russian adverbial participle: And without waiting for her answer her turned and left us.(Du Maurier). Uning javobini kutmasdanoq, u o’girilib chiqib ketdi.

By a subordinate clause: He regretted now having come (Galthworthy). U kelganiga pushaymon edi.

It should be observed that though the active forms of the Gerund may be rendered in different ways, the passive forms are nearly always rendered by a clause [2.171]. e.g. As she contemplated the wide windows and imposing signs, she became conscious of being gazed upon.(Dreiser) U keng derazalar va salobatli ko’rgazmalarni tomosha qila turib, uni uzatayotganlarini sezdi. After having been informed of the conference in my lady’s room…he immediately decided on waiting to hear the news from Frizinghall (Collins). Xonimning xonasidagi majlis haqida eshitib…u shu ondayoq Frizingholldan yangiliklarni kutishga qaror qildi.

The scientist V. D. Arakin made a notice that the difficulties transferring of the Gerund arise only when there is opportunity of double interpretation and it is necessary to decide, whether we deal with the Gerund or with participle. As a rule, the context prompts enough, what function there is the Gerund in the sentence. e.g. He used to bombard the foreign offices with messages protesting against Russian receiving visas. (R.Parker, Conspiracy Against Peace)

If receiving is a participle, the meaning of all complex will reveal so: Protesting against Russian, receiving visas. It is impossible to consider it suitable. The disclosing of the “–ing” form as the Gerund is much convincingly represented. e.g. The English diplomat protested no against the people receiving visa, but against the fact of issue of visa.

Thus, it is necessary to translate: Protesting against Russian the visas were given out The Gerund may be used in various syntactic functions. A single Gerund occurs but seldom; in most cases we find a Gerundial phrase or a Gerundial construction. A Gerundial construction is nearly always rendered in Russian by a subordinate clause, generally introduced by, etc [2.180]. e.g. His being a foreigner, an ex-enemy was bad enough. (Aldington) Uning xorijiy va sobiq yov bo’lishining o’zi yomon edi.

If we consider that being drawn is participle in the function of an attribute, so it should be rendered in this way. It is impossible to consider it suitable. So after analyzing Gerundial phrase or construction we established that the English Gerund is rendered in Russian in different ways. In Modern English language in Gerundial phrases the tendency to elimination possessiveness after a noun and replacement of possessive pronoun by objective, personal pronouns are observed: e.g. I hope you don’t mind me coming? — asked Kit. (J.Lindsay).

The above mentioned tendency may be explained by the fact, that the using of the possessive construction and possessive pronouns is of the dual nature, if the Modern English language norms are taken into consideration; they are aiming at the attributive relations expression; the Gerund is not a noun, but a verb. Besides subject-predicative relations are expressed between the Gerundial complex components, and they are quite different [5–31].

We’ve analyzed the Gerund in Russian translations of the book by C. S. Lewis “The Silver Chair” (19), and “The Lion, the Which and the Wardrobe” (20).

We’ve found the translation of these books by Shaposhnikova and Ostrovskaya. These books are under the edition of N.Trauberg [6.20]. One can see that the authors of the translation used a free technique of translation without paying any attention to the grammar and Russian equivalents. At first we’d like to consider the translation of the Gerund, which is rendered by other Russian parts of speech [7; 22]. There are:

Without speaking — молчание,

for looking while — победил,

for not liking — не любит,

she couldn’t help thinking — ей казалось.

Let nothing turn your mind from following the sights!

Не забывай о знаках!

The sound of waves breaking on the store was growing louder

Звуки прибоя становились громче.

We should say that, after analyzing Gerund, Gerundial phrase or construction we established that the English Gerund is rendered in Russian and Uzbek in different ways.

So, rendering Gerund in Russian is ambiguous and difficult for a student. If the translator followed the rules, the translation should be awkward and in understandable for the reader. By this way we want to give a little our own contribution in the analysis of this problem.

References:

1. Бонк Н. А., Лукъянова Н. А., Памухина Л. Г. Учебник английского языка. В 2-х томах. — Москва — Харьков: Деконт — Торсинг, 1997–311 стр. — Т2.
2. Верба Л. Т. Грамматика современного английского языка. — К.: Знание, 2001–370 стр.
3. Жималенкова Т. М., Мыльцова Н. А. Универсальный справочник по грамматике английского языка. — М.: ГЛОССА, 1997 0 250 стр.
4. Зражевская Т. А., Беляева Л. М. Трудности перевода с английского языка на русский. — М.: Международные отношения, 1972–56 стр.
5. English for daytime students. Под ред. Лебедовича В. А. К.: Таврия, 2001–100 стр.
6. Lewis C. S. Book 4 in the chronicles of Narnia The Silver Chair. — N.Y.: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1970–218. V4.
7. Льюис Клайв, Лев, колдунья и платяной шкаф. Перевод с английского Островская Т. — М.: Вариант, 1992–128 стр.