Useful Orthographic Patterns for the Translation of Scientific Terminology from Romanian into English

Abstract

Specialized texts are notoriously difficult to translate, especially when the translator is a philology graduate with no or little experience with a scientific or technical domain. Scientific jargon is particularly complex and difficult at a first sight. However, with experience, one begins to distinguish certain patterns of similarity between languages, Romanian and English in this case, especially when the shared Greek or Latin origins of the scientific terminology are involved, but not only. Such patterns, once identified, prove very useful and reduce considerably the time required to look up terms in a dictionary or an online resource. This article will provide details for the recognition and use of some of the most encountered such patterns of similarity and inform on the difference between apparent equivalencies.

Keywords

• specialized translation
• scientific terminology
• derivation
• spelling
• equivalence