Cover not available

Article published In: Specialised Translation in Spain: Institutional dimensions
Edited by José Santaemilia-Ruiz and Sergio Maruenda-Bataller
[Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics 30:2] 2017
► pp. 559–591

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

Informational pamphlets for asylum seekers in English

A proposal for simplification in translation based on the Plain Language Movement

 | University of Córdoba
 | Conrad Translations
Published online: 26 March 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.00007.tol
Abstract
The aim of our study is to examine the legal and administrative English used in the informational pamphlet the Spanish Ministry for Home Affairs created to explain Law 12/2009 to international protection applicants. To do so, a linguistic revision of the translated pamphlet was carried out in order to identify the linguistic and discursive elements which make comprehension difficult. Then, using translation techniques developed by Molina, L., & Hurtado Albir, A. (2002). Translation techniques revisited: A dynamic and functionalist approach. Méta, 47(4), 498–512.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, an intralinguistic translation was proposed with the goal of rewriting the text in easily-understandable English. Additionally, errors were classified and corrected in accordance with Toledo Báez’s (Toledo Báez, M. C. (2010). El resumen automático y la evaluación de traducciones en el contexto de la traducción especializada. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, (2015). A new translation technology: Impact of automatic summarisation on the translation of research articles. In S. Izwaini (Ed.), Papers in translation studies (pp. 199–228). Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) analytical assessment scale and the pamphlet’s design was updated. Lastly, the readability of both the original and simplified translations was evaluated using the Flesch Reading Ease Formula.
Resumen
El objetivo de nuestro estudio es analizar el inglés jurídico-administrativo empleado en el folleto informativo que el Ministerio del Interior español elaboró para explicar a los solicitantes de protección internacional la Ley 12/2009. De esta forma, se ha llevado a cabo una revisión lingüística del folleto traducido en aras de identificar los elementos lingüísticos y discursivos que plantean dificultades de comprensión para, a continuación, empleando las técnicas de traducción de Molina, L., & Hurtado Albir, A. (2002). Translation techniques revisited: A dynamic and functionalist approach. Méta, 47(4), 498–512.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, proponer una traducción intralingüística con el fin de conseguir un inglés comprensible. Además, se han clasificado y corregido los errores encontrados conforme a la plantilla de evaluación analítica de Toledo Báez (Toledo Báez, M. C. (2010). El resumen automático y la evaluación de traducciones en el contexto de la traducción especializada. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar, (2015). A new translation technology: Impact of automatic summarisation on the translation of research articles. In S. Izwaini (Ed.), Papers in translation studies (pp. 199–228). Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) y se ha propuesto un formato de folleto más actual. Por último, se ha evaluado la legibilidad de la traducción original y de la traducción simplificada mediante la Flesch Reading Ease Formula.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The Plain Language Movement and plain language translation
  • 3.Analysis, revision and proposal for simplification of the English version of the international protection pamphlet
    • 3.1Methods for revising, correcting, simplifying and calculating readability
    • 3.2Revision, correction, simplification, and modernization of the pamphlet
      • 3.2.1Cover
      • 3.2.2First page
      • 3.2.3Second page
      • 3.2.4Third page
      • 3.2.5Fourth page
      • 3.2.6Fifth page
    • 3.3Results of analysis of readability of original and simplified translation
  • 4.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (28)
References
Askhave, I., & Zethsen, K. K. (2002). Translating for laymen. Perspectives: Studies in Translatology, 10(1), 15–29. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
CEAR. (2016). Informe 2016: Las personas refugiadas en España y Europa [Data file]. Retrieved from [URL].
Delisle, J. (1993). La traduction raisonée: Manuel d’initiation à la traduction professionnelle de l’anglais vers le français. Canada: University of Ottawa.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Etxebarría, M. (1997). El lenguaje jurídico-administrativo: Propuestas para su modernización y normalización. Revista Española de Lingüística, 27(2), 357–375.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Flesch, R. (1948) A new readability yardstick. Journal of Applied Psychology, 32(3), 221–233. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
González-Ruiz, V. (2014). Trying to see the wood despite the trees: A plain approach to legal translation. In L. Cheng, K. Kui Sin, & A. Wagner (Eds.), The Ashgate handbook of legal translation (pp. 71–88). Surrey: Ashgate.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gunning, R. (1952). The technique of clear writing. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hammel, A. (2008). Legal translation, the Plain Language Movement, and English as a lingua franca. In F. Olsen, R. A. Lorz, & D. Stein (Eds.), Language and law: Theory and society (pp. 275–290). Düsseldorf: Düsseldorf University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hurtado Albir, A. (1995). La didáctica de la traducción: Evolución y estado actual. In P. Hernández & J. M. Bravo (Eds.), Perspectivas de la traducción inglés/español (pp. 49–74). Valladolid: University of Valladolid.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jakobson, R. (1959). On linguistic aspects of translation. In R. A. Brower (Ed.), On translation (pp. 232–239). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Studies in Comparative Literature. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Maksymski, K., Gutermuth, G., & Hansen-Schirra, S. (Eds.). (2015). Translation and comprehensibility. Berlin: Frank & Timme.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
McCann, W. (2012). Translating plain language: An inquiry into the nature and strategies for successful plain language translation. Master’s thesis. Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
McLaughlin, G. H. (1969). SMOG grading: A new readability formula. Journal of Reading, 12(8), 639–646.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ministry for Home Affairs. (2011). Asilo en cifras 2010. [Data file]. Retrieved from [URL].
Ministry of Justice. (2011). Informe de la Comisión de modernización del lenguaje jurídico [Data file]. Retrieved from [URL].
Molina, L., & Hurtado Albir, A. (2002). Translation techniques revisited: A dynamic and functionalist approach. Méta, 47(4), 498–512.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Montolío Durán, E. (2011). La situación del discurso jurídico escrito español: Estado de la cuestión y algunas propuestas de mejora. In E. Montolío Durán (Ed.), Hacia la modernización del discurso jurídico (pp. 65–91). Barcelona: Publicacions i Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2013). Democracia y justicia comprensible: La propuesta de clarificación del discurso jurídico en España. Linha d’Água, 261, 51–69. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Newmark, P. (1988). A textbook of translation. Harlow: Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nisbeth Jensen, M. N. (2013). Translators of patient information leaflets: Translation experts or expert translators? A mixed methods study of lay-friendliness. Doctoral dissertation. Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. Retrieved from [URL].
Nord, C. (1997). Translating as a purposeful activity: Functionalist approaches explained. Manchester: St. Jerome.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Plain English Campaign. (1996). The plain English guide to legal writing. London: Robson Books.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Stephens, C. (Ed.). (2010). Plain language in plain English. Vancouver, Canada: PlainLanguageWizardry.com.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Toledo Báez, M. C. (2010). El resumen automático y la evaluación de traducciones en el contexto de la traducción especializada. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(2015). A new translation technology: Impact of automatic summarisation on the translation of research articles. In S. Izwaini (Ed.), Papers in translation studies (pp. 199–228). Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
UNHCR. (2016). Global trends: Forced displacement in 2015. [Data file]. Retrieved from [URL].
Vinay, J. P., & Darbelnet, J. (1995). Comparative stylistics of French and English: A methodology for translation. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

Ruiz-Cortés, Elena
2024. Bringing source text quality into the legal translation classroom: training translators to face defective source texts. The Interpreter and Translator Trainer 18:2 ► pp. 230 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 30 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue