This dictionary has been compiled primarily for the Hungarian user. That (and considerations of space) is the reason why the grammatical categories (parts of speech) of the Hungarian entry-words have generally not been indicated, with the exception of some homonyms (i.e. words which differ in origin and meaning but are identical in form, e. g. fog), as well as some entry-words which belong to two or more grammatical categories (e.g. togas). If there are different English equivalents for the intransitive and transitive meanings of the Hungarian verb, the necessary indications are given (e.g. bir).

To save space the declension of the Hungarian entry-words is not given. The foreign user may find this in the larger dictionaries of the Hungarian language. Tne 22 principal suffixes used in the declension of Hungarian nouns are, however, enumerated, together with their most frequent English equivalents and with numerous examples, in Appendix II on page 1155.

Where the Hungarian entry-word has more than one meaning or the particular meaning configuration and usage is restricted, italicized Hungarian guiding words are inserted in parentheses. If there is a colon at the end of the word in parentheses, then the italicized Hungarian guide-word refers to the applicability, the particular sphere of usage of the Hungarian entry-word and its English equivalent, e.g. 61: (diszntt:) sty, (kutydi:) kennel, (baromjii:) hen-house. If there is no colon after the italicized Hungarian guide-word(s) in parentheses, then (with the exception of the abbreviations vk, vm, etc.) this guide- -word serves merely to identify, to re-define the particular meaning of a Hungarian word that has several meanings. E.g. nyavalyog : 1. (betegeskedik) 2. (siránkozik)  

3. (bajUdik)       

English nouns with an irregular plura have a special symbol ° attached which refers the Hungarian user of the dictionary to Appendix I dn page 1153 where all English nouns having an irregular plural form are given in alphabetical order. The symbol is not placed after these nouns when they occur in the context of a phrase in which they cannot be used in the plural. The letters (pl) are placed after an English plural noun which is given as the equivalent of a Hungarian singular. If the Hungarian entry- -word itself is in the plural then its English equivalent in the plural is given without the said abbreviation.

It is sometimes useful to view the vocabulary of a language as a set of words referring to a series of conceptual fields. These fields reflect the divisions and sub-divisions ‘imposed’ by a given linguistic com­munity on the continuum of experience.4 In linguistics, the divisions are called semantic fields. Fields are abstract concepts. An example of a semantic field would be the field of speech, or plants, or vehicles. A large number of semantic fields are common to all or most languages. Most, if not all, languages will have fields official Hungarian certificate translation of DISTANCE, SIZE, SHAPE, TIME, EMOTION, BELIEFS, ACADEMIC SUB­JECTS, and natural phenomena. The actual words and expressions under each field are sometimes called lexical sets.5 Each semantic field will normally have several sub-divisions or lexical sets under it, and each sub-division will have further sub-divisions and lexical sets. So, the field of speech in English has a sub-division of verbs of speech which includes general verbs such as speak and say and more specific ones such as mumble, murmur, mutter, and whisper. It seems reasonable to suggest that the more detailed a semantic field is in a given language, hungarian intensive course budapest the more different it is likely to be from related semantic fields in other languages. There generally tends to be more agreement among languages on the larger headings of semantic fields and less agreement as the sub-fields become more finely differen­tiated. Most languages are likely to have equivalents for the more general verbs of speech such as say and speak, but many may not have equivalents for the more specific ones. Languages understand­ably tend to make only those distinctions in meaning which are relevant to their particular environment, be it physical, historical, political, religious, hungarian english copywriter cultural, economic, legal, technological, social, or otherwise.

Before we discuss how an understanding of the nature and organ­ization of semantic fields might be useful in translation, let me first

Equivalence at word level 19

spell out the limitations of semantic fields as a concept. The idea of semantic fields is, in many cases, inapplicable and is an over­simplification of the way language actually works. A large number of words in any language defy being classified under any heading (Carter and McCarthy, 1988; Lehrer, 1974). Words like just, never­theless, and only, to name but a few, cannot be easily filed under any particular semantic field. The idea of semantic fields works well hungarian language course budapest price eur euro ft enough for words and expressions which have fairly well-defined propositional meanings, but not for all, or even most of the words and expressions in a language.

Limitations aside, there are two main areas in which an understand­ing of semantic fields and lexical sets can be useful to a translator:

(a)  appreciating the ‘value’ that a word has in a given system; and

(b)  developing strategies for dealing with non-equivalence.

(a) Understanding the difference in the structure of semantic fields in the source and target languages allows a translator to assess the value of a given item in a lexical set. If you know what other items are available in a lexical set and how they contrast with the item chosen by a writer or speaker, you can appreciate the significance of the writer’s or speaker’s choice. You can understand not only what something is, but also what it is not. This is best illustrated by an example.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR TRANSLATORS

A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR TRANSLATORS that of the non-Japanese sumo wrestler Konishiki. Despite having won the requisite number of tournaments to become a yokozuna or Grand Champion, Konishiki lacks the vital element essential to become a Grand Champion sumo wrestler - a quality called hinkaku. Loosely translated, it means "dignity-class" and it is sumo's Catch 22. To become successful in sumo, you need to have hinkaku. But since only Japanese are supposed to understand the true meaning of hinkaku, only Japanese can become Grand Champions.) Relevancia

You will have enough problems to wrestle with but the opportunity to work as a staff translator will smooth your path.

 

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