Defining the specificity of technical translation, special translation theory (if we talk about scientific-technical translation) studies three types of factors which must be taken into account while describing translations of certain type. First of all, the particular functional style of a source scientific or technical document itself can influence the type of translation process and require from technical translator use of special methods and ways. Secondly, such source orientation can predetermine stylistic characteristics of the translation text and, thus, necessity for choice of such means of language that characterize the same functional style in the target language during technical translation. And, finally, interaction of these two factors can result in appearance of translation peculiarities themselves which are connected both with common features and differences between linguistic signs of the same functional styles of source and target languages and with special conditions and tasks of technical translation from different languages. Within each functional style we can distinguish some linguistic features which influence on the process and the result of translation is rather significant. For instance, in scientific-technical style, during technical translation these features are lexico-grammatical peculiarities of scientific-technical materials and, first of all, it is the leading role of terminology and special vocabulary. Translation of technical texts is one of the most demanded services in the translation sphere. It’s connected with modern technical development and necessity of constant ensuring such development. Nevertheless, translation of technical texts is characterized by the range of peculiarities which dictate the specificity of translator’s activity while dealing with texts belonging to scientific-technical style which features we would like to describe. Peculiar features of scientific-technical style (it is also applicable to technical interpretation) are its substantiveness, logicality (strict consistency, clear connection between main idea and details), accuracy and objectivity and subsequent lucidity and clarity. All texts of this type tend to use the language means that contribute to satisfaction of needs of this communication sphere. On the vocabulary level technical translation, first of all, implies use of scientific-technical terminology and so-called technicalities. Terms must provide clear and accurate definition of real objects and phenomena, establish unambiguous comprehension of transmitted information by specialists. Uppermost, in translation of technical literature the term must be precise, i.e. it must have strictly determined meaning which can be developed by means of logical definition that removes the place of defined concept in the paradigm of this certain field of science or technique. For the same reason the term must be monosemantic and, in this regard, context-independent. In other words, it must have its own precise meaning which is determined by its definition in all its occurrences in any text, thus, person who uses the term doesn’t have to clarify its meaning in different contexts.
Term precision is directly connected with the demand that every notion should have only one corresponding term, i.e. not to have synonymic terms with corresponding meanings. A term should be the part of strict logical system. Terms meanings and their definitions should conform with the rules of logical classification which clearly distinguishes between objects and notions and doesn’t allow ambiguity or contradictoriness. Besides, any term must have strictly objective definition with no secondary meaning which detracts specialist’s attention adding the element of subjectivity. The wide use of so-called technicalities (which also constitutes one of the scientific-technical style peculiarities) substantially contributes to mutual understanding among specialists. Technicalities are words and word combinations that don’t have characteristic of term to identify notions and objects in a certain area, but which are used almost exclusively in the certain communication sphere, selected by close circle of specialists and common for them. Such vocabulary isn’t usually registered in a dictionary, its meanings aren’t determined by scientific definitions, but such vocabulary is as typical for the scientific-technical style as terminology. Compliance with norms of special vocabulary use sets in front of a translator specific problems during translation process. Scientific-technical materials reveal a large number of grammatical features. Of course, there is no “special scientific-technical grammar”. Scientific-technical speech uses the same phrases and morphological forms as any other functional styles. But a number of grammatical phenomena occurs in this style more frequently than in others and some phenomena, on the contrary, appear in it rather rarely, and other are used only with peculiar lexical content. Common features of scientific-technical statement, mentioned above, inevitably affect syntactic structure of the utterance. Constructions of the type “A is B” are widely used (i.e. simple two-part clauses with compound predicate which consists of a linking verb and nominal part). Hidden definitions are also numerous attributive groups which are widely used in scientific-technical materials. Other significant feature of the scientific-technical style, which influences choice and use of language means, consists also in its tendency to brevity and conciseness of statement, which is expressed, particularly, in rather wide use of elliptical constructions. Designated lexico-grammatical features of scientific-technical materials directly influence the communicative type of such materials, which should be reproduced in translation.
