WAYS AND MEANS OF MODAL VERBS TRANSLATION
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 741.
Synopsis 8
The only existing classification system for synonyms was established by Academician V. V. Vinogradov, the famous Russian scholar. In his classification system there are three types of synonyms: ideographic (which he defined as words conveying the same concept but differing in shades of meaning), stylistic (differing in stylistic characteristics) and absolute (coinciding in all their shades of meaning and in all their stylistic characteristics).
A group of synonyms may be studied with the help of their dictionary definitions (definitional analysis). In this work the data from various dictionaries are analysed comparatively. After that the definitions are subjected to transformational operations (transformational analysis). In this way, the semantic components of each analysed word are singled out.
Modality is a category expressing the relation of content to reality. It has common means of realization in English and Ukrainian. These include the lexico-grammatical means (the use of modal verbs).
The modal verb can/could expressing physical or mental ability is usually translated into Ukrainian with the help of the verbs могти, вміти or by means of their equivalents мати змогу/можливість, бути в змозі/мати силу: І saw that he could hardly take his eyes off her. - Я бачив, що він не може/немає сили очей відірвати від неї.
When expressing doubt, distrust, uncertainty, the meaning of can/could is enforced in Ukrainian with the help of the particles невже, хіба or the adverb навряд: Can't you believe me, mother?– Невже ви мені не вірите, мамо?
When expressing the meaning of reproach, surprise or permission the lexical equivalent of the modal verb canin Ukrainian is translated with the help of the verb можна: How can one promise that? - Як можна таке обіцяти?
When the modal verb canexpresses irrefutability of action or assuredness of statement, it may be conveyed in Ukrainian through a definite word-order and sentence stress: There was nothing, the boy could do but run. - Хлопцеві нічого не залишалось, як тікати.
In some contextual environment the modal meaning of can may be expressed in Ukrainian through other modal verbs: How can you talk to me like that.-Як ти смієш зі мною такрозмовляти.
The modal verb may/might expressing permission is usually translated into Ukrainian можна: «Now may І gо? - To що, можна мені йти? or into дозволяти, не заперечувати: May I offer you some fruit?- Не заперечуватимете проти фруктів?
When expressing assumption, probability, wish, advice the verb may/might often acquires modal meaning of Ukrainian particles б, ще/ще й, хай: Let's wait a little more, she might return in a couple of minutes.- Зачекаймо трохи, вона ще прийде за кілька хвилин.
When expressing wish, the meaning of may is conveyed in Ukrainian хай or щоб, initiating the sentences: May they live a long life. - Хай їм щастить.
Must expresses strong obligation, duty, necessity and has its direct lexical equivalent мусити (повинен, треба also can be used): We must eat, we must drink, and we must be merry. - Мимусимо їсти, пити і мусимо завжди бути веселими.
When expressing assumption or supposition, the modal verb mustcorresponds to a contextually fitting modal adverb or a modal particles можливо, очевидно, мабуть, напевно, певне: Hemust be as mad as a hatter! exclaimed the Colonel. - Він мабуть/не як з глузду з'їхав! - вигукнув полковник.; Не must have fallen off when we left the first bull.- Він певне випав, коли ми від'їхали від першого буйвола.
Some probable action expressed by the modal verb must with the negative particle not and the perfect infinitive shows that the action might have been carried out: She must not have followedthe advice. - Вона не повинна була виконувати цю пораду.
Have (to) corresponds to the verb мати as in the following example: Oh, I have to tell you something, mamma. - О, мамо, я маю вам щось сказати. The modal verb have (to) may often become close to the Ukrainian повинен, мусити, треба, потрібно, необхідно.
To be (to) may express obligation or necessity resulting from an arrangement or from a prearranged agreement/plan: According to the agreement, rent was to be paid strictly in advance. -Згідно з угодою, квартплата повинна була сплачуватись обов'язково наперед.
When to be (to) expresses the meaning of inevitability of some action or event, it is translated into Ukrainian as the modal verb мати. «If the thing was to happen, it to happen in this way ...-Якщо вже це мало статись, то воно мало статись саме так, а не інакше.»
The modal verb to be (to) may also be translated as треба: «It was to be expected» Mrs. Mors said gently.- «Цього і треба було чекати»,- стиха промовила пані Морз.
When expressing possibility, to be (to) is translated with the help of можна, мати, or with можливо:There is a good training to be had there. - Там можна пройти гарний вишкіл.
Ought to as well as should expresses moral obligation, presupposition, desirability, advisability etc. It can be translated with Ukrainian слід, потрібно. необхідно: Oh, I've forgotten, I ought to have asked Iris about her cook.- О, а я й забув: я ж мав/ повинен був запитати Айріс про її кухарку.
When ought toexpresses desire or affirmation, assumption, its modal meaning is rendered into Ukrainian through the modal adverbs and modal words певне, напевне, мабуть: She ought to have been thinking about spending her money on theatres already. - Вона мабуть/певне noдумує вже про те, як потратити свої гроші на театр.
The verb need corresponds to Ukrainian треба, потрібно, необхідно:That needs a bit of thinking. - Над цим треба ще трохи подумати.
There may be other contextual meanings as in the sentence below where its Ukrainian equivalent is the modal verb бути повинним/мусити: Well, nobody needn't know about it.- Але ніхтоне повинен будь що знати про це. The meaning of needin this sentence may also be expressed with the help of prosodic means (intonation and stress): Тільки щоб ніхто не знав про це.
The verb dare corresponds to the Ukrainian verbs сміти, наважуватися, насмілюватися:She daren't come here when І was alone. - Вона не сміла/насмілювалася заходити сюди, коли я був сам.
The meaning of dare say/daresay in Ukrainian may be conveyed as вважаю, допускаю, цілком імовірно, смію сказати, не без того, щоб; наважуся сказати/ стверджувати:Mostpeople would say so. І daresay they would.- Більшість так сказали б. Вважаю/гадаю, що сказали б.