Differences in representations between English and French languages in the field of astronautics
- Paper number
IAC-08.E7.1.6
- Author
Mrs. Daphné Tobin, France
- Year
2008
- Abstract
I would like to talk about differences in representations between English and French languages in the field of astronautics. The study will be focused on a few terms extracted from the terminological data-base FranceTerme. The use of synonyms, whether they are shared or not, indicates different ways of naming a same notion and thus nuances in apprehending it. A diachronic study would be another tool to identify disparities in representation. If we trace the history of the designation of a notion in both languages, we could try and point out the grounds for selecting a term over another. The aim will be to gather some significant terms in a further step in order to draw some general tendencies. We may be able to suggest that metaphorical networks (as metaphor is a means to represent abstract notions) are not identical in both languages. Let’s consider two examples to illustrate this general prospect. Let’s compare in a first place the equivalents “fenêtre de l’eau” and “waterhole” or “water hole”. Either designation shows a specific light to grasp this physical phenomenon and suggest a difference in representation between Anglophone and Francophone specialists. This analysis could be prolonged with the study of the equivalents “fenêtre de lancement” and “launch window”. The meaning of “fenêtre” between both locutions seems to be different. Another point could be added to develop the analysis. The Grand Dictionnaire Terminologique displays a number of domains for “waterhole”. This term is used in geology, cartography, mining engineering and means a cavity with water. The astronautics domain however is not mentioned. We should try and check if the meaning of “hole” in this field is similar to its meaning in the other domains and we could also compare the nuances between “hole” in “waterhole” and “black hole” in astronomy, a cognate domain of astronautics. Let’s take another example. There are two French equivalents for “ignition delay”, “délai d’allumage” and “délai d’inflammation”. It is noted in FranceTerme that both terms should be distinguished. The point will be there to identify how the distinction marked by the presence of two terms in French is marked in English.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)