Calque (loan translation)
I know that this link I referenced is for those who have a solid understanding of Spanish grammar as it points out the flaws made by those who speak and write Spanish. Ever since I started reading this section Trastorno in the Miami Herald it has proven to be an accurate grammar resource indeed that points out errors often made in Spanish at all levels.
I was really pleased to see this information in the September 27, 2005 edition that addresses 'calques' also known as 'loan translations' a topic that I have studied extensively. This aspect of grammar requires much attention as Spanish continues to be challenged with respect to the English language especially in places where the two languages coexist. The USA is a prime example. Some linguists already consider Spanish spoken in the USA a dialect and the RAE (La Real Academia Española) and its respective governing bodies in various Latin American countries are challenged to keep pace with new words and 'calques' ('loan translations') derived from English. Although many are used in the spoken language it takes years of analysis and study before (and if) the words are approved by the RAE and added to renowned dictionaries.
Here is the piece from Trastorno on September 27, 2005.
Coincidimos con el Sr. José H. Bailez respecto a que es hasta cierto punto lógico y excusable que en nuestra ciudad, Miami, se cometan ciertos errores producto de la constante traducción al español de expresiones en inglés.
Ello se debe fundamentalmente a que, en esencia, lo más importante es la comunicación entre personas cuya lengua principal no es siempre la misma.
Por otro lado, también opinamos que a quienes hablamos español como lengua madre nos toca señalar con tino esos errores para beneficio de todos.
Así pues, siguiendo este precepto, nos hacemos eco de nuestro amigo, quien nos indica un error que encontramos con frecuencia en letreros que advierten sobre posibles riesgos o peligros, al 'calcarse' la expresión inglesa use caution.
No es propia de nuestra lengua la expresión 'use cautela'.
Su equivalente es en realidad 'tenga cuidado'.
--------------------------------------------
What is being discussed is the English phrase 'use caution'. In Miami signs have the Spanish translation as use cautela which is a calque or a literal translation from English to Spanish which results in an incorrect translation. The equivalent Spanish expression is tenga cuidado.
There are many examples of 'calques' used in Spanish which are a literal translation of English phrases but do not retain their meaning or are not a semantic form of the Spanish language and usually are understood only by people who speak both languages. Literal translations from source language to target language may or may not have translation loss however, loan phrases continue to bombard the Spanish language originating from English.
Definition of 'loan translation':
'A form of borrowing from one language to another whereby the semantic components of a given term are literally translated into their equivalents in the borrowing language'.
Some common loan translations or 'calques' are:
Dejar saber (to let someone know).
Ganar peso (gain weight)
Tomar efecto (to take effect)
-there are many more examples of 'calques' used instead of the academic standard Spanish equivalent.
Lexical variants and calques have come into the language over the past decade (and longer) which are now used in the USA as opposed to the traditional academic equivalents but not all words have been accepted by the RAE to date.
LDG.
