Translation Guidelines: Summary
I. Translation Variations
A. Basic Variations:
Not:
n’t
It is not the case that
Fail/s/ed to
Negation morphemes (“un-,” “im-,” “in-,” “il-,” “ir-,”)
Defined negations (“opposites”: e.g., “win/lose,” “pass/fail”)
n’t
It is not the case that
Fail/s/ed to
Negation morphemes (“un-,” “im-,” “in-,” “il-,” “ir-,”)
Defined negations (“opposites”: e.g., “win/lose,” “pass/fail”)
And:
Both… and
And also
And yet
Yet
But
Although
Even though
Pronouns of relative clauses (“who,” “which”)
Both… and
And also
And yet
Yet
But
Although
Even though
Pronouns of relative clauses (“who,” “which”)
Or:
Either… or
Unless
Either… or
Unless
B. More Complex Phrases
Neither... nor:
We will have neither ice cream nor cake
It is not the case that we will have either ice cream or cake
“Neither P nor Q” = “~(P
Q)”
We will have neither ice cream nor cake
It is not the case that we will have either ice cream or cake
“Neither P nor Q” = “~(P
Q)”Without:
Rex passed chemistry without going the labs
Rex passed chemistry even though he didn’t go to the labs.
Rex passed me without saying “Hi”.
Rex passed me but he didn’t say “Hi”.
“P without Q” = “(P
~Q)”
(Note: “without” can only sometimes be treated this way – generally, in the simplest cases, where the “without” sentence is not embedded inside a larger sentence.)
Rex passed chemistry without going the labs
Rex passed chemistry even though he didn’t go to the labs.
Rex passed me without saying “Hi”.
Rex passed me but he didn’t say “Hi”.
“P without Q” = “(P
~Q)”(Note: “without” can only sometimes be treated this way – generally, in the simplest cases, where the “without” sentence is not embedded inside a larger sentence.)
II. Further Translation Guidelines.
A. Commas
1. Either we'll have ice cream or we'll have cake, and we'll have champagne
Translation: ((P Q) R)
2. Either we'll have ice cream, or we'll have cake and we'll have champagne
Translation: ((P (Q R))
Translation: ((P
Q) R)2. Either we'll have ice cream, or we'll have cake and we'll have champagne
Translation: ((P
(Q R))Moral: the main break is especially likely to have a comma right next to it.
B. Inversion
C. Avoiding Repetition
1. Pronouns:
Rex likes Chemistry but Rex doesn’t like History.
Rex likes Chemistry but he doesn’t like History.
Rex likes Chemistry but he doesn’t like History.
2. “Do,” So,” and “Do so”:
Ace likes kung fu movies, and Rex does too
Rex didn’t catch a fish today, but Neko did yesterday
Suki is hungry, and so is Neko.
Ace likes kung fu movies, and so does Rex
Rex didn’t catch a fish today, but Neko did yesterday
Suki is hungry, and so is Neko.
Ace likes kung fu movies, and so does Rex
3. Compacting:
Compacting to the Left:
Compacting to the Right:
Rex likes jazz music and Ace likes jazz music.
Rex and Ace like jazz music
(Both) Rex and Ace like jazz music.
Rex and Ace (both) like jazz music.
Rex and Ace like jazz music
(Both) Rex and Ace like jazz music.
Rex and Ace (both) like jazz music.
Compacting to both the Left and Right:
