Intertextuality and the role of semantic markers in the translation of specialized sociological texts

Abstract

The article deals with intertextuality in the translation aspect. The role of semantic markers in translating specialized, including sociological texts has been defined. There are inherent features inherent in semantic markers, which can increase or, conversely, reduce the reader’s ability to gain full access to their content, such as vocabulary-specific or terminology, and to traditional text formats. Explicit intertext communication or citation, the inclusion of other texts in the construction of a specialized text as a traditional intertextual format, which is a distinctive characteristic of the writing of specialized texts, especially scientific ones, is explored. Attention is focused on citations, which are mainly used for interpretation, and it is shown how semantic markers can be useful for a translator of specialized sociological texts in the phase of analysis of the text preceding the translation. People who are not specialists in a particular field, such as specialized text translators, may have problems with a full understanding of the content of specialized texts, especially if the latter is written by a specialist in this field for the professionals in the same field. It is emphasized that semantic markers behave like ‘interactive resources’ that allow the text writer to control the flow of information, satisfying possible needs for additional information from ‘imaginary’ readers. As semantic markers, citations acquire a double dialogic property: they are oriented toward authors of previous texts, on which they refer, and with which they work on the meaning of terms, but they also "interact" with the reader, reacting to possible questions or possible needs for more accurate semantic or conceptual information.