In translation, we often come across the fact that there is a direct equivalent of a word, but it sounds odd, too generic, or simply does not convey the right connotation.
This is where one of the key translation transformations comes into play — concretization.
Сoncretization is the shift from a more general concept to a more specific one. If generalization represents movement up the ladder of abstraction (for example, using “flower” instead of “tulip”), concretization moves downward: from the general to the particular (“tulip” instead of “flower”).
In some cases, concretization is required because the target language simply lacks a neutral, stylistically appropriate equivalent.
Example:
meal — in most contexts, rendering it as “meal” in the sense of “приём пищи” sounds unnatural in Russian, so the translator specifies it as “завтрак,” “обед,” or “ужин.”
Here concretization is not strictly necessary, but desirable, as it allows for greater semantic or stylistic precision.
For example, the English word friend may correspond to “друг,” “подруга,” or even “приятель/знакомый”. If the original refers to light, informal interaction, translating it as “друг” may sound overly serious. In such cases, concretization — “приятель,” “знакомый,” “boyfriend/girlfriend” — may be more appropriate, depending on the context.
Concretization may also help to enliven the text and convey the author’s stylistic intent.
– noisy → “шумный” (general), but contextually “горластый”;
– fight → “сражение,” but in colloquial usage “драка,” “буча,” “заварушка”.
Some languages possess a wider range of lexical distinctions than others. For instance, English has several verbs meaning “to shine” (sparkle, glitter, gleam, shine), whereas Russian mainly uses “блестеть” and “сверкать.” To compensate for this loss of nuance, a translator may employ more precise and concrete wording elsewhere in the text in order to preserve its overall richness and expressiveness.
! Caution: concretization can be erroneous.
If the translator specifies something the author did not intend, a semantic error occurs. For example, replacing “flower” with “tulip” when the original text actually refers to a rose.
In interpreting, concretization is also common, but it requires particular caution. When religious affiliation is mentioned, it is important not to over-specify: a “Christian” is not necessarily “Orthodox,” and a “Jew” is not necessarily “Orthodox.” In such cases, it is safer either to clarify or to remain at a more general level.
Concretization is not merely the selection of a synonym, but a deliberate translational choice. It helps to:
• convey meaning more precisely;
• preserve stylistic nuance;
• make the text vivid and expressive.
Like any translation transformation, concretization requires a sense of proportion and a deep understanding of context.
We have had the pleasure of working with Elena and her team at Lingvista for the past 2+ years on projects including written translation, consecutive and simultaneous interpretation from English to Russian...
