Tradução e Ciência - Algumas considerações

Abstract

The object of this article is to discuss certain problems encountered in the translation of a series of 13 essays named Black Holes and Baby Universes by the British physicist Stephen Hawking, written between 1976 and 1992, and published by Rocco Publishers in 1994. In order to do that, we analysed some examples mentioned in a review by Professor
C. A. dos Santos, from UFRGS, published in the Zero Hora newspaper in 1995.

The examples that were analyzed confirm the need for careful revision in the translations of scientific texts, when the translator is not familiar with the jargon to be used. Many believe that these types of texts only depend upon formulae and calculations, which is not really the case, because the objectivity and precision of the linguistic component, the accuracy of the content and the use of appropriate terms generally accepted by the scientific community are very important in maintaining the true meaning of the original text. If the above steps are not followed, the reader who has not read the original will accept the translation as such, therefore being exposed to inaccuracy.