Contrastive Analysis of the Footwear Lexicon in Specialized Dictionaries (Spanish-French-English): Lexicographic Needs of Technical Translator from a Multimodal Point of View

Abstract

From an intermediate perspective between linguistics and terminology, the specialized content which is made available to users through dictionaries has undergone an important transformation embracing a new multimodal dimension, in which new specialised translations needs run in parallel. This study aims to provide an updated view of the lexicographical demands of the technical translator from a multimodal approach, by means of implementing non-verbal elements that complement verbal content and satisfy these demands. Nowadays, specialized dictionaries still remain insufficient in terms of documentation and interpretation needs for the translation activity, insofar as the particularities required by the translator differ from the needs of the general public and the specialized reader, to whom this type of consultation tool is generally addressed. Based on our own translating experience, our premise will be demonstrated by means of a lexicographical analysis of two essential specialized terms within footwear field in order to highlight the potential difficulties that lexicographical tools currently continue to present for technical translators, and the importance of using multimodal terminological resources in this regard.