www.iti.org.uk ITI BULLETIN January-February 201911
The literal translation of lavoro nero is ‘black labour’. However, a word-for-word translation is clearly not possible. For one thing, it could be taken literally to refer to black workers. For another, even if used metaphorically (as in the English term ‘black market’), it might be seen as offensive.
In practice, translators have three options. And with all of these, it’s helpful to refer to the documents produced by the European Commission, which are translated into the official languages of the member states.
First option: ‘moonlighting’
One term which conveys a roughly similar idea is ‘moonlighting’.
Italian Version
‘[…] nonché a forme di subappalto e di lavoro interinale transfrontaliero, come pure di lavoro nero, che ostacolano seriamente un trattamento adeguato dei lavoratori migranti o frontalieri’ (emphasis added)
English Version
‘[…] forms of subcontracting and cross-border temporary work, and illegal moonlighting, which are a serious obstacle to the proper treatment of migrant or border workers’ (emphasis added)
The main problem with this term is that it is commonly used merely to mean a second job, which is not necessarily illegal. Significantly, in the example above, EU translators have used the terminology ‘illegal moonlighting’, to make it clear that a legal form of moonlighting also exists. So it is not the best option, if more appropriate one can be found.
O
ne of the many challenges intranslation relates to
specialised texts. Terminology acquires specific meanings in each language, which means that we translators can be faced with a range of different terms that might each be appropriate for the concept we are translating. Opting for one word or another may affect the target audience’s perception and convey a different idea of the original.
So what happens when we are faced with documents from overarching international bodies? One example in my own field, industrial relations, concerns the
Italian concept of lavoro nero – which loosely refers to work performed illegally – and its English translation. More specifically, the European Commission defines lavoro nero as ‘any paid activities that are lawful as regards their nature but not declared to public authorities, taking into account differences in the regulatory system of Member States’ (European Commission, 2007). The actual concept is well known in different countries. So in theory, translating it should not cause major problems. Yet in practice, people use a range of different terms, each with their own connotations and nuances.
Industrial relations are challenging enough in one
language. Translation adds further complexities.
Pietro Manzella looks at the case of ‘lavoro nero’
Pietro Manzella has a PhD in labour relations from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy). He is a senior research fellow at ADAPT (www. adapt.it). His interests include language and translation issues in comparative labour law and industrial relations. Email: pietro.manzella@ adapt.it.
Shades of meaning
FEATURE
The literal translation
of lavoro nero is “black
labour”. However,
a word-for-word
translation is clearly not
possible
Second option: ‘clandestine’
Different arguments can be put forward for another translation that is frequently used: ‘clandestine work’.
Italian Version
‘Detta definizione pone il lavoro sommerso in correlazione con la frode fiscale e/o previdenziale e abbraccia attività disparate che vanno dai servizi informali rivolti alle famiglie al lavoro nero delle persone che soggiornano illegalmente’ (emphasis added) English Version
‘This definition links undeclared work with tax and/or social security fraud and covers diverse activities ranging from informal household services to clandestine work by illegal residents’ (emphasis added).
‘Clandestine work’ has slightly different connotations, in that it suggests that the activities are by definition illegal.
Third option: ‘undeclared’
The third option, ‘undeclared work’, is the one that most translators choose, and with good reason.
Italian Version
‘Orientamento specifico n. 9 sul lavoro nero’ (emphasis added)
English Version
‘Specific guideline n° 9 on undeclared work’ (emphasis added)
‘Undeclared work’ is an effective translation using a straightforward expression that is widely used in English-speaking countries. It gives rise to no ambiguities, and the terminology nicely expresses the source text meaning.
In conclusion, this is just one term where it would be all too easy to opt for a translation that is subtly inappropriate. But the resulting misunderstandings could have real impact on the lives of real people. We always have to be mindful of the fact that specialised terms should be conveyed in a way that brings across their full nuances, as the case of lavoro
nero demonstrates. Sour ce: R isoluzione del P ar lament o eur
opeo sulla comunicazione della C
ommissione al C onsiglio r elativa a nuo vi mer cati eur opei del la vor o, aper ti e accessibili a tutti ( COM(2001) 116 ‘ C5-0188/2001 ‘ 2001/2084( COS)) Sour ce: C omunicazione della C ommissione al C onsiglio , al P ar lament o E ur opeo , al C omitat o economico e sociale E ur opeo e al C omitat o delle R eg ioni - R aff or zar e la lotta al la vor o sommerso /* C OM/2007/0628 Sour ce: C omunicazione della C ommissione al C onsiglio , al P ar lament o E ur opeo , al C omitat o economico e sociale E ur opeo e al C omitat o delle R eg ioni - R aff or zar e la lotta al la vor o sommerso /* C OM/2007/0628
