A SHORT ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC SERVICE DOCUMENTS AS A PRE-TRANSLATION STAGE: A DISCOURSE-AS-GENRE AND DISCOURSE-AS-TEXT APPROACH TO A FIRST AID LEAFLET
The aim of this paper is to analyse a medical leaflet from the point of view of discourse as genre as a necessary preparatory stage in the translation of public service documents. Public service information comes in a variety of forms: brochures, leaflets, pamphlets or standard forms. A first-aid leaflet is such a document, with a layout and a content which serve its main function: to provide first aid. A critical analysis of such a public service document can help the translator understand why the text has a particular layout, how language can help in achieving the aim of the document. Understanding these features can only benefit the translation of the document. The paper aims to go beyond the identification of such features and show how this type of document can be used in order to fulfil its purpose.
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