Which term describes substituting a word with a semantically close word in the target language?

Which term describes substituting a word with a semantically close word in the target language?

• A. Borrowing
• B. Calque
• C. Literal Translation
• D. Synonymy

Answer: (D)

Substituting a word with a semantically close word in the target language relies on the use of synonyms—words that share related meanings. In translation and everyday language use, choosing a synonym lets you preserve the core sense while adjusting nuance, tone, or style. So, if you want a slightly more formal or informal feel, or to fit the chosen collocations, you swap in a near-meaning word without changing what is being said. That’s why this option is the best description: it’s about using a word that means about the same thing to convey the same idea in another language. Borrowing would mean taking a word from another language. A calque mirrors a foreign phrase’s structure in the target language. A literal translation sticks to a word-for-word rendering. The concept here, focusing on substituting with a semantically close word, aligns with synonymy.

Substituting a word with a semantically close word in the target language relies on the use of synonyms—words that share related meanings. In translation and everyday language use, choosing a synonym lets you preserve the core sense while adjusting nuance, tone, or style. So, if you want a slightly more formal or informal feel, or to fit the chosen collocations, you swap in a near-meaning word without changing what is being said.

That’s why this option is the best description: it’s about using a word that means about the same thing to convey the same idea in another language. Borrowing would mean taking a word from another language. A calque mirrors a foreign phrase’s structure in the target language. A literal translation sticks to a word-for-word rendering. The concept here, focusing on substituting with a semantically close word, aligns with synonymy.