Interesting terminology...
Mar. 10th, 2011 10:17 amI was not able to find any good translation for "система оперативно-разыскных мероприятий," and one suspects there really isn't one, at least not outside the boundaries of close-to-literal translation.
The words "разыскных мероприятий" refer to "investigative activities" or "investigative functions." Easy enough.
"Оперативный" (and its variants) is an often-encountered word that, in my mind, has a meaning that exhibits aspects of "in a brisk, workmanlike manner," "without undue delay," and "in the course of usual operations." The cognate "operational" is often forced into service here, simply because no other good alternative comes to mind and time is short. I've also seen "real time" (as in "the committee deals with new issues in real time"), but don't like it.
There are also times when the word need not be translated at all (similar to the collocation "технологический процесс," where the first word can often be ignored, leaving the cognate "process" in the engineering sense, e.g., "Has anyone seen the process flow sheet?"). This characteristic, it occurs to me, is a mark in favor of "operational," simply because in many contexts, it's not a word that conveys a whole lot of meaning.
But, as it turns out, the phrase "оперативно-разыскные мероприятия" does appear in Multitran, as "investigative work," but I don't like it for the term at hand.
Interestingly, what the system does is a far cry from its rather innocuous name. Here's an excerpt desbribing the system's operation, from the mindwar.ru site:
<grin>
Cheers...
UPDATE: One of the things I've noticed occurring in the course of a translation is how the recurrence of a term in various contexts will affect the way I decide to render a term. It is, in fact, one of the reasons I detest submitting work in pieces, because invariably, shortly after sending in a chunk of work, I'll find something that needs improvement (if not outright correction, although that's rarer).
After seeing "оперативно-разыскные мероприятия" a couple of more times in the text I'm working with, I am of the opinion that my first impression was right (ignore "operational") and that I should understand the "мероприятия" to refer to activities, as opposed to the thing used in those activities.
So, as of noon, it's "System for Investigative Activities."
The words "разыскных мероприятий" refer to "investigative activities" or "investigative functions." Easy enough.
"Оперативный" (and its variants) is an often-encountered word that, in my mind, has a meaning that exhibits aspects of "in a brisk, workmanlike manner," "without undue delay," and "in the course of usual operations." The cognate "operational" is often forced into service here, simply because no other good alternative comes to mind and time is short. I've also seen "real time" (as in "the committee deals with new issues in real time"), but don't like it.
There are also times when the word need not be translated at all (similar to the collocation "технологический процесс," where the first word can often be ignored, leaving the cognate "process" in the engineering sense, e.g., "Has anyone seen the process flow sheet?"). This characteristic, it occurs to me, is a mark in favor of "operational," simply because in many contexts, it's not a word that conveys a whole lot of meaning.
But, as it turns out, the phrase "оперативно-разыскные мероприятия" does appear in Multitran, as "investigative work," but I don't like it for the term at hand.
Interestingly, what the system does is a far cry from its rather innocuous name. Here's an excerpt desbribing the system's operation, from the mindwar.ru site:
Аппаратура СОРМ устанавливается на АТС и у провайдеров интернет-услуг, а пульт дистанционного управления располагается в подразделениях ФСБ. Система СОРМ позволяет контролировать исходящие и входящие вызовы абонентов, по команде из пункта управления осуществлять разъединение установленного соединения, конспиративно подключаться к любым абонентским линиям, в том числе находящимся в состоянии соединения, а также осуществлять необходимую запись, перехватывать и читать электронную почту. В принципе СОРМ даёт возможность не только читать электронную почту, но и производить съём любой входящей Система оперативно-разыскных мероприятийи исходящей информации российских пользователей при их работе в Интернете.For the purposes of my immediate assignment, I think I shall use the very nondescript "System of Operational Investigative Aids," and keep moving!
SORM equipment is installed at automatic telephone exchanges and Internet service providers, while the remote control panel is located at FSB subdivisions. The SORM system allows monitoring of a subscriber's incoming and outgoing calls, allows established connections to be broken by a command from the control center, enables covert connection to any subscriber lines (including those in the connected state), as well as performing necessary recording, interception, and reading of electronic mail. In principle, SORM provides an ability not only to read electronic mail, but also to read any information entering the Система оперативно-разыскных мероприятий when Russian users employ the Internet. (my translation)
<grin>
Cheers...
UPDATE: One of the things I've noticed occurring in the course of a translation is how the recurrence of a term in various contexts will affect the way I decide to render a term. It is, in fact, one of the reasons I detest submitting work in pieces, because invariably, shortly after sending in a chunk of work, I'll find something that needs improvement (if not outright correction, although that's rarer).
After seeing "оперативно-разыскные мероприятия" a couple of more times in the text I'm working with, I am of the opinion that my first impression was right (ignore "operational") and that I should understand the "мероприятия" to refer to activities, as opposed to the thing used in those activities.
So, as of noon, it's "System for Investigative Activities."
no subject
Date: 2011-03-10 11:04 pm (UTC)Just my 2 pennies, you are the one with the full text :)
no subject
Date: 2011-03-11 12:10 am (UTC)As such, it's a lot slicker sounding (and doubtless has sharper fangs) than a mere "System for Investigative Activities." <grin>
Still, I appear to have stumbled into an acceptable translation, as "investigative activities" has popped up in one or two of the document's pretranslated segments.
Cheers...
no subject
Date: 2011-03-11 12:41 am (UTC)System for Investigative Activities sounds very Russian :) Although I am dubious about these "investigative activities" if they are just talking about internet browsing...
no subject
Date: 2011-03-11 05:35 pm (UTC)В милиции есть две большие категории работников - следователи и оперативники.
Следователи возбуждают уголовное дело, арестовывают, проводят допросы, собирают вещественные доказательства, передают дело в суд. Работа официальная и кабинетная.
Оперативники выслеживают подозреваемых, сидят в засадах, проводят задержание, беседуют с гражданами, которые могут сообщить нужную информацию. Если надо - переодеваются, гримируются. Выдают себя за кого-то другого. Работа "на местах".
Оперативно-розыскные мероприятия - это и есть работа оперативников. Американская полиция, конечно, тоже занимается такой работой и должен быть соответствующий термин.
Можно попробовать обратиться в ближайший полицейский участок, объяснить, что вы переводчик и вам надо знать, как такая работа официально называется в английском языке.
Ещё можно попробовать обратиться к Дмитрию Юрьевичу Пучкову по адресу oper@oper.ru Он сам бывший оперативник, и в то же время - известный переводчик. Насколько я знаю Дмитрия, он будет рад помочь.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-11 09:59 pm (UTC)Your suggestion that the "оперативно" in "оперативно-розыскные мероприятия" refers to the work of "оперативников" is intriguing, and Mr. Puchkov sounds like a valuable resource. However, from what I've been able to gather in yesterday's reading, the "оперативно" part of the СОРМ system almost certainly refers to a capability to intercept data and voice communications at will (i.e., in real time), something that quite a number of law enforcement agencies around the world (including the US) see as a good thing.
Cheers...
no subject
Date: 2011-03-12 04:04 am (UTC)Ещё я думаю, что даже если полицейские в США не делятся на следователей и оперативников, выполняемая ими работа всё равно делится на эти две категории - следственная и оперативная.
Кстати, оперативной работой могут заниматься и частные детективы, и охранные агентства, и корпоративные службы безопасности. А следственной - только государство.
no subject
Date: 2011-03-12 02:13 pm (UTC)When I have a bit more time, I shall have to sit down and dwell on your last sentence (not because I don't think you have a point, but merely to more fully understand the concept of следственный ;^).
Cheers...