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Lecture 1
What is Translation?
1.Multi-disciplinary activity.
2.Accuracy.
3.Clarity.
4.Naturalness.
The simplest definition of translation is retelling as exactly as possible the meaning of the original message in a way that is natural in the language into which is being made. However, such a definition disregards many of underlying complexities pertaining to the nature of translation. Indeed, translation is a multi-disciplinary activity. The translator has to master the 2 languages and negotiate the difficulties that arise when we transfer a message to another language which is different at many levels (phonology, morphology, syntax, discourse, history, values, and religion). These differences of language in culture underlie the multi-disciplinary nature of the translation task. But, although it is multi-disciplinary activity, there are some qualities according to which we can judge whether a translation is good or not. These include the 3 following qualities:
-Accuracy: this means correct exegesis of the source message and transfer of the meaning of that message as exactly as possible into the Target Language.
-Clarity: the translator may have several different ways of expressing ideas at his disposal and he normally chooses the way which communicates most clearly i.e. the way which ordinary people will understand.
-Naturalness: it is important for the translator to use the natural form of Target Language, if he is to be effective and acceptable.
The translator is constantly struggling to achieve the ideal in all these 3 areas which is not in reality an easy task. When it is not possible to reconcile on the three, then accuracy must have priority.
Process and Product theory
A second crucial point is needed to distinguish between the 3 polysemous of the term “translation”. Translation can denote the meaning of translating, a translation, and translation.
- Translating: this is the process. It is the activity of translating rather than the tangible object.
- A translation: means the product of the process of translating. It means the translated text itself.
- Translation: means the abstract concept which encloses the process of translating and the product of that process. This leads us to ask the question of whether translation us a science or not.
There is a long debate as to whether translation is an art or science. Literary translators such as Gregory Rabassa If this Be Reason argues that translation is an art. Other translators, however, especially those who work on technical, business, or legal documents regard translation as a science. But, most translators, however, agree that the situation depends on the nature of the text. A simple document such as a brochure can be translated quickly using simple techniques familiar to advanced language students. By contrast, a literary text will require not only the good language skills, but the art of good writing and cultural sensitivity. Culture is in fact a crucial element in translation.
Language and culture
Culture can be defined as the way of life and its manifestations that are peculiar to community which uses language. Many translation scholars distinguish cultural language from universal and personal language. For them, words like: father, die, live, swim, table are universals. Such words had a cultural aspect. The word “father” for example changes from one culture to another. The notion of fatherhood takes new characteristics in each different cultural community. The phenomenon gets complicated when we know that the Amazonian tribes have no father notion in their culture and consequently no such term is in their language.
Cultural focus: when a speech community focuses its attention on a particular topic. This is usually called cultural focus. It generates a group of words to designate its special language or terminology. The English generated many terms on sports. French designated many words for bread and cheese. The Arabs designated many words in camels and dates.
The procedure of translation: translation scholars have attempted to equip translators with a number of techniques and procedures that might help them in their tasks. These are: borrowing, calque, literal translation, transposition, modulation and adaptation.
What is Translation?
1.Multi-disciplinary activity.
2.Accuracy.
3.Clarity.
4.Naturalness.
The simplest definition of translation is retelling as exactly as possible the meaning of the original message in a way that is natural in the language into which is being made. However, such a definition disregards many of underlying complexities pertaining to the nature of translation. Indeed, translation is a multi-disciplinary activity. The translator has to master the 2 languages and negotiate the difficulties that arise when we transfer a message to another language which is different at many levels (phonology, morphology, syntax, discourse, history, values, and religion). These differences of language in culture underlie the multi-disciplinary nature of the translation task. But, although it is multi-disciplinary activity, there are some qualities according to which we can judge whether a translation is good or not. These include the 3 following qualities:
-Accuracy: this means correct exegesis of the source message and transfer of the meaning of that message as exactly as possible into the Target Language.
-Clarity: the translator may have several different ways of expressing ideas at his disposal and he normally chooses the way which communicates most clearly i.e. the way which ordinary people will understand.
-Naturalness: it is important for the translator to use the natural form of Target Language, if he is to be effective and acceptable.
The translator is constantly struggling to achieve the ideal in all these 3 areas which is not in reality an easy task. When it is not possible to reconcile on the three, then accuracy must have priority.
Process and Product theory
A second crucial point is needed to distinguish between the 3 polysemous of the term “translation”. Translation can denote the meaning of translating, a translation, and translation.
- Translating: this is the process. It is the activity of translating rather than the tangible object.
- A translation: means the product of the process of translating. It means the translated text itself.
- Translation: means the abstract concept which encloses the process of translating and the product of that process. This leads us to ask the question of whether translation us a science or not.
There is a long debate as to whether translation is an art or science. Literary translators such as Gregory Rabassa If this Be Reason argues that translation is an art. Other translators, however, especially those who work on technical, business, or legal documents regard translation as a science. But, most translators, however, agree that the situation depends on the nature of the text. A simple document such as a brochure can be translated quickly using simple techniques familiar to advanced language students. By contrast, a literary text will require not only the good language skills, but the art of good writing and cultural sensitivity. Culture is in fact a crucial element in translation.
Language and culture
Culture can be defined as the way of life and its manifestations that are peculiar to community which uses language. Many translation scholars distinguish cultural language from universal and personal language. For them, words like: father, die, live, swim, table are universals. Such words had a cultural aspect. The word “father” for example changes from one culture to another. The notion of fatherhood takes new characteristics in each different cultural community. The phenomenon gets complicated when we know that the Amazonian tribes have no father notion in their culture and consequently no such term is in their language.
Cultural focus: when a speech community focuses its attention on a particular topic. This is usually called cultural focus. It generates a group of words to designate its special language or terminology. The English generated many terms on sports. French designated many words for bread and cheese. The Arabs designated many words in camels and dates.
The procedure of translation: translation scholars have attempted to equip translators with a number of techniques and procedures that might help them in their tasks. These are: borrowing, calque, literal translation, transposition, modulation and adaptation.
Last edited by Menyar on Sat Jul 05, 2008 1:11 pm; edited 2 times in total
