Of Translation

8/13/2019 Of Translation

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Of TranslationIndranil Sarkar

Translation is like a woman. If it is beautiful, it is not faithful. If it is faithful,it is most certainly not beautiful. Yevgeny Yevtushenko (Russian Poet)

1. Etymology and meaning:The term Translation has been derivedfrom the Latin term translatiomeaning to carry across. It is a processof re-languaging of any Text. English has derived two ways oftranslation following the ancient Greeks. These are literalor wordto word translation technically called metaphrasing andparaphrasing meaning saying in other words. Metaphraserepresents formal equivalence while Paraphrase is dynamicequivalence.

Translation Process


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2.Defn.-Translation is the process of transferring the idea of a sourcetext in one language to make a text in another language. It is theprocess of making a symmetrical text from a source language toanother language. In general, translation is thus rendering themeaning of a text into another language in the way that the authorintended the text. Newmark 1988, p.5)3. Types of Translation: - The Russo-American linguist RomanJacobson opined that translation may be of three types. However, it isto be remembered that there are no two words in any language havingexactly the same meaning. Sick is not exactly the same as ill.Similarly, words of any language do not possess the capability ofexpressing the same sensitivity or the same feeling expressed inanother language. This is because of a very big issuethe issue ofgenetic and climatic factors. The matter would be clear if we considerthe general response to heat and cold of people living in the oppositehemispheres of the globe.


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Jacobson mentioned his views in a Seminal paper titled OnLinguistic aspects of Translation [Jacobson 1959/2000].The threetypes of translations are---

i. Intralingual translationii. Interlingual translationiii. Intersemiotic translation

Intralingua translationmeans translation within same language. It isjust a rewarding or paraphrasing the original Text. For example, TheTales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. Here,Shakespearean plays are translated into modern English.Interlingual translationis when a Text in one language is translatedinto another language to make another text. For example, IshwarChandra VidyaSagars Bhranti Bilasin Bengalifrom the source textof Shakespeares Comedy of Errors in English.Intersemiotic translation means translation of a verbal sign into anonverbal sign; that is to create music or an image from a text. Thereverse process i, e to create a text from a music or an image is also


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becomes intersemiotic translation. This feature has come intoprominence in the wake of postmodernity where inter-textuality hasbecome the prime concern.4. The Babel Myth:-In Book of Genesis (xi: 6-9) there is a storywhich states that originally there was a single language for the wholeof the humanity. But God felt that the single language for the wholeof the humanity would make them stronger and as such would pose apositive threat to His omnipotent authority. For this reason Hedivided man into different linguistic groups. This is called The BabelMyth. However, critics call it simply a myth having no scientificbasis.5. History: - Historically Eugene Nida (1959-1998:12-23) is the firsttranslator. His Septuagint is the translation of the Hebrew OldTestament into Greek. According to Douglas Robinson, translationstarted with H.M. Hubbell in 46 B.C.E when he translated MarcusTullius Ciceros 10643 B.C.E) De optimo genere oratorum or TheBest Kind of Orator. Cicero viewed translation two faceted. It is


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either the distinction of wordfor word (i, e literal translation orverbum pro verbo) or senseforsense (free translation or sensum prosensu).Translation has become a distinct literary activity since thesecond half of 20thcentury. Horace, Pliny, Quintilian, St. Augustine,St. Jerome, John Dryden, Miguel de Cervantes, Novalis, JohannWolfgang von Goethe, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Aryeh Newman, EzraPound, etc, are some of the distinguished theorists and practionars oftranslation. Translation has become a matter of paramountimportance in the present perspective of a globalized world.

Newmarks 1988b: 45 47) view of the evolution of translation from the 19th century and onwards.

6. Principles for Translation: - A Translator should follow thefollowing principles:-


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i.He should keep an eye to accuracy.ii.He must be objective and impartial.iii.He must be free from any motive of fame or profit.iv.He must try to emulate the original style of the author, be ithumorous, wordy, with colloquial or scientific language, etc.v.He should translate a Text as a contemporary of the original.7. Transcription and Transliteration:Transcriptionin the linguistic sense is the systematic representationof language in written form. The source can either be speech or pre-existing text in another language, although some linguists consideronly the former to be transcription.Transliterationmeans representing a text from one scriptto another.Transliteration is not concerned with representing the phonemics ofthe original: it only strives to represent the characters accurately.Transliteration is a mapping from one system of writing intoanother, word by word, or ideally letter by letter.8. What not to do? - The task of a translator is very difficult. Hemust be free from personal ego. He should be free from any type of


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personal prejudice, hatred, ill-will etc. He must work as an unbiastsage.9. Conclusion:- Roger Bacon wrote that if a translation is to be true,the translator must know both languages, as well as the science thathe is to translate [ Kasparek, The Translator's Endless Toil , pp. 8586]But, Roger Bacons statement is only partially correct. Unless atranslator understands the mind behind the source text, he can not beable to represent them correctly. After all, a written text in just likean Iceberg. Hemingways Iceberg theory) Only 1/8thof the authorsvision is visible. The invisible 7/8th is to be understood properly inorder to make the translation accurate. That is why a translator mustpossess wisdom of highest order. Translation is not science. It is thehighest form of Arts. So, the translator has to follow scientific meansto understand the mind of the author of the Source Text first andthen to project them correctly and properly in the Target language.

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Links; references & Acknowledgements:-i. Diagrams are from Betlem Soler Pardos Translation Studies: An Introductiontothe History and Development of (Audiovisual) Translation.ii. www.wikipedia.orgiii. www.translationllc.comiv. www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_studiesv. www.translation.illinois.eduvi. www.stjerome.co.uk/tsavii. www.routledge.com/cw/munday-9780415584890viii. www.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Linguistic_Aspects_of_Translation
http://www.wikipedia.org/http://www.translationllc.com/http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_studieshttp://www.translation.illinois.edu/http://www.stjerome.co.uk/tsahttp://www.routledge.com/cw/munday-9780415584890http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Linguistic_Aspects_of_Translationhttp://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Linguistic_Aspects_of_Translationhttp://www.routledge.com/cw/munday-9780415584890http://www.stjerome.co.uk/tsahttp://www.translation.illinois.edu/http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_studieshttp://www.translationllc.com/http://www.wikipedia.org/

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