ETI 102Introduction to Translation

Translation as a process and a product

trans·la·tion/trænsˈleɪ ʃən, trænz-/

–noun 1 the rendering of something into another language or

into one’s own from another language2 a version of such a rendering3 change or conversion to another form, appearance,

etc.; transformation: translation of thought into action

4 the act or process of translating5 the state of being translated(dictonary.com)

Origin of the word

• Etymologically, “translation” refers to “bringing across” or “carrying across.”

• It originated from the Latin word “translatio” , the perfect passive participle of which is “translatum” or “transferre.”

• Trans- means“across” and “-ferre” means to “to carry, to bring.”

Origin of the word

• For the modern Roman, Germany and Slavic European language, the word “traducere” is used for translation which implies “to bring across” or "to lead across" in English.

• The Greek term for translation is “metaphrasis” which implies “a speaking across.”

• “Metaphrase” implies a word-for-word translation or literal translation while “paraphrase” in Greek means a saying in other words.

• The Turkish term for translation is “çeviri” which implies “a turning.”

What is translation?

• Translation does not mean a simple word-for-word for correspondence between any two languages.

• It is not a mechanical process where each word is translated to the target language.

• Rather, many factors are to be taken into consideration (e.g. the actual context, cultural/ideological factors).

• Since each language articulates/organizes the word differently, the concepts of one language may differ radically from those of another.

• The difference between the two languages and the difference in cultures makes the process of translating a real challenge.

What is translation?

• The problematic factors include form, style, meaning, proverbs, idioms, etc.

• Translation and interpreting are the ultimate jobs for people who love language.

• Both translation and interpreting require superior language ability in at least two languages.

• Translators and interpreters need to understand the cultures of both the source and target languages, in order to be able to adapt the language to the appropriate culture.

• In short, the simple fact of speaking two or more languages does not necessarily make a good translator or interpreter.

Translation and Interpreting Terms

• Source language (SL): The language of the original message.

• Target language (TL): The language of the resulting translation or interpretation.

• A language: Native language (bilinguals have two A languages)

• B language - Fluent language (near-native ability) • C language - Working language (understand well

enough to translate or interpret from but not into)

Types of Translation

Types of translation• General translation is the translation of non-specific

language that does not require any specialized vocabulary or knowledge.

• Specialized translation or interpretation refers to domains which require at the very least that the person be extremely well-read in the domain. – non-literary translation

• financial translation• legal translation• media translation• medical translation• scientific translation• technical translation

– literary translation

Types of translation

• Audio-visual translation: Translation of movies and television programs, including subtitling (where the translation is typed along the bottom of the screen) and dubbing (where the voices of native speakers of the target language are heard in place of the original actors).

• Machine translation: Also known as automatic translation, this is any translation that is done without human intervention, using software, hand-held translators, online translators such as Babelfish, etc.

Types of translation

• Machine-assisted translation: Translation done with a machine translator and a human working together. For example, to translate “honey,” the machine translator might give the options “bal” and “tatlım” so that the person could decide which one makes sense in the context.

• Sight translation: Document in the source language is explained orally in the target language. This task is performed by interpreters when an article in the source language is not provided with a translation (such as a memo handed out at a meeting).

Types of translation

• Localization: Adaptation of software or other products to a different culture. Localization includes translation of documents, dialog boxes, etc., as well as linguistic and cultural changes to make the product appropriate to the target country.

• Consecutive interpreting: The interpreter takes notes while listening to a speech, then does his or her interpretation during pauses. This is commonly used when there are just two languages at work (e.g. American and Turkish diplomats having a discussion. The consecutive interpreter would interpret in both directions, Turkish to English and English to Turkish).

Types of translation

• Simultaneous interpreting: The interpreter listens to a speech and simultaneously interprets it, using headphones and a microphone.

• This is commonly used when there are numerous languages needed, such as in the United Nations.

• Each target language has an assigned channel, so Spanish speakers might turn to channel one for the Spanish interpretation, French speakers to channel two, etc.

Translation process

• How a translator produces “equivalences” between a text or portions of a text into another language.

• The process can be described as– decoding the meaning of the source text, and – re-encoding or translating this meaning in the

target language. • Many activities are involved in the process: checking

grammar, syntax, idioms, semantics, etc. of the source language and also the culture of its speakers.

• The translator needs in-depth knowledge in decoding and then re-encoding the meaning in the target language.

Roman Jakobson’s typology

• Intralingual translation: translation within the same language, which may involve rewording or paraphrase

• “Halk içinde muteber bir nesne yok devlet gibi,Olmaya devlet cihanda bir nefes sıhhat gibi”

(Kanuni Sultan Süleyman)

• Toplum içinde devlet kadar saygın bir kurum,Dünyada sağlık kadar büyük mutluluk yoktur.

• John is a couple beers short of a six-pack.• John is a little stupid/crazy.• John is slightly below average intelligence.

Roman Jakobson’s typology

• Interlingual translation (translation proper) is an interpretation of verbal signs by means of some other language.

• Intersemiotic translation (transmutation) is an interpretation of verbal signs by means of signs of nonverbal sign systems (offering a commentary on an obscure artwork; making a movie based on a book)

Some theoretical debates in TS

• Can a translator omit certain sections of text ? • Must the translator place more emphasis to the

meaning or the form? • Should the translator be visible or invisible? • Should the translator be faithful or unfaithful? • Should the translated document be domesticated or

foreignized? • Is equivalence possible?