Translation Strategies

Translation Process

• The translator's thoughts and choice of words can be influenced by the original text, and a good way to overcome this is to set the text aside and translate a few sentences aloud, from memory, to suggest natural patterns of thought in the target language.
• Translation involves not only translating words, phrases, or sentences but also redefining the message from the source text without changing the original meaning.

Style and Clarity

• The translator should not change the style of the original text, but if the text is sloppily written or full of tedious repetitions, the translator may correct the defects for the reader's sake.
• The goal is to achieve clarity in the translation, making it understandable without causing ambiguity.

Idioms

• Idiomatic expressions are notoriously untranslatable, including similes, metaphors, proverbs, and sayings, jargon, slang, and colloquialisms.
• When dealing with idioms, the translator can retain the original word, retain the original expression with a literal explanation, use a close equivalent, or use a non-idiomatic or plain prose translation.

Annotated Translations

• Annotated translations involve analyzing and commenting on the translation process, dealing with problems that can be found in either the source text or the target text.
• The translator is responsible for choosing equivalent words and/or terms.

Definition of Translation

• Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (source language) by equivalent textual material in another language (target language).
• Translation involves rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended, while also considering the style and tone of the original text.

Requirements of Translation

• Nida proposes four basic requirements of translation: making sense, conveying the spirit and manner of the original text, having a natural and easy form of expression, and reproducing similar responses.
• Larson mentions that a good translation must fulfill three criteria: accuracy, clarity, and naturalness.

Principles of Translation

• Alan Duff explains six principles of translation: meaning, form, register, source language influence, and two more.
• The principles of translation emphasize the importance of accuracy, clarity, and naturalness in the translation process.

Introduction to Translation

• Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (Source Language) by equivalent textual material in another language (Target Language) (Catford, 1965).
• Translation is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text (Newmark, 1988).
• Translation is a process of reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of the source language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style (Nida and Taber, 1982).
• Translation involves not only translating words, phrases, or sentences but also redefining the message from the source text without changing the original meaning.
• A good translation should produce equivalent translation products and aim to achieve "sameness" in meaning and effect (Despoina Panou, 2013).

Translator's Role

• Translators should not change the style of the original text, but may correct defects such as sloppy writing or tedious repetitions (Style and Clarity).
• Translators should aim to produce a natural and easy form of expression in the target text (Nida, 1990).

Idioms and Annotated Translations

• Idiomatic expressions are notoriously untranslatable and may require creative solutions (e.g., retaining original words or expressions, using close equivalents, or providing literal explanations).
• Annotated translations involve analyzing and commenting on problems in the translation process and choosing equivalent words and/or terms.
• A good translation should fulfill three criteria: accuracy, clarity, and naturalness (Larson, 1998).

Principles of Translation

• According to Alan Duff (1990), six principles of translation include:
  • Meaning: accurately reflecting the meaning of the original text.
  • Form: matching the ordering of words and ideas in the translation to the original as closely as possible.
  • Register: distinguishing between formal or fixed expressions and personal expressions to resolve differences in language structure.
  • Source language influence: avoiding unnatural expressions and aiming for a natural tone in the target text.

Learn about effective techniques to overcome common translation challenges and improve your translation skills. Explore how to maintain the original message while adapting to the target language.