intro to trans 350 lecture 1

© Amira Kashgary – Lecture Notes 1

Lecture Notes

Introduction to Translation

LANE 350

Dr. Amira Kashgary

February 2011


Introduction to Translation

Dr. Amira Kashgary

Department of English


What is Translation?

As a subject, translation is defined as all the processes and methods used to convey meaning of the source language into the target language by means of :

* The verb “translate” has been equated with synonyms such as “render”, “rephrase”, “transmit”, “re express” “replace”.



We "render", "reproduce", "convey", and "transfer"

For example:

Write يكتب

حاسوب Computer كمبيوتر



According to New mark (1981) translation is an attempt to replace a message or a statement in one language by the same message or statement in another language.

For Catford (1965) translation is “the replacement of textual material in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL)’ (20).

Nida (1964) defines translation in terms of the receptor’s understanding of the translated text, in other words, the intelligibility of the TL text. Accordingly, translation is “ reproducing in the receptor’s language the closest equivalent of the message of the SL, first in terms of meaning and then in terms of style”



What all definitions agree on are the following: Translation involves determining two extremes at the same

time; the SL demands and the TL demands. Translation involves thinking and rethinking, expressing and

re-expressing. Translation involves “equivalence” in respect of different

levels of presentation (equivalent in respect of context, of semantics, of grammar, of lexis, etc.) and at different ranks (Word-for-sentence) and in different degrees (fully or partially equivalent)


What do we translate?

We translate nothing but "MEANING".


What is Meaning?

It is a complicated network of language components

It is the product of different elements of language. Taken together occurring in a certain type of texts and contexts, and directed to a certain kind of readership.


language components

Words (vocabulary

Grammar (syntax)

Style

Sounds (Phonology)



We are always interested in how these elements combine, produce, influence, reflect and crystallize meaning.


How do we translate?

Making use of two concepts

Processes of Translation Methods of Translation

Transfer Analysis Restructuring


Processes of Translation

It describes how we proceed at translating something in practice, in other words, it is the

STAGES of translating


Processes of Translation

Since translation is a communicative process, it has to deal with the following processes:

1. Analysis (Comprehension)2. Transfer3. Restructuring (Rearrangement or

rewriting)



The process of Transfer , or what linguists call "Transfer Strategy" can be summarized in the following steps:



القراءة المتأنية للنص لمعرفة الفكرة العامة

وتقسيم النص حفظ الفكرة العامة في الذهنو جمل )أي المعاني الى مكونات فقرات

( التفصيلية

ترجمة المعاني الموجودة في النص المصدر الىمعاني في النص الهدف في ضوء المعايير

والثقافة كتابة المعنى الواضح في ذهن المترجم باللغة

الهدف وبهذا يكون لديه نص مساوي في معناه للنص األصلي

وهي إضفاء وهذه المرحلة تتعلق بأسلوب النص)إعادة صيغة اللغة الهدف على النص المترجم

الهدف( التركيب ضمن قوانين التركيب في اللغة

o SL 1

o SL 2

o Rethink

o TL 1

o TL 2


Translation: Process vs. Product

We have to distinguish between Translating: the process which refers to the

activity rather than the tangible object, and Translation: the product of the process of

translating, i.e. the translated text.

The word translation can also refer to the abstract concept which encompasses both the process of translating and the product of that process.



In order to arrive at a comprehensive and useful understanding of the process of translating we need to draw on the resources of linguistics, particularly, psycholinguistics and socio linguistics. The first of these examines the process in the mind of the translator, the second places the source language text (SLT) and the target language text (TLT) in their cultural context.


The Translation Process(Bell, 1991:21)

Memory

SLT Analysis

Synthesis TLT

SemanticRepresentation


Translation Process

1. The SLT is transformed into a TLT by means of process which take place within memory:

2. The analysis of the language specific text (the SLT) into a universal (non-language specific) semantic representation.

3. The synthesis of that semantic representation into a second language specific text (the TLT).


Translation Process

وهي الترجمة في األخيرة المرحلة أهمية على مثالبريقه النص على تضفي التي األسلوبية الصياغة

وروحه: In order to bring the Egyptian banking sector in line

with international banking norms, a new law 37 was introduced in June 1992.

مع المصري المصرفي القطاع يتماشى لكيأال جديد قانون اصدار تم الدولية البنكية األعراف

يونيو 37وهو .1992في عام يونيو رقم 1992في جديد مصرفي قانون صدر

األعراف 37 مع المصرفي القطاع ليتماشى. الدولية البنكية


Translation Process

When dinner was over, the senator made a speech.

A speech was made by the senator after dinner. The senator made a post-prandial oration.

. كلمة المسؤول ألقى العشاء، انتهى أن بعد. العشاء بعد خطابا المسؤول ألقى. العشاء بعد رنانا طنانا خطابا السيد ألقى


Methods of Translation


literal vs. freesemantic vs. communicativeformal vs. dynamicpragmatic vs. non-pragmaticcreative vs. non-pragmatic



Monolingual communication (Bell, 1991 : 18)

Code

Channel Channel

SENDER Signal Receiver

Content


Bilingual communication (Bell, 1991 : 19)

Code 1

Channel ChannelSENDER Signal 1 Translator

Content 1

Code 2

RECEIVER Signal 2

Content 2


Translation: Process vs. Product1. Translator receives signal 1 containing message

2. “ recognizes code 1

3. “ decodes signal 1

4. “ retrieves message

5. “ comprehends message

6. “ selects code 2

7. “ encodes message by means of code 2

8. “ selects channel

9. “ transmits signal 2 containing message



There are crucial difference between communication and translation as follows:

There are two codes, two signals and consequently two sets of content provided that there is no 100 percent equivalence between languages


What are the tools of a Translator?

1. Mono-lingual dictionaries (English) Webster’s (unabridged) dictionary The Oxford English dictionary Encyclopedic World dictionary

2. Mono-lingual (Arabic) Al Munjid Al Waseet

3. Bilingual dictionaries English / Arabic

Al Mawrid Al Nafees

Arabic / English The HansWehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic



4. Dictionaries of English usage Dictionary of English usage Thesaurus Dictionary of slang terms Dictionaries of Idioms Dictionaries of proverbs



5. Specialized Dictionaries Encyclopedia (general) Encyclopedia (specialized) Grammar Books Computers


Thank you


Assignments

Assignment # 1

Read الترجمة أ سس

What are the tools of the translator?

Make a summary of all translation methods discussed in this book

intro to trans 350 lecture 1

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