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Key Terms in Translation Studies

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67 views4 pages

Key Terms in Translation Studies

Uploaded by

Kiran Hemram
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SEC202

(Translation studies)
Important terms for short questions
Code Mixing and Code Switching:
Code mixing and code switching refer to the use of more than one language or
dialect in conversation. Code mixing happens when speakers blend elements from
different languages in a single sentence, like “She is very busy, তাই আমি তাকে
পকে েল েেক া।” (Bengali and English). Code switching occurs when speakers
shift from one language to another between sentences or clauses, such as “I am
going to the market. তােপে আিো গকেে ই পড়ক া।” (English and Bengali).

Equivalence:
Equivalence is a very important term in translation studies. It refers to how closely
a translated text resemble with the original text. It is a concept of finding a term or
expression in the target language that conveys the same meaning as the original
text. It can be challenging as languages often have different structures and cultural
contexts. For example, the English greeting “Hello” can be equivalently translated
to “Hola” in Spanish and “ওকে” in Bengali. The aim of equivalence is to maintain
the original text’s intent, tone, and context as closely as possible in the translated
text.
Style and Mode of Translation:
The style of translation refers to the translator’s approach in terms of tone,
vocabulary, and sentence structure. Style ensures how the translator’s approach
suits the source text's purpose and audience.
The mode of translation refer to the methods like literal, free, or balanced
translation. There are many other modes of translation which the translator can opt
for his translation process. For instance, a formal document might require a literal
style to preserve exact meanings, while a novel might need a free style to capture
the author’s voice and emotions.
Register:
In translation studies, a register is a variety of languages used for a particular
purpose or social setting. It refers to the level of formality or informality in
language used in different contexts. In translation, it’s important to match the
register of the source text with that of the target text. For example, a register may
be used for formal or academic writing, while another may be used for casual,
everyday writing.
Literal and Communicative Translation:
Literal translation refers to the text word-for-word translation. It preserves the
exact structure and vocabulary of the original text. Communicative translation,
on the other hand, focuses on conveying the intended meaning in a natural and
culturally appropriate way. For example, translating idioms literally might confuse
readers, so a communicative translation would find an equivalent expression in the
target language
Official Translation:
Official translation refers to the translation of documents that are legally or
officially recognized, such as birth certificates, diplomas, and legal contracts.
These translations must be accurate and often require certification by a
professional translator or translation agency. For example, translating a marriage
certificate for immigration purposes needs to be precise and authenticated.
Translatability and Untranslatability:
Translatability refers to the extent to which a text can be accurately translated into
another language while preserving its meaning and nuances. Untranslatability
occurs when certain words, phrases, or cultural concepts have no direct equivalent
in the target language. For example, “পেশ্রীোতেতা” is a difficult word in Bengali
to translate into English. Though there is the word ‘jealousy’ in English, it cannot
be the correct translation for the word, ‘পেশ্রীোতেতা’ because the definitions of
these two words are somewhat different and, therefore, ‘jealousy’ loses the right to
be a suitable equivalent.
Audio-Visual Translation:
Audio-visual translation is the translation of the contents for films, TV shows,
video games, and other multimedia. So many technicalities are involved in this
kind of translation like- subtitles, dubbing, and voice-overs. For example,
translating a movie involves not just the dialogue but also cultural references,
jokes, and timing to match the visual context and audience expectations.
Translators who translated their own text into English:
Rabindranath Tagore himself translated “গীতাঞ্জমল” (“Gitanjali”) into English as
“Song Offerings”. This collection of poems won the Nobel Prize in Literature in
1913.
“The Home and the World” was translated from the original “ঘকে াইকে”
(“Ghare-Baire”) by Surendranath Tagore and Rabindranath Tagore.

Girish Karnad also translated “Tughlaq” from Kannada to English. Another


important play translated by him is “Hayavadana”.
Authors translating other’s works:
Leela Majumdar translated Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” and Ernest
Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” into Bengali.
Satyajit Ray also translated many works of others into English. A famous example
would be “Brazil er Kaalo Baagh”, originally written as “The Brazilian Cat” by
Arthur Conan Doyle.
Lexical and Syntactical Levels of Translation:
At the lexical level, translation tries to find the correct words in the target language
that best match the words in the source language.
At the syntactical level, translation focuses on the sentence structure. This means
arranging words in a way that makes sense in the target language.
Fidelity and Transparency in Translation:
Fidelity in translation means staying true to the original text’s meaning and intent.
The translator ensures that the translated text accurately reflects the source text.
Transparency in translation means making the translated text sound natural and
fluent in the target language. The goal is for readers to feel like they are reading an
original text, not a translation.
For example, while translating a poem, fidelity would focus on keeping the
original imagery and themes, while transparency would make sure the poem flows
well and sounds poetic in the target language.
_________

Common questions

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Translators must ensure accuracy and precision, as official documents like birth certificates, diplomas, and legal contracts carry legal validity. They often require certification by a professional to be legally recognized, making it critical for translations to be free of errors and misunderstandings to ensure the documents meet the intended legal and bureaucratic purposes .

Lexical translation ensures the words used in the target language best match those in the source, while syntactical translation arranges these words coherently in the target language. Fidelity requires staying true to the original text's meaning, and transparency ensures the translation flows naturally. Challenges arise when balancing a natural reading experience with maintaining the original text's intent .

Equivalence challenges translators as it involves finding terms or expressions in the target language that convey the same meaning as the original text while accounting for different structures and cultural contexts. This is complicated by the fact that identical words or phrases may have different connotations or significance in different cultures, necessitating careful consideration to maintain the original text's intent, tone, and context .

Fidelity ensures a poem's imagery and themes are maintained in translation to reflect the original accurately, while transparency aims at making the new version sound poetic and natural in the target language. Conflicts occur when literal meanings clash with the target language's poetic norms, requiring translators to choose between staying true to the form or adapting for fluency and emotional impact .

Translatability refers to the extent to which a text can preserve its meaning in translation, while untranslatability occurs when a word or concept lacks a direct equivalent in the target language, often due to cultural differences. For instance, the Bengali word ‘পেশ্রীোতেতা’ doesn't have an exact English equivalent, illustrating how nuanced cultural concepts can complicate translation and necessitate careful adaptation .

Code mixing involves blending elements from different languages within a single sentence, such as using both English and Bengali in a single statement, whereas code switching refers to shifting between languages at the sentence or clause level, such as starting a statement in English and continuing it in Bengali .

Literal translation focuses on word-for-word accuracy, preserving the exact vocabulary and structure. Its challenge lies in potentially losing meaning or cultural context, especially with idioms. Communicative translation strives to convey the intended meaning more naturally and appropriately in the target culture, which may require creative deviations from the literal text to maintain meaning, posing a challenge to fidelity .

Register, which refers to the level of formality or informality in language for particular settings, is crucial in maintaining the tone and context of the source text in the target language. Translators need to match the register of the original text with that of the translation to ensure that the language used fits the cultural and situational context, preserving the text's intended impact .

The style and mode of translation significantly affect the translated text's tone, vocabulary, and structure. The style should match the source text's purpose and audience, while the mode, such as literal or free translation, depends on the text's nature. Formal documents may require a literal approach to ensure precise meaning, whereas literary works benefit from a free style that captures the author's voice and emotions .

Audio-visual translation goes beyond translating dialogue, as it involves cultural adjustments, preserving timing to match visuals, and handling jokes and references that require adaptation. This complexity requires translators to balance linguistic accuracy with audience expectations and cultural context, making it an intricate task .

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