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What is translation, and what principles are involved in translating? It is these and related that I shall be considering in this post.
A translation may be defined as a presentation of a text in a language other than that in which it was originally written. The word “written” should be stressed, since it distinguishes translating form the start from interpreting, which may be defined as the presentation of a statement in a language other than that in which it was originally spoken. Herein lies the basic difference between translating and interpreting.
Translating is concerned with the conversion of the written word
Translating is concerned with the conversion of the written word, interpreting with that of the spoken word.
A translation may be defined as a presentation of a text in a language other than that in which it was originally written. The word “written” should be stressed, since it distinguishes translating form the start from interpreting, which may be defined as the presentation of a statement in a language other than that in which it was originally spoken. Herein lies the basic difference between translating and interpreting.
Translating is concerned with the conversion of the written word
Translating is concerned with the conversion of the written word, interpreting with that of the spoken word.
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The two disciplines of translating and interpreting are, however, normally quite separate and are, in fact, relatively rarely practised to the same degree of ability by one and the same person. It has been said, with more than a grain of truth, that the translator is perhaps ideally of an introvert temperament, while the interpreter is perhaps ideally of an extrovert temperament, without the implication that either is neurotic! Another useful analogy is to liken the translator to the solicitor and the interpreter to the barrister. The one carries out most of his work within the confines of his Office, while the other appears before the public in an assembly hall or court. Both nevertheless have their places in the linguistic and legal world respectively, but that place, function and probably temperament differ.
The need for a translation
The need for a translation arises when a person wishes to know the contents of a document written in a language of the original forms a barrier to his understanding of it, and the services of a translator are called in to bridge that barrier or gap.
This causes us to ask what the person requiring the translation expects of it or, in other words, why he wants it and what criteria he is likely to apply when judging the translation. Although opinions have differed at various times as to what is a good translation and although, as we shall be seeing later, the criteria may differ slightly depending on the purpose for which the translation is required, there are amongst translators certain fairly well-defined characteristics of a good translation, even if the relative stres placed on them may occasionally be subject to discussion.
The need for a translation
The need for a translation arises when a person wishes to know the contents of a document written in a language of the original forms a barrier to his understanding of it, and the services of a translator are called in to bridge that barrier or gap.
This causes us to ask what the person requiring the translation expects of it or, in other words, why he wants it and what criteria he is likely to apply when judging the translation. Although opinions have differed at various times as to what is a good translation and although, as we shall be seeing later, the criteria may differ slightly depending on the purpose for which the translation is required, there are amongst translators certain fairly well-defined characteristics of a good translation, even if the relative stres placed on them may occasionally be subject to discussion.
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