1. INTRODUCTION
In this essay we are going to study the translation equivalents and the gaps raised from the non-equivalence at word level; then we will analyze some useful strategies for the translation process.
What is a word? How the translator deals with this gap? What influences his choices? These are few of the question we will try to explain in this paper. We will pay a particular attention to the cultural differences and the translational gaps raised from it. In my opinion the non-equivalence in translation is due above all by the cultural barriers that influence our lifes.
The work of the translator stars with the reading of the ST: he has to study the lexicon, the grammatical structure, the communicative intention of the writer, and of course the cultural context in which is developed the ST, in order to identify the best translation strategy able to express the original intention.
The translation process may seem easy to them who don't have to deal regularly with it, but after a little exercise anyone could realize the amount of problems rize even just from the translation of a single word. In fact languages are not a list of tags that simply name the categories of the world; each language organizes the world in a different way and the meaning and value of the words varies in relation to their cultural and social system.
The procedure we are going to examine here is the equivalence in translation at word level, or, as we will see, the lack of equivalence. This procedure is possible when the translator in able find a SL textual item replacement in the TL, the closest possible to the original meaning and style. Many people could think that this is an easy task and that many languages can be translated by using this particular method; we will see how complicated it can be.
2. THE WORD LEVEL
In her analysis, Mona Baker investigates all text equivalences: apart the object of this paper, she studies the grammatical equivalence, the textual equivalence and the pragmatic equivalence. However this paper will be centered only on the micro level.
Her study starts this analysis by the definition of the word as "the smallest unit which we would expect to possess individual meaning" (Baker, 1992). As Baker herself says this isn't actually true. Linguists have distinguish between the word and the morpheme: the word is the smallest element that can be used by itself, but it can carry more than one elements of meaning.
Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life” is a short science fiction story that explores the principals of linguistic relativity through in interesting relationship between aliens and humans that develops when aliens, known as Heptapods, appear on Earth. In the story Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist hired by the government to learn the Heptapods language, tells her unborn daughter what she has learned from the Heptapods as a result of learning their language. M. NourbeSe Philip’s poem “Discourse on the Logic of Language” also explores the topic of language and translations, as she refers to different languages as her “mother tongue” or “father tongue.” Although these two pieces of literature may not seem to have much in common both explore the topics of language and translation and connect those ideas to power and control.
Words are like vessels—they are merely novel constructions of sounds empty of meaning until we fill them. They mean only what we discern in them, and nothing more. Words are only our impressions of them—imprecise, indefinite, unclear. A single word suggests infinite shades of intensity, quality, or connotation. They are variable, distinct in each era and dialect, even in each language.
If you have ever had a conversation with someone whose first language is not the same as your own, you are probably familiar with the idea that there are certain words and phrases that do not translate perfectly from one language to another. This conflict is usually a matter of one language having a single word or succinct phrase for a concept which another language might need an entire sentence to capture.
Translation is a linguistic science, but it occurs within a theological and moral framework. The issue is a sensitive one, as theology involves an obligation to the text and morality involves an obligation to the
This study aims to shed light on the reason behind these alterations, additions, and omissions occurred in the process of inter-semiotic translation. To that end, the study reveals the role of deconstruction, presented by Jacques Derrida, in this process. Therefore, the study attempts to explore the influences on the aforementioned adaptation exerted by deconstruction in order to rationalize the discrepancies between the ST and TT.
Overall, this essay argues about the power of language. Tan argues through her writing how people, who struggle with English, are mistreated within the society. It is also an eye opener for those who quickly judge those who speak broken English. There are also many more families out there who struggle with the same thing. They may always ask for their kid’s help with writing letters or making a phone calls. This “broken” English has made Tan closer to her mother and her love for her mother grow. That is why she loves her mother’s tongue, it is the way they communicate and understand each other the best. However, this essay teaches us not to take the power of language for-granted and to help others not to judge those who have a hard time with English. Everyone struggles, so don’t be quick to criticize them.
Translation, oral or written, is probably as ancient person spoken or written word. Translation as defined the communication of the meaning of a source language text by the meaning of an equivalent target language text. In addition described the translation as an expression of a sense from one language to another language. However it is a multiple stages creative and process. Translation offers us the experience and attitudes of another culture or from traditional language to modern language. Such as a Traditional Chinese translation. While looking at traditional Chinese translation, social science; cultural and ethical values, that traditional Chinese translation is not necessarily
"For the translator, who stands astride two cultures, possesses two different sensibilities, and assumes a double identity" —Husain Haddawy
This book mainly focus on the relationship between translation and culture. It addresses the shift of focus from translated block of text to the binding of translations and the cultures involved in generating these translations. It also covers the significance of translation for cultural planning.
Bearing this in mind, this paper deals with the issue of markednessas used in the translation of the Qur’an.Since this is a potentially very wide area of research, only one linguistic aspect will be dealt with in detail: when sound and meaning are inseparably combined to form a joint whole. This is termed here “sound-meaning conflation.” Eventhis phenomenon will mainly be studied at the word level, with a few examples of larger structures. Recently, Ahmad Eliman (2013) studied marked word order in the Qur’an and how it istreated in translation. It remains to be said that the ground is ripe for further research.
In conclusion, it is recognized that literal translation and semantic translation are conducted around faithfulness, communicative translation and complication are implemented based on the rule of expressiveness, while rewrite pursues for elegance. Each of them has its own strengths and deficiencies in different applicable areas.
In the 1960s and 1970s, based on the concept of equivalence, many scholars have developed various views and approaches, which has improved and further developed the translation theory. Nida (as cited in Venuti, 2000), one of the most influential linguists in the translation field, defines two different types of equivalence, which are formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence. Formal equivalence focuses on the form and content of the source text. Dynamic equivalence emphasizes that the translation need to use an unmarked expression, but to provide the same function in the target text. The target text 1 shown in table 1 is an example of using formal equivalence. The Chinese sign ‘注意安全’ has been translated as ‘Attention Safety’. However, due to the differences of the terms between Chinese and English, this target text could be difficult to understand by the target audience. Hence, as Nida (as cited in Venuti, 2000) states by using formal equivalence, it is necessary to use footnotes to help target audience understand these idiomatic terms in the source language. The target text two: ‘Caution!’ is an example of using dynamic equivalence. This translation only translated the first two Chinese characters. The language use of this translation has been made some adjustment to match the context of the target language. However, this translation could provide the same function in the target culture as the function of the source text in the source culture. Thus, Nida’s (as cited in Venuti, 2000) two types of equivalence approach provide some effective methods of translation. After using footnotes or some essential adjustment, the source test could be generally considered as
Translations are essential to us and our culture, because through ancient documents, inscriptions and books, historians and archeologists reconstruct the ancient societies and civilizations, as well as the story of our forefathers and the history of the entire human race. They allow communication between us and different countries and nations, whose language might be different from ours and this may create difficulties in being able to understand each other. However, translators make this possible as they are the mediators between two different cultures. The need for translations is massive, from both a social and political outlook. According to David Katan’s Translating Cultures, “The translator is a bilingual mediating agent between monolingual communication participants in two different language communities” (16). Therefore, for a translation to succeed translators have to be not only bilingual, but also bicultural. A translator is furthermore put in an exclusive but at the same time, difficult position because it is his responsibility to clarify certain ideas within cultural and natural boundaries. This can be done by keeping the same exact (literal) meaning. Interpreting and translating a text is not a simple and easy task; it takes time and is also challenging, because “the translator cannot merely search for equivalent words in the target language to render the meaning of the source” (Dingwaney and Maier, 3). Up until today there are many translations of ancient works and books, such as the Odyssey; and so, there is a wide range for people to choose from. This choice must be taken with the most care because some may be exceptionally good at communicating the essence of the original text while others ...
This means that formal equivalence aims to reproduce as closely as possible the same meaning of the ST without paying attention to TL readers, i.e. whether the translation sounds natural for them or not. Nida and Taber (1969: 201) state that formal equivalence “distorts the grammatical and stylistic patterns of the receptor language, and hence distorts the message, so as to cause the receptor to misunderstand or to labor unduly hard.” An example of formal equivalence is “gloss translation” in which the translator tries to reproduce the form and content of the ST in order to enable students to gain knowledge about SL structure and culture (Nida, 1964:159). Translation shifts are thus not expected to occur when formal equivalence is
There has been a heated discussion in the field of Translation Studies with respect to where the emphasis should be put. Should it be on the source text and the sender, on the target text and the receiver or the process itself? This boils down to how one defines translation. This essay offers a critical view on the Skopos theory, which focuses on the translation process. A discussion is included to illustrate the importance of translation brief in both pedagogical and professional settings. Other related theories are presented as well. Finally, the essay concludes with a few remarks and suggestions.