Definition of Translation

According to Catford (1965, p.20) translation is the act of replacing text material in the source language by an equivalent text in the target language. Moreover, Newmark (1981, p.7) sees translation as "a craft consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or statement in one language by the same message and/or statement in another language". Similar to Newmark (1981), De Groot (cited in Nababan, 2007) defines translation as the activity of reformulating written source language text into written target language text.

A translation text should not be read as a translation. The readers should read the translation text as a text which is written in their own language. Translating is transferring the meaning existing in the source language (SL) to the target language (TL), and makes it as natural as possible along with the rules of the TL (Simatupang, 2000, p.2).

Therefore, it can be concluded that translation is the process of transferring message from the source language (SL) text, whether written or spoken, into equivalent text in the target language (TL), and the TL should be natural.

Source: 

1. Catford, J. C. (1965). A linguistic theory of translation. London: Oxford University Press.

2. Nababan, M. R. (2007). Translation Process and Strategies: Two Case Studies. Retrieved June 10, 2009, from http://www.usd.ac.id/06/publ_dosen/ phenomena/feb07/nababan.pdf

3. Newmark, Peter. (1981). Approaches to translation. Oxford: Pergamond Press Ltd.

4. Simatupang, Maurits D.S. (2000). Pengantar teori terjemahan. Jakarta: Direktorat Jendral Pendidikan tinggi Departemen Pendidikan Nasional.

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Kategori: linguistics,translation

Process of Translation

Newmark (1981, p.144) mentions three basic translation processes. The first process is the interpretation and analysis of the source language text. The second process is the translation procedures, which may be direct, or on the basis of source language and target language corresponding syntactic structures, or through an underlying logical “interlanguage”. The last process is the reformulation of the text in relation to the writer’s intention, the readers’ expectation, the appropriate norms of the target language, etc.

Based on Nida and Taber, the processes of translation are first, analyzing the source language message. In this step, the translators analyze the SL text in the basis of the relationship of existing grammar (SL and TL grammars) and also analyze the meaning of words and sentences in order to understand the messages comprehensively (Nida and Taber, 1982 as quoted in Suryawinata and Hariyanto, 2003). The second process is transferring the result of analysis into similar message. In this step, the messages of the SL which have been understood are transferred into the translators’ mind. And the last is restructuring the transferred message into the natural form into TL.

Based on some explanations of the process of translation above, we can draw a conclusion that the translators should transfer either messages or forms of the SL being translated into equivalent TL and should be in natural way.  It means that a translated text should not be read as a result of translation. The readers should read the translated text as a text which is written in their own language. In other words, there must be equivalence between the SL and the TL.

Sources:

1. Newmark, Peter. (1981). Approaches to translation. Oxford: Pergamond Press Ltd.

2. Suryawinata, Z. & Hariyanto, S. (2003). Translation: bahasan teori & penuntun praktis menerjemahkan. Yogyakarta: Kanisius.

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Kategori: linguistics,translation

Equivalence in Translation

Nida (1964, p.166) proposes that “equivalent points toward the source language message. It means that the translators should try to fond the equivalent message in the TL which is equivalent to the SL message.

Catford (1965, p.50) points out that translations equivalence happens when an SL and a TL text or item are relatable to (at least some of) the same features of substance. According to Savory (cited in Suryawinata and Hariyanto, 2003, p.12), translation is made possible by an equivalent of thought that lies behind its different verbal expressions. In this statement, the equivalence is its ideas (thoughts).

Related to equivalence in translation, Baker (1991) mentions five translation equivalences. First is equivalence at for word level. It occurs when the translators try to transfer all of SL messages into TL. They usually focus on the meaning of word by word. Second is equivalence above word level. This kind of equivalence is usually used to translate a phrase and an idiom. Third is grammatical equivalence. It refers to the diversity of grammatical category across language. Forth is textual equivalence. It refers to the equivalence between SL text and TL text in terms of information cohesion. The last is pragmatic equivalence. It refers to the coherence and implicature of the SL and TL.

From the theories related to the equivalence in translation above, the writer can draw a conclusion that equivalence in translation can occur at least in two basics of consideration (meaning and structural/grammatical category). A translation should not only be equivalent with the SL, but also should be in natural way. It means that a translated text should not be read as a translation. The readers should read the translated text as a text which is written in their own language. It refers to the idea that a translation work should be sufficiently natural from the reader’s perspective. The idea leads to the discussion of naturalness in translation.

Sources:

1. Nida, Eugene A. (1964). Toward a science of translating. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

2. Catford, J. C. (1965). A linguistic theory of translation. London: Oxford University Press.

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Kategori: linguistics,translation

Naturalness in Translation

Nida (1964, p.167) has outlined that a natural translation involves two principal areas of adaptation, namely, grammar and lexicon. In terms of grammar, the grammatical modifications can be made more readily adjusted since many grammatical changes are dictated by the obligatory structures of the receptor language. On the other hand, the lexical structure of the source message is less readily adjusted to the semantic requirements of the receptor language. 

The naturalness in target language should be achieved in order to make the readers of the translated version do not realize that they are reading a translation product. Nida and Taber (cited in Choliludin, 2005, p.3) say that translating consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalence of a source language message, firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. To be able to produce the closest natural equivalence, a translator has to master the message in the original text up to the details, then find the equivalence of that message in the target language, and then he has to restructure it.

From the explanation of naturalness in translation above, the writer can conclude that translation should be natural in the forms of meaning and structure (grammar). So, the translators should make the translation be equivalent and natural in the forms of meaning and structure (grammar). They should do it in order to make the readers of the translated version do not realize that they are reading a translation product. They can do it on many kinds of translation.

Sources:

1. Nida, Eugene A. (1964). Toward a science of translating. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

2. Choliludin. (2005). The techniques of making idiomatic translation. Bekasi Timur: Kesaint Blanc. 

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Kategori: linguistics,translation

TRANSLATION ADJUSTMENTS

Adjustment is needed in any kinds of translation activity. The essential purpose of adjustment is to produce correct equivalents in the TL which are natural for the target readers and to facilitate its reproduction in a different form, and in fullest and most accurate sense (Nida, 1964).

In the light of adjustment in translating process, Nida (1964) divides translation adjustments into three basic techniques, but those are applicable to all types of translating. Those three techniques are: (1) addition, (2) subtraction, and (3) alteration. Meanwhile, Suryawinata and Hariyanto (2003) propose two translation strategies. Those two translation strategies are structural strategies and semantic strategies. Suryawinata and Hariyanto’s structural strategies (2003) are similar to Nida’s (1964) techniques of adjustments. Suryawinata and Hariyanto’s strategies cover: (1) addition, (2) subtraction, and (3) transposition.

Sources:

1. Nida, Eugene A. (1964). Toward a science of translating. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

2. Suryawinata, Z. & Hariyanto, S. (2003). Translation: bahasan teori & penuntun praktis menerjemahkan. Yogyakarta: Kanisius.

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Kategori: linguistics,translation