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Methods and Techniques of Translation

Translation techniques focus on analyzing language components and finding equivalents for smaller text units, while translation methods justify the entire translated text and cover the whole text. Techniques are used at the sentence level and below, while methods affect the overall translation results

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168 views

Methods and Techniques of Translation

Translation techniques focus on analyzing language components and finding equivalents for smaller text units, while translation methods justify the entire translated text and cover the whole text. Techniques are used at the sentence level and below, while methods affect the overall translation results

Uploaded by

Anjar Susilayati
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF TRANSLATION

Technique is a way to make or do something related to art. Based on this


definition, the technique is different from the method. The translation method
justifies the entire translated text, while the translation technique focuses
more on analyzing the components of the language and classifying all of the
components so that an appropriate equivalent is found (Molina and Albir,
2002, p. 509). Newmark in Ordudary (2007) saying that a translation method
covers to whole texts, while translation procedures or techniques are used for
sentences and the smaller units of language. In this connection Molina and
Albir explain five basic characteristics of translation techniques, they are:

a) Translation techniques affect the translation results.


b) Translation techniques compare SL with TL.
c) Translation techniques affect the smallest units of text, for example words,
phrases, and sentences.
d) Translation techniques are natural and contextual discursive
(logical). e) Translation techniques are functional.

The terms of translation techniques below based on some experts’


arguments. It is adopted from Molina and Albir (2002), Hatim and Munday
(2004), and Bosco (2008).

In practice, a translator can use one, two, three orfour techniques when he
translates a text. In relation to this statement, Newmark (1988) said that we can
describe those techniques like ‘two or more bites at one cherry’ (p. 91). If the
translator uses only one technique in translating one sentence or expression, it
is commonly called that he uses a single technique. If he combines two
techniques in one process of translating a sentence, it is called the duplet or
couplet approach. Then if he combines three techniques in one process of
translating a sentence, it is called a triplet approach, while using four translation
techniques in one string of translation called quadruplet approach.

In term of a single technique, translator uses only one translation technique


in translating one sentence or expression, whether he uses literal technique,
pure borrowing, transposition, modulation or else. The following is the example
of a single technique of translation:

ST: She ate pizza yesterday afternoon.

TT: Dia makan pizza kemarin sore.

From the translation above, the use of the word ‘pizza’ in the source text (ST)
is an example of a single technique. Here the translator uses only one
technique, that is pure borrowing technique.

What is duplet or couplet? It is a method when translators use two


different techniques in translating one sentence or expression (Ordudary,
2007, p. 5). The following is an example of duplet approach usage in
translating the following idiomatic expression:

ST: tooth and nail


TT: ‘mati-matian’

The example above said that the phrase ‘the tooth and nail was
translated into 'mati-matian'. Here the translator used a duplet approach
because he combined two techniques: transposition and modulation
techniques. First, the translator used the transposition technique, which
translated ‘the tooth and nail’ as nouns into the phrase 'mati-matian' as an
adverb. Second, he used modulation technique that shifted the meaning of
‘the tooth and nail’ (= gigi dan kuku) freely and idiomatically into the
expression 'mati-matian'.
The next one is triplet. What is it? It is an approach used by translators to
combine three different techniques in translating one sentence or expression.
Look at the following example:

ST: I was far too old to settle an argument with a fist-fight.

TT: Sudah kelewat tua bagi saya untuk berdebat dengan adu jotos.
The translation above illustrates that the translator used triplet approach
to translate that sentence. First, he used addition technique by adding the
word 'Karena' at the beginning of the target sentence, even though it was not
stated in the source text. Second, he used modulation technique to shift the
meaning of ‘terlalu tua’ (= far too old) into the expression ‘kelewat tua’ and
the word ‘pendapat’ (= argument), which should be ‘adu argumen’ was
translated into ‘berdebat’ (= debates). Third, he used reduction or deletion
technique that eliminate two articles of ‘an’ and ‘a’ in the words ‘an argument’
and ‘a fist- fight’, though he really can use the equivalent word ‘sebuah’ for
both ‘an’ and ‘a’ articles.

On the other hand, if the translator uses four different techniques in one
string of translating a sentence or expression, it can be said that he tends to
use quadruplet approach (Newmark, 1988, p. 91) and (Liu and Wang,

2010, p. 300). Here is the example of quadruplet usage:


ST: Mrs. Green called an online shop for an order of instant noodles.

TT: Nyonya Green menelpon warung makanan online untuk


memesan seporsi mi instan.

From the example above, we can analyze that the translator used four
techniques at once. First, he used reduction technique because he removed the
article ‘an’ from ‘online shop’ and translates it into ‘toko online’ without the
article ‘sebuah’. Second, he used the transposition technique to translate the
phrase ‘for an order’ (= untuk sebuah pesanan) as a noun phrase into the verb
phrase ‘untuk memesan’. Third, he used addition technique, namely adding the
word ‘seporsi’ in target text, which does not appear in the source text. Fourth,
he used the word ‘online’ as pure borrowing technique in the target text.

Newmark (1988) in this case classified literal translation and adaptation into
methods while Molina and Albir (2020) grouped both into technques. Based
on Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesaia KBBI (2005) the term method is
interpreted as a regular method used to carry out a work to be achieved in
accordance with the desired. It is a systemic way of working to facilitate the
implementation of an activity to achieve the specified goals (p. 740).
Referring to the terms of translation as a method, Molina and Albir (2002)
argued that translation method is a way of carrying out translator's objective, for
example, a global preference that affects the whole texts ‘(p. 507). From this
definition it can be said that translation method is more likely to be a way used
by translators in translation process in accordance with its purpose or goal or
aim of the translation. It is like a global translator’s option that affects the entire
or whole text. So it greatly affects the translation results. It means that the
translation results are largely determined by the translation method used by the
translator because of the intention, purpose and aim that the translator tended,
so it affects the results of the overall translation products. This statement was
reinforced by Newmark’s opinion in Ordudary (2007) saying that a translation
method covers to whole texts, while translation procedures or techniques are
used for sentences and the smaller units of language.

While in relation to translation methods, Newmark (1988), proposed eight


translation methods that are grouped into two parts. The first part (four
methods: word-for-word, literal, faithful, and semantic) emphasize on the
source text and the second part (four methods: adaptation, free, idiomatic,
and communicative) tend to emphasize on the target text. All eight methods
of translation lead finally translators to have two strategies of translation:
foreignization and domestication or both are well known as translation
ideology. If the translator tends to use four eight methods emphasizing on the
source language, he tends to keep the foreignization ideology and vice versa.
See the V diagram of the translation methods proposed by Newmark (1988)
below:

Figure 1.2 Newmark’s V Diagram (1988)


Exercise:

1. What is the difference between technique and method of


translation? 2. When do translators need techniques of translation?
3. When do they use translation methods?

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