Study Material for the students of B. A. Prog.

II Year

SEC- Translation Studies

Dr. Shubha Dwivedi

Assistant Professor

Department of English

ARSD College

Different Types of Translation

Lets have a brief discussion on the different types of translation here-

Word-for-word Translation

This is also presented as interlinear translation, with the TL immediately below the
SL words. The SL word-order is preserved and the words translated singly by their
most common meanings, out of context. Cultural words are translated literally. The
main purpose of word-for-word translation is to understand the mechanics of the
source language and to interpret a difficult text as a pre-translation process.

Literal Translation

The SL grammatical constructions are changed into their nearest TL equivalents

but the lexicons are again translated singly, with lesser regard to context and other
socio-cultural suggestions of the expression. As a pre-translation activity this
suggests the problems to be solved. Literal Translation is considered an inferior
form of translation as it is likely to distort the meaning of the text in an
unintentional manner.

Faithful Translation

A faithful translation aims to recreate the precise contextual meaning of the

original within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures. It ‘transfers’
cultural words and preserves the degree of grammatical and lexical ‘abnormality’
(deviation from SL norms) in the translation. It attempts to be completely faithful
to the intentions and the text conceptions of the SL writer.

Semantic Translation

Semantic Translation can be understood as the method of sense-for-sense

translation. It takes into its consideration the context and the various linguistic
features of the source text while transmitting it to the target language. Peter
NewMark defines Semantic translation as an attempt to render as closely as the
semantic and the syntactic structures of the TL allow, the exact contextual meaning
of the original, thus making it accurate but not a proper way to communicate.
Semantic Translation gives more importance to the aesthetic value (that is, the
beautiful and natural sound) of the SL text, compromising on meaning where
suitable so that no assonance, word-play or repetition jars in the finished version.
The difference between faithful and semantic translation is a close one as the first
is uncompromising and dogmatic while the other is more flexible, allows the
creative exception to utmost fidelity and make provisions for the translator’s
intuitive empathy with the original. Semantic translation is written at the author’s
linguistic level, is economical and is used for ‘expressive’ texts.

Adaptation

It is the most flexible rather free form of translation. It is used for literary works:
plays and poetry where the theme, characters, plots are usually preserved but the
SL culture is converted to the TL culture and the text is rewritten. Adaptations of
many plays and poems have given a new relevance and meaning to the age-old
texts.

Free Translation

Free translation reproduces the matter without bothering about the manner or the
content without considering much about the original form of the text. Mostly, it is
the paraphrase longer than the original, a kind of intralingual translation, often
verbose and artificial, and not much of translation.

Idiomatic Translation
Idiomatic Translation replicates the ‘message’ of the original but tends to ditort
nuances of meaning by including colloquialisms and idioms where these don’t
exist in the original.

Communicative Translation

According to Peter Newmark, communicative translation attempts to render the

exact contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both content and
language are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the readers. It is more
suitable for informative and vocative texts. This concept of Newmark is quite
similar to Nida’s concept of Dynamic Equivalence.

Administrative, Technical, Official Translation

Administrative, Technical and Official Translation cater to the professional

requirements of diverse fields where the subject matter is official, scientific, legal
or technical in nature and encapsulates translation of various official documents,
instructions, rules and regulations, office orders, policy decisions, user manuals for
different products, software and machines; detailed discussions on technical
processes etc. The translation of these kinds require an expertise in the
field(technical, legal or official), along with a good command over jargons and
technical terms employed in the field. One may require a higher degree of
objectivity and specialized training to achieve accuracy and clarity in this kind of
translation.

Transcreation

An imaginative translation is defined as transcreation. According to Anjana Tiwari

an act of translation at its best should be seen as an act of transcreation. One may
be right according to one’s idea of creativity and accordingly, of the process of
translation as well. “Transcreation is a cross between straight translation and
creative copywriting, using specialist translators to come up with appropriate and
relevant counterparts to word plays or other creative concepts while maintaining
the sense of the original text.” Whereas translations are often too liberal and
abstract or written in very formal , incomprehensible English or are philosophically
one sided, transcreations are often reader friendly, comprehensible and offer an
unbiased philosophical perspective while presenting the main theme of the text in
lucid language. It makes the reader feel as if the text was originally written in their
own language and they can easily relate to the meaning encapsulated in it.

Literary transcreations are extremely popular all the world over as they bridge the
gap between different dialects, languages and cultures by providing the essence of
particular works of literature in a simple, clear, non pedantic style and language.

Informal Translation

This presents all the information in a non-literary text, rearranged in a more logical
form, sometimes partially summarised, and not in the form of a paraphrase.

Machine Translation

Machine Translation or Automated translation is a way to translate with the help of

software producing translation from one human language to another. It is also
referred to as Computer Aided Translation or CAT. Machine translation is time
saving and economically viable, but fails in situations where the text involves
deeper nuances and requires expertise in the field.

Subtitling and Dubbing

Subtitling and Dubbing enable us to watch, enjoy, experience shows, movies,

documentaries, news, videos, games etc. in one’s preferred language. Subtitling
and Dubbing and sometimes voice-over are important translational activities in
audio-visual media and are fast catching up with the entertainment industry.

In “Audiovisual Translation in the Third Millennium” Jorge Diaz Cintas explains

Dubbing, Voice –Over and subtitling in the following manner:

Subtitling involves displaying written text, usually at the bottom of the screen,
giving an account of the writer’s dialogue and other linguistic information which
form part of the visual image(letters, graffiti, and captions) or of the soundtrack
(songs).

Dubbing

Dubbing means replacing the original song containing the actors’ dialogue with a
target language recording that produces the original message , while at the same
time ensuring that the TL sounds and the actors’ lip movements are more or less
synchronized.

Voice-Over

Voice-Over means reducing the volume of the original soundtrack completely, or

to a minimal auditory level, in order to ensure that the translation, which is
superimposed on the original sound track, can be easily heard. It is common
practice to allow a few seconds of the original speech before reducing the volume
and superimposing the translation. The reading of the translation finishes a few
seconds before the end of the original speech, allowing the audience to listen to the
voice of the person on the screen at a normal volume once again.

Questions for Self-Assessment

1.) Write short notes on any two of the following:

• Transcreation
• Subtitling
• Register
• Dynamic equivalence
• Audio-visual translation
• Free translation
• Subtitling
• Adaptation
• Equivalence
2.) ‘Adaptation works better than mere translation.’ Discuss the difference
between the two giving at least two textual examples of their
appropriateness.
3.) ‘The theoretical notion of equivalence is irrelevant to translation’. Discuss
the need for equivalence in translation using examples from a text of your
own choice.
4.) Discuss the cultural, linguistic and ethical problems that an interpreter faces
in simultaneous interpretation.
 5.) What is the difference between the linguistic and the cultural approach to
translation? Do the two complement each other? Elaborate.
6.) Good dubbing often adds to the original text and increase its influence and
reach on the audience. Elaborate.
7.) What are the three stages of translation? What role does a translator perform
during the process of translation?
8.) Translation is an activity that is indispensable for a country like India.
Comment.
9.) What are the challenges you would face while using machine translation?
Elaborate on the measures you would take to counter them?
10.) You have received the following audio-visual materials for
translation. Discuss whether you would use subtitling or dubbing in each
case, giving reasons for your choice.
• An English Movie
• A news item in Malyalam
• A Hindi song video

References

Newmark, Peter. A textbook of Translation. New York: Prentice hall, 1988.

Tiwari, Anjana. “Translation or Transcreation,” Studies in Translation,ed. Mohit K

Ray, New Delhi: Atlantic,2008.

Halder, Deb Dulal, et al. Foundational Concepts of Translation. Delhi: Book Age
Publications, 2013.