Comments on: When is a Translation not a Translation?

By: Marzena

Marzena — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:44:43 +0000

I agree with the author thay you cannot translate word by word. You have to also know the context.

By: transubstantiation

transubstantiation — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:13:57 +0000

Very good example. In fact, I’d go as far as claiming that interpreting is closest of all to the real essence of translating (both in its positive and negative aspects).

By: michael farris

michael farris — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:04:45 +0000

I used to have contact with sign language interpreters in the US (stop me if you’ve heard this) who have a pretty strict code of ethics developed in accordance with the preferences of the great majority of their clients and with the goal of making the process as transparent as possible.

One of the pillars of the code of ethnics is that an interpreter is not a negotiator, diplomat, or therapist. Their task is to transmit signed messages into speech and spoken messages into sign as faithfully as possible with no editing in terms of tone or factual accuracy. They also don’t IME frame messages with ‘he says’ or ’she wants to know’ but simply speaks or signs the message (this can take some getting used to in social situations).

The situation of sign language interpreters (working in two languages* but in the same broader cultural context) is different from that of spoken interpreters (though maybe court interpretation might be close sometimes) and translators. If a translator faithfully reproduces mistakes from the source to the target language they’re liable to be blamed for them (instead of the author of the original) and most people most of the time are ….. not good writers and sometimes texts cry out for basic editing.

*nb. American Sign Language (ASL) is very different from English in terms of word-order and morphology.

By: Agata M

Agata M — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:40:34 +0000

It is sometimes difficult to guess what does the author of the source text want to say (espetially when the source text is written with mistakes). And then we have to decide weather to correct the author’s mistakes in the target text or to translate the mistakes. this of course also depends on what the text is about (there may be a situation where tranlslating mistakes is necessary) Translating is a tough job that requires creativity.

By: transubstantiation

transubstantiation — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:35:53 +0000

How can the translator ever have a deep insight into the mind of the author?

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:46:43 +0000

Good translation requires not only proficency in SL but also a deep insight in the mind of the author.

By: Aneta Kreczko

Aneta Kreczko — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:20:14 +0000

I think it is important to know how to use metaphrase, paraphrase and imitation in order to translate a given text. Undoubtedly, it is a very difficult task with which all translators have to deal.

By: Kasia Sz.

Kasia Sz. — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:24:16 +0000

Very interesting, as far a I know “Translation is impossible!” So we may say that term “translation” is not appropriate for the process of transforming one language into another. Complicated but fascinating

By: transubstantiation

transubstantiation — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:41:26 +0000

The art of balance and the art of keeping balance are no doubt two of the greatest skills that the translator possess.

By: Karolina Tkaczyk

Karolina Tkaczyk — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:36:59 +0000

I agree with the person above me. I think the most important thing is to know how to balance these methods of translation. A translator cannot help but use all three: metaphrase, paraphrase and imitation, he or she just has to know how to mix them all together in such a way that the translation is.. not perfect, because 100% perfect translations do not exist… but really good.