Tanslation Methods- A Textbook Of Translation - Peter Newmark 67321h

For century people wondered what methods to use in order to translate best: free or literal translation. But most of the translators went in favor of the free translation, meaning they focused on the sense of the word, on its message rather than its form. However, the problem of literal translation seems not to have disappeared. There are certain methods: Word-for-word translation also called interlinear translation where the translated word is placed right below the text from the source language. Even the word order is preserved. This method is mainly used in order to understand the structure of the source language. Literal translation implies that words are individually translated using close equivalents in the TL. Faithful translation reproduces the exact contextual meaning of the word and transfers cultural words. Semantic translation focuses more on the aesthetic value of the word compromising its meaning so as to avoid repetition or assonance. A faithful translation is uncompromising while a semantic one is more flexible and allows the translator to use his intuition. It tends to over-translate. It has to interpret. Adaptation allows freedom to translate for example poetry, plays, but themes, characters and plots are preserved. This method is considered poor but many literary works have been translated using this method and this way, they were preserved for us. Free translation reproduces the message and not the form of the texts, it is a way of paraphrasing longer than original and it is not considered a translation. Idiomatic translation also reproduces the message of the text but it tends to distort it by using colloquialisms and idioms in the TL. Communicative translation renders the exact meaning of the original text so that the content and language are understandable for the reader. It tends to under-translate. It has to explain. Apparently, only semantic and communicative methods of translation fulfill the aims of the translation: accuracy and economy. There are certain items to be dealt with: Inexpressive original texts are translated by using the same mood or attitude of the writer, but the texts that are incorrect written must be corrected by the translator in the communicative translation, but not in vocative translation, and cultural are transferred and explained in the SL.

It is an important translation concept, to taste the spirit of the original, expressive texts rendered by nuances of meaning Purpose of translation: Translate so as to obtain the same effect. It’s a desire not an aim because it is very difficult depending on the purpose of the writer/translator or on the cultural gap. Ex. Cultural

items are rendered neutral and not expressive, but a persuasive text needs to be rendered as expressive as in the original. Sometimes the translator has to compensate with his own words the feelings of the writer in order to have a similar effect on the reader. Sometimes the reader is the one who has to step in the culture of the SL in order to empathize with the author’s feelings or thoughts. Ex. Shakespeare’s poem Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? It doesn’t have the desired effect if the reader lives in a place where summer is not a pleasant season. Sometimes is based on intuition. Translation Some main principles: Very important is to read first the text than translate. If it has cultural contents we have to make research. We don t want to mislead or to translate a key word improperly. Sometimes you can choose not to translate some words, still find the corresponding term for it and if you understand the message of the text you may contextualize these words like jargon or cultural . Several types of translation: service, plain prose translation, information translation. The latter can be divided into cognitive( reduces fig to literal), academic(reduces the original to elegant idiomatic).

Reaction Paper This chapter illustrates several methods of translation that have been used over the years by translators. In this part the author specifies the problems of translation and the choice that a translator has to make. A translator has to choose between translating literally and tasting the spirit of the original text, rendering its meaning, not its form. Why is the method chosen by the translator important? I believe this choice can totally affect the message of the text and the impact that it has on the readers. There are certain methods: Word-for-word translation, Literal translation, Faithful translation, Semantic translation , Adaptation, Free translation, Idiomatic translation and Communicative translation. All of these have advantages and disadvantages and are useful, but only two of them are considered to fulfill the aims of the translation: accuracy and economy. These are semantic and communicative translation. What I found to be very interesting is that a translator has to render differently the words depending on the type of the text, fact that it was new to me. There are there types of texts: vocative, informative and expressive texts. For example, the informative texts that are incorrect written must be corrected by the translator in the communicative translation, but not in vocative translation. On the other hand, expressive original texts are translated by using the same mood or attitude of the writer. For me, the most interesting part was the one dedicated to the equivalence effect. It is an important translation concept, and it involves tasting the spirit of the original text. The translator has to make sure that expressive texts are rendered by nuances of meaning and most of the times the process of translation is based on the intuition of the translator. He has a major role because he decides what term fits best to the context in order to have the desired effect of the author. Sometimes the translator has to compensate with his own words the feelings of the writer in order

to have a similar effect on the reader. Sometimes the reader is the one who has to step in the culture of the SL in order to empathize with the author’s feelings or thoughts. Ex. Shakespeare’s poem” Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” doesn’t have the desired effect if the reader lives in a place where summer is not a pleasant season. So, sometimes the translation is based on intuition sometimes on the research of the translator. This made me think more about the role that a translator has and what a great responsibility it implies. In the end, the author states a few principles of translation . We have heard several times that we have to read first the text rather than immediately translate, in order to have a general idea of the text . Why is that so important? If the text contains cultural contents we have to make research. Then, we don t want to mislead or to translate a key word improperly. Moreover, sometimes we need to contextualize words like jargon or cultural in order to fit to the general message of the text. I believe these steps need to be carefully applied when translating otherwise we just end by doing a bad translation which has no impact on the readers. I found these information to be very useful because they made me realize that the work of a translator is not just technical but it is a form of art that involves emotion, empathy and hard work.