Teacher: Pallavi Dutta.

PAPER: AECC (72032801), Semester II

TOPIC: TRANSLATION

RECAPITULATION:

 Translation is not merely translation of words but also of ideas and meanings.
 Source Language = original work and Target Language = product of translation.
 Literal Translation for Non Literary Texts = word level.
 Idiomatic Translation for Literary Texts = meaning to meaning translation taking
care of cultural, linguistic, social, etc. background. Also known as Semantic
Translation or Free Translation.

In this lecture, let us look into some important terms related to translation:

Equivalence: The dictionary meaning of the word equivalence i.e. “the condition of being
equal or equivalent in value, worth, function, etc” clearly suggests that it is something which
is equal to that of something to which it is being compared to. In this case it is the translated
text’s comparison to the source text. In translation, equivalence is ought to be obtained at
word level, structure, grammar, meaning etc. It is important to differentiate equivalence with
sameness. “While translating from one language to the other, one looks for approximation
rather than sameness.” In certain languages, there are words which have no synonym in other
languages. In such cases, equivalence would act as a process to achieve approximation rather
than sameness. Can you think of some examples from your mother tongue?

Negotiation: As the term suggests, the process of negotiation in translation takes into account
how the equivalence level is to be achieved in terms of two different texts from different
socio cultural background. How to negotiate in the process of translation?

Acculturation: It is an essential feature of translation and is not much different in its meaning
from negotiation. When a text is translated from one language to another, many factors are to
be kept in mind because it is not the translation of one language to another but also but also
from the source culture to the target culture. The “cultural distinctiveness” of the source text
often comes as the dominant one with resistance of the target language to accept and
assimilate into it. Thus to achieve equivalence, negotiation has to be done on different levels.

Paraphrasing: Paraphrasing is often understood as summarising. In translation, its translation

in context of words and meanings from source language to target language so that the effect
on readers after reading the source text is equivalent to the effect on readers after reading the
target text.

Adaptations: As discussed in the previous lecture, translation studies was not regarded as a
separate field of studies and all the other similar concepts like adaptations, paraphrasing,
transliteration, etc were pushed under one umbrella term which denotes something which is
not at par with the original source and hence considered a inferior skill of re production.
Translation is simply a literal translation of content from one language to
another. Adaptation takes translation one step further and modifies the content to make it
culturally appropriate and accurate. Here modification of content is important. This gives
liberty in modifying the content and its expression. For example we all have heard or seen
Vishal Bharadwaj’s adaptations of Shakespearean dramas into Bollywood; the plays of
Shakespeare like Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello have been adapted to movies namely Haider,
Maqbool, Omkara by the director. In these movies, the content was modified to make it
culturally appropriate so that the target audience can relate to it. Also, there is a change in the
mode of expression the moment the moment the source text changes from a written play to a
film.

Please note: Now the question is if the content and the expression changes, why it is not
considered as new and original with no relation to a previous source text?

Herein, comes the concept of equivalence as discussed above. The adapted texts (in this case
a movie). The adapted texts commit to a “periphery of faithfulness” to the original text
attempting to have an equivalence in in its worth, value and function so that the effect on the
audience remains the same. Thus the adapted texts, although with modified content and
expression is a reflection of the source text.

Transliteration: It is the process of conversion of script from one language to another.

Thereby it is more concerned with the pronunciation of a word after it is transferred to a
different language. However, transliteration is the transfer of one word from the alphabet of
one language to another. In translation, the meaning is transferred by giving the word in
another language with same meaning, in transliteration, the word is transferred by putting it
in familiar alphabet and gives an idea of how the word is pronounced. For example, in
transliteration, words like chai, dhoti, achar within a text etc would be written in English
likewise rather than translating them into English equivalent like tea, garment or pickle or in
any other language.

Transcreation: This is another term related to translation and overlaps in its meaning with
adaptation. It is used by marketing and advertising professionals. By blending the terms
translation and creation, transcreation (sometimes called creative translation) is the
localisation or accounting for the local and cultural context of the original text for a different
target audience. The process “translates” message to a specific audience taking into
consideration acculturation and culture distinctiveness. It is like taking a concept in one
language and recreating it to another.

A well-known example of transcreation is one example of the use of a strongly

transcreational approach is in the United States adaptation of the Japanese anime Doraemon,
in which characters and settings were dramatically modified to suit United States
sensibilities. For example, depictions of Japanese yen notes were replaced by United States
currency, and a stand selling roasted sweet potato was replaced by a food truck selling
popcorn. (Source: Internet)

Code Mixing: When a person mixes the codes of two or more languages in a sentence or
message it is known as code mixing. For example, when we use words of other languages in
between conversation in another language. English words like urgent, decide, please, etc used
when one in speaking in Hindi or any other languages is an example of code mixing.

Code Switching: When a person switches to a different language during conversation due to
some reason it is code switching. For example, when you converse in English with the
teacher in a classroom and the moment you speak to your friend you “switch” to Hindi or any
other Indian language.

Points to remember while translating:

 For some of the words in one language, no exact word(s) exist in a different language.
Thus, literal translation is not possible.
 Read the text and try to understand the meaning and message for the audience.
 Try to find out the equivalents of the source language.
  Equivalence both in word level as well as meaning level is desired.
 Prepare a rough draft.
 Try to identify the target audience.
 Maintain the periphery of faithfulness to the original text.

Source:

Internet sources

Communication Skills: Theory and Practice (6th edition) by Prerna Malhotra and Deb Dulal
Halder.