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Introduction
Translation is as old as the art of writing or as old as the history of education in general. It is occasioned by the social needs of people. Whenever, for instance, two linguistic groups interact as neighbors to each other, translation from and to each other’s languages becomes inevitable if they must meaningfully communicate with each other in matters of commerce, intermarriage, education, legal issues, etc. Religious books like the Bible and the Qur’ān have been essentially translated into numerous languages in different parts of the world as a facilitator of missionary activities.
The Concept of Translation
Translation consists of changing from one form – of language in this regard – to another. Talking about form, reference is made to the actual words, phrases, sentences, clauses, paragraphs, etc., which are spoken or written. They (i.e., the forms) are the surface structure of a language.
Technically, the form from which the translation is made will be called the source language, and the form into which it is to be changed will be called the receptor language.
Translation, then, consists of studying the lexis, grammatical structure, communication situation, and cultural context of the source language text; all these are analyzed in order to determine its meaning. This same meaning is then reconstructed using the lexicon and grammatical structure which are appropriate in the receptor language and its cultural context. For example, if we use Arabic as a source language and English as the receptor, "Ana Muslim" becomes the text whose lexicon, grammatical structure, communication situation, and cultural context are analyzed in order to determine its meaning. The meaning is then reconstructed using the lexicon and grammatical structure which are appropriate in the receptor language. To that extent, "Ana Muslim" is restructured thus: ‘I am a Muslim.’
Ray (1973) defines translation as the rendering of a source language text into a target language with a view to preserving as much as possible the message and style of the source language. You will observe that the receptor language has been given another name by Ray, which is target language.
In Ghamrawi’s (1966) point of view, translation is the closest natural equivalent message to the message of the source language. What that means is that, in translation, you may not be able to do more than get close to the meaning of the source language. It is also the means of communication borne out of contacts and interactions between the speakers of different languages.
Translation, according to Catford, J.C. (1985), is the replacement of textual material in one language by equivalent textual material in another language.
By now, you would have observed that there are various definitions of translation. Interestingly, all the definitions have one thing in common: emphasizing the position of the source language and target language, both of which are called differently by various authorities.
Appreciating the Need for Translation
The need for translation is borne out of the fact that nations and ethnic groups make diplomatic, cultural, trade, and educational exchanges from time to time. In the process, agreements and deals are signed. Each party in the agreement shall keep the document, which must be in the languages of the contracting parties. Foreign missions and embassies are recognized all over the world as the representatives of one country in another country. The diplomats in such embassies will require the services of a translator in order to keep abreast of the current affairs in the country of their mission. This happens when an English-speaking diplomat is sent to a Francophone country, like a diplomatic exchange between Nigeria and Togo, or when a diplomat is sent from Egypt to Ghana. Students are also in need of translation, especially when they travel out of their country to study in a place like Russia or China. The academics that conduct research and need documents that are written in a language other than their own will certainly need translation. A business tycoon traveling around the world or a tourist shuttling between state capitals will rely, for information, on translation. The list of those who need translation is inexhaustible because almost every human being will, at one time or another, have a cause to use translation.
Conclusion
As discussed above, the translation of one language to another is highly necessary for social and economic development among people of different linguistic backgrounds throughout the world. It promotes harmonious interaction and mutual understanding which linguistic differences could have prevented.
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