(toc) #title= (Table of Content)
Various Types of Translation
Literal Translation/Word for Word Translation
There are four types of translation:
1. Literal translation or word for word
2. Idiomatic translation
3. Unduly free translation
4. Interlinear translation
Literal translation is a kind of translation that has to do with form-based translation of the source language, and it is also known as word for word translation. This kind of translation is very useful for purposes related to the study of the source language, and it is of little help to the speakers of the receptor language who are very interested in the meaning of the source language text. A literal translation of words, idioms, figures of speech, etc. results in unclear, unnatural, and sometimes nonsensical translations and has little communication value. For example, in translating Arabic word to English:
- (Mā ‘smuka) 占َﺇِ l
- (Min ‘ayna ji’ta) 二?ِ !ﺃَ d
means: What name yours?
means: From where you come.
This literal translation makes little sense in English. Therefore, the appropriate translation would be:
- (Mā ‘smuka) 占َﺇِ l
- (Min ‘ayna ji’ta) 二?ِ !ﺃَ
What is your name?
Where did you come from?
Idiomatic Translation
Idiomatic translation is the kind of translation that is meaning-based and which communicates the meaning of the source language in a natural form of the receptor language. In translating an idiom, the translator’s goal should be to reproduce in the receptor language a text which communicates the same message as the source language but using the natural grammatical and lexical choices of the receptor language.
"Mimma qalla samāhu z-zamān bimithlihī," a literal translation of this Arabic idiom into a receptor language, e.g., English, will destroy the message. So, we have to look for an English equivalent of the idiom, which is: "He is a rare gem."
However, the main essence is that an idiomatic translation reproduces the meaning of the source language (that is, the meaning intended by the original communicator) in the natural form of the receptor language using the natural form of the receptor language in the grammatical constructions and in the choice of lexical items. A truly idiomatic translation sounds like it was written originally in the receptor language. Therefore, a good translator must endeavor to translate idiomatically.
For example:
While rendering “He kicked the bucket” into idiomatic Arabic language, it would be ﻥ义召 ﺕlA.
Unduly Free Translation
Unduly free translation is the kind of translation that has additional extraneous information which is not included in the source text, whether the meaning of the source language has been changed or the fact of the historical and cultural setting of the source language text has been distorted. However, this kind of translation is not totally considered acceptable and normal. It is, however, usually used to bring a kind of humor and special response from the receptor language speakers. And it also emphasizes the reaction of those reading or hearing it, and the meaning is not necessarily the same as that of the source language.
For example, in one translation, the source said: “It was a gloomy day when Nigeria got independence from white men. And since then, the Nigerian has been liberated and lived in harmonious and luxurious life.” It was translated as follows: “That day was a fantastic and laconic day for white men when Nigerian sought for relief in order to free himself from the bondage of white men…”
Interlinear Translation
It is a completely literal translation for some special purpose. It is preferable to reproduce the linguistic features of the source text as, for example, in a linguistic study of that language. Although these literal translations may be very useful for purposes related to the study of the source language, they are of little help to speakers of the receptor language who are very interested in the meaning of the source language text.
Conclusion
When someone is well acquainted with the different types of translation as discussed in the lesson in this unit, his understanding of translating from one language to another will be guaranteed. Such a person will also become a good orator to whom people will always want to listen.
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