Initiation To Translation Prof. Abdellaoui PDF G1-4

Initiation to Translation
S3: G. 1-4
Prof. Said Abdellaoui
3- Faithful Translation
Unlike the previous two methods that we have seen before (word for word
and literal translation), faithful translation tends to maintain a balance between
the literal meaning of the SL words and the TL syntactic structures. It sounds
more reasonable as it takes the context into consideration, aiming at producing
more precise meaning of the SL texts.
The following poem is an example of faithful translation:
As we can notice, this type of translation goes beyond the word for word
and literal translation in an attempt to embrace the tone and feelings that the
context of the SLT holds in its lines. For doing so, it tries to preserve a balance
between the literal meaning of the source language words and the syntactic
structures by taking the context into consideration.
However, Shuttleworth (1997) argues that faithful translation is being

traditionally understood as that type of translation which endures a similarity
between the source texts in terms of literal adherence to the source text meaning.
This similarity is seen as detrimental to truly preserve the authenticity and
originality of the two languages.
One of the noticeable shortcomings of this method is its conformity to the
grammatical structure of the SL which at times contradicts the syntax of TL. The
passive voice is a case in point.
When we say: The woman was killed by the servant.
This passive voice can be translated faithfully in Arabic as:
The English passive sentence is changed into an active voice in Arabic. The
latter retains both the action and the doer (the agent). The verb (kill) is repeated
twice in Arabic, which violates the syntactic features of the TL.
Thus, resorting to imitate the source language structures to the letter will
not be considered as a faithful act, but it is a sort of deficiency in the translator’s
competency and his/her perception of syntactic differences.
Another area which may challenge the faithfulness aspect of this method
of translation is the cultural differences between the source language and target
language. Translating texts is not merely a linguistic activity; it is also a cultural
one. For House (2009, p. 11) it is “an act of communication across cultures”. To
enhance this communication will help to handle some culture-specific words
such as the English metaphorical expressions “As white as snow”
This cannot be translated directly into Arabic asserting the faithfulness as
But it can be rendered as “ (As white as milk)
Since Arabic culture is more familiar with milk than with snow.
Therefore, to achieve highest proportions of faithfulness, translators

should be aware of the denotative, connotative and the cultural associations of
the meaning that can have an effect on the acceptability and readability of the
message in the target language. This can be partially achieved by adopting the
communicative method.
4- Communicative Translation
This method aspires to create the same effect created by the SL text on the
TL reader. It gives priority to the value of the message to be communicated. It
focuses on factors such as readability and naturalness, and it is appropriate to
translations of texts like advertisements, tourist brochures, product descriptions
and instructions, and manuals.
Communicative translation attempts to render the exact contextual

meaning of the original text in such a way that both content and language are
readily acceptable and comprehensible to the reader. It is an attempt “to produce
on its readers an effect as close as possible to that obtained on the readers of the
original' (Newmark, 1981, p. 39).
Many translators prefer this method as it resorts to concepts that are more
familiar to the TL reader on cultural and social levels. It is usually used for
culturally specific idioms, proverbs or clichés where the translator replaces a SL
word or concept with one that already exists in the TL. The previous example of
“as white as snow” “ is relevant in communicative translation
as it takes the cultural specificities into account.
The same can be seen in (The news warmed my heart)
Here, we have two different senses used to mean the same thing both in English
and Arabic, but with contradictory words: warm and cold.
Therefore, communicative translation concentrates on “the message and
the main force of the text; it tends to be simple, clear and brief, and is always
written in a natural and resourceful style” (Newmark (1988: 48).
The English proverbs can be communicatively translated into Arabic as:
1. A bird in the hand is worth

two in the bush.
2. Haste makes waste.
3. When the cat is away, the
mice will play.
4. Birds of a feather flock
together.
5. A blessing in disguise
5- Adaptation
This type is considered as the freest form of translation. It is used
mainly for plays (comedies) and poetry; the themes, characters and plots are
usually preserved, the SL culture is converted to the TL culture and the text is
rewritten.
Adaptation changes the content and the form of the ST in a way that
conforms to the rules of the language and culture in the TL community. As a
translation procedure, it handles culturally-bound words/expressions, metaphors
and images in translation. That is, the translator resorts to rewriting the SLT
according to the characteristics of the TLT. It is indeed a form of cultural
substitution that refers to the case where the translator uses equivalent words
that are ready-made in the TL, and serve the same goal as those of the SL but
without alienating/ distorting them.
As an example, the following is a part of Cinderella
Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball until she heard the first stroke
of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word
of goodbye she slipped from the Prince’s arms and ran down the steps. As
she ran she lost one of her slippers, but not for a moment did she dream of
stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound ... oh ...
what a disaster would that be! Out she ﬂed and vanished into the night1.
Colloquial expressions are also used as such as “without a word of goodbye”:
1
Advanced English-Arabic Translation, A practical guide, El Mustapha Lahlali and Wafa Abu Hatab, edit. 2014,
p18.
6- Free translation
Like the communicative method, this strategy preserves the meaning of
the original but uses more natural forms of the target language, including normal
word order and syntax, so that the translation can be naturally understood. It
tends to preserve the content at the expense of the form, and it provides a longer
paraphrase of the original. It is a kind of idiomatic translation that favours
colloquialisms and idioms which do not exist in the source language.
Most free translations add extraneous bits of information which are not
included in the source text. Yet, it is not totally considered acceptable and
normal. It is usually used to bring a kind of humour and special response from
the target language speakers. More importantly, it emphasizes on the reaction of
those reading or hearing it.
For instance a possible free translation of the colloquial Arabic proverb
This English proverb refers to the notion that either you are going to do this or a
second chance may never occur, do it now or do it never. The notions of doing
and dying are absent in the translated versions.
Free translation reproduces/ rewrites the Target Language text without the
style, form, or content of the original in ways that satisfy the sense aimed to
produce and the reaction the translator wants to create in the receiver/ reader/
listener.
*Study the Arabic translations and try to provide an edited version.
1.I am afraid I lost all saved data. We are back to square one.
2. She decided to throw the baby with the bath water and close the shop
forever because she lost few pounds.
3. Hold your horses; we still have plenty of time.
*Try to translate the English proverbs into Moroccan dialect
1-A burnt child dreads the fire.

2. Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched
3. Let bygones be bygones.
5. Marriage is a lottery.
6-It rains cats and dogs and buckets
7-The pot calling the kettle black.
8- Early birds catch the worm.
9- All that glitters is not gold.
* Translate into Arabic using the communicative method
- In the light of the current events.
- He ate the soup.
-In the lap of luxury.
-Words fail me.
-Put the record straight.
Here is the link to a video translated into Arabic by your friend Omar Aderkaoui G.1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xAwEstEK0RHTcxbmeQrRC1W2WfskzSFs/vi
ew

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Initiation to Translation

The following poem is an example of faithful translation:

However, Shuttleworth (1997) argues that faithful translation is being

When we say: The woman was killed by the servant.

This passive voice can be translated faithfully in Arabic as:

This cannot be translated directly into Arabic asserting the faithfulness as

But it can be rendered as “ (As white as milk)

Therefore, to achieve highest proportions of faithfulness, translators

Communicative translation attempts to render the exact contextual

The English proverbs can be communicatively translated into Arabic as:

1. A bird in the hand is worth

As an example, the following is a part of Cinderella

Colloquial expressions are also used as such as “without a word of goodbye”:

For instance a possible free translation of the colloquial Arabic proverb

*Try to translate the English proverbs into Moroccan dialect

1-A burnt child dreads the fire.

* Translate into Arabic using the communicative method

- In the light of the current events.

- He ate the soup.

-In the lap of luxury.

-Words fail me.

-Put the record straight.

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