Introduction
The nature of translation is quickly or rapidly increasing and fast changing by natural process. By considering this basic fact, one will notice that everything in life is all about translation. We translate our emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity) into actions. When we formulate expression in a particular style or language into words, we translate our thoughts. Moreover, every physical action is a translation from one state to another (Baker, 1998, p.1).
In line with this, translation can be defined as the method of passing on of information with the assistance of scientific study of language and social knowledge.
The theory whose truth can be established beyond doubt that all English words can be given an interpretation or explanation to an equivalent does not denote that satisfactory translation of the written or spoken word can be given.
Translation expresses that human beings have the ability to understand the facts and significance of the mind of the people in general; especially a distinctive group of people with some shared interest, and the culture of the verbalizers or authors, hence, the translation of content of cognition in a way that it simply matches or duplicates the primary meaning, and meeting the standard of the target language. (Baker, 1992, p.4).
In the process of translation of either verbal or written words, one needs to employ good knowledge and understanding of the original language by restating the content of the translated language to the target language. Furthermore, translation does not only centre on the surface understanding of the verbal or written words only. Words and sentence structures are of great significance or value; however, emphasis must also be paid to the understanding of the meaning of the sentences and the concepts also.
The Nature of Translation
Translating from one language to another is exclusively the most understandable form of action, which is by chance the most widespread of all human performance. This may be the reason why the collective group of human beings sometimes convey a particular meaning or impression of translation, thereby regarding it as an effortless approach, and at the same time, it’s the reason as to why translation stimulates interests or thoughts and full of possibilities.
On the other hand, there is nothing easy or uncomplicated about translation, even as there is nothing easy or effortless about any human action. Consequently, translation in the conventional sense verbally acts on the human language, the most widespread yet the most complicated and hallowed of human functions. Additionally, transmitting the understanding of one language to another unites people, thereby, guiding them in the acquisition of the knowledge and understanding of other’s culture and ethnic belief, and benefiting from each other’s experience, and lastly making them conscious of their importance and common traits (Sofer, 2006, p.xi).
Most inhabitant of the world populace accepts without verification or proof that any knowledgeable and educated person who understands more than one language (multilingual) can restate words from one language into another language. Nothing is beyond the truth. Translation is a natural ability or quality which many people do not have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill; although many think they do (Baker, 1992, p.4).
Without an innate inherent ability for translation, one can go through the motions of substituting words or structured sentences with their equivalents in another language, but the interpretations are likely to fail to meet (expectations or standards) the meaning and the general atmosphere of the effect that it has on people in relation to the original. Symmetrically, the most acceptable translation is never a full and accurate reflection of its original source, basically for the reason that no two languages in the world, not even the most intimately connected, are indistinguishable in their way of using words and subtle difference in meaning, opinion or attitude.
Expectation of Translation
The best one can expect is an interpretation or translation almost as accurate as the original and not altering any of its meaning, full enough not to exclude any point, no matter how seemingly of little importance or influence, and well-designed to present at least some of the stylistic character of the original information. Specifically because there is nothing as a perfect translation of an original source, translation is constantly a demanding or stimulating understanding that requires skill, training and experience.
Obvious examples are found in everyday language. For instance, even though French, German and Spanish have basically what seems to be the same choice between tu and vous, Du and Sie, tu and Usted respectively, the circumstances where people use one or the other are not the same. Neither do they use first names in the same way or in the same way as English-speakers.
It follows logically that transcoding (automatic word-for-word translation), even if it is linguistically possible, may result in a target-language text of utterance that is clumsy, erroneous, or even nonsensical. Again, this is obvious to the lay person when differences are gross, but the rule extends to subtle levels that are more difficult to detect. If a sentence in a translation looks grammatically and logically correct, readers may not even suspect its information content or message differ from those conveyed by the source language text.
The role of translation in the global Village
Nevertheless, during the last 25years, there has been a remarkable change in the role of translators around the world. Opportunities for translators are on the increase as never before. This is because the “global village” perceptual view is becoming daily fact of life, thanks to the departure of the Iron Curtain, multinational alliances like the European Community, the growing global role of the United Nations, the globalization of business, and the miracle of the modern communications.
Such tools as the duplicator that transmits information by wire or radio and the modem enables translators to receive data that was sent, from Washington to London by fax, also by translating it, and sending it back to Washington over the electronic equipment consisting of a device used to connect computers by a telephone line, all at an affordable cost and without wasting any valuable time in transit.
The role of computer in Translation
The continuous improvements in the computer field have increased the translated output of the professional translator, and have made the practical approach of translating much simpler. It is quite clear that computers will play an important role in the translation field in future, thereby, making translation more affordable and widely used.
In contrast to the belief that computers will soon substitute human translators is generally not accepted rather, the general consensus among the experts today is that computer technology will continue to improve translation, but only as a support to, rather than a replacement for, human translation.
My personal opinion is that translation cannot supply a form which could gracefully contain the rich meaning of the original, and when the form is too elaborate, an aphorism loses its aphoristic nature. Each translation is a new linguistic as well as a logistic problem, even if an approximate cultural equivalent is easily available.
Conclusion
In conclusion, in an attempt to translate a verbal or written text, much emphasis must be considered in order not to change the original meaning and structure of the sentence, since there is dissimilarity in various languages, furthermore, the aim of translating any language is to present the original meaning of the real language context.
However, translation is the process of interpreting the meaning of a language to another without changing the original meaning of the source language (Dickins, Hervey, & Higgins, 2002, p.229). Verbatim translation is the method of interpreting the real meaning of a language to be in accuracy with the source language. However, such method of translation misinterprets the original meaning and the sentence structure of the target language.
Accurate and understandable translation means an abstract context in both, the original and target languages. Acculturation in translation plays the most important role in the interpretation of a language. It assists in individualized communicative approach and translation; however ignorance of cultural translation can result in serious difficulty.
Reference List
Baker, M. (1992). In other words: A coursebook on translation. London: Routledge.
Baker, M. (Ed.). (1998). Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London. Routledge.
Dickins, J., Hervey S. G. J., & Higgins, I. (2002). Thinking Arabic translation:a course in translation method : Arabic to English. New York, NY: Routledge.
Sofer, M. (2006). The translator’s handbook. Rockville, MD: Schreiber Pub.