Five Problems of Literary Translation

Five Problems of Literary Translation

Literal Translation Translator

Translating literary work is a serious challenge. The translator has to transfer the same text from one language to another while preserving as much as possible as the quality and character, the spirit of the original. Literary translation is different with the other common translation where rapid answer and exact words are important, while the absence of harmoniousness is more forgivable. Literary translation had to be done in a way so that the aura of the story along with the author’s expressive style is preserved completely, as if the translator is the writer himself.

Have you ever read a book and admire how the translator can outstandingly translate the text? The ability to make the script interesting and exciting, and also conserving the original style of the writer, show the translator’s great talent. So, it is obvious that translating literary work is not easy. Here are some problems of literary translation.

The creative translation includes rhythm, punctuation, syntax, mood, and meaning. One of the main problems forgotten by the translator is that those various elements work together in a dialectical relationship within a literary work. This relationship is very important to be kept in order to make the translation resemble the original work.

Secondly, the figurative meaning on the script makes it more difficult to translate. This type of translation doesn’t allow word-per-word interpretation. It should be understood entirely before you even begin to translate. That is why literary translation sometimes becomes a subject of disagreement among translators or even intellectuals.

The third problem of literary translation is idioms and aphorisms. These issues are not as hard as they seem for the first time, but still require wide knowledge and the presence of specialized dictionary. However, these matters are important to be mastered before you translate the literary work.

Forth, it is important to have special skills to manage that play of words as what the author means. Many literary authors play on words and humors, and it is very interesting and challenging at the same time to translate it with the humorous or ironic deductions. It is important to do this perfectly as it is of the keys that make the book alive.

The last problem of literary translation is the abidance of styles, cultures, and eras. It is not easy to translate a text to another language with different culture, different era, and different status quo. However this can be done easily if you understand well the features of both languages.

You also can read related article about Dealing with Quality Issues on the Translation Process

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Direct Translation Problems

Direct Translation Problems

Literal Translation

The purpose of language is to communicate, to give and gain some information related to the things that may important or even only some things that common. Nevertheless, if it fails, it means the language and its function cannot get the purposes. People will not know the idea or even ways to communicate in the good ways. As result, it becomes a big responsibility and even an important role as the translators to give the correct idea. Moreover, to tell the exact information, you have to be careful and even to comprehend the idea while you are translating the sentences. As result, the reader will get and believe to the things that you already told to them. Besides, it also means that you are able to give the important purpose of language. Therefore, in this article I am going to inform you some Direct Translation Problems that will help you to avoid them! Here they are!

Language Structure

The first Direct Translation Problems that you are facing while you are doing the translation directly is language structure. Every language has a unique structure, and it becomes a special thing and even challenging thing to do at one if you are translating the language to another language directly. Moreover, the accuracy and simplicity of the translations become the essential thing to do. It means, you have to be able to translate the language as simple as you can, especially to give the right idea of the language. However, you also have to make sure that while you are translating directly you have to be able to arrange the structure of the language perfectly. Hence, it will help the readers or even the listeners to understand and comprehend the idea exactly.

Multiple Meaning

The second Direct Translation Problems that the translators face is multiple meaning. While they are translating directly, not a few translator ever do and make this mistake. In addition, they are making multiple meaning unconsciously. For examples, using the several meanings in one sentence, so it sounds repeatedly and boring while the listeners or the readers hear and see your translations’ results. Therefore, it becomes essential for you to know some words that have multiple meanings; such as, words that sound alike or usually known as homographic, homonyms, and homophones, and some words that sound different or usually known as heterophonies or heteronyms.

Briefly, by knowing those Direct Translation Problems, it will help you to fix your mistakes that probably done by you while you are translating directly. It will be good for you also to learn these points in order to diminish the mistakes. Happy trying!

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Translating Word Problems: How to Solve Word Problems

Translating Word Problems: How to Solve Word Problems

Language Literal Translation

Do you need help to solve your translating word problems? Then, you’ve read the right article. This article will help you to become the person who is good at solving every problem in translating word. Being a person like that is quite same with being a detective. You have to be able to choose clues that can help you solve the case and to be a good investigator. To solve translating word problems, you need to have good ability in solving math equations.

Simple example to start

This is a very simple example to begin with: The length of Sunny Side School field is 40 feet more than the wide. Elaborate the length of the field in terms of its width.

After looking the example, now you should follow these following steps.

The steps to solve translating word problems

1. Read the problem carefully

This is the first simple step to solve the word problem. This is the step that needs your reading comprehension skills. Read the question again and again until you are fully understood.

2. Identify the important information

Based on the example, you need to take a note about the field that is 40 feet longer than the wide.

3. Identify the missing information

Based on the example above, you need to find the length of the field.

4. Analyze the word problem

For the word problem, you need the right equation that can express the length of the field.

5. Organize the clues

Now, you have to give meaningful and clear variable name for each piece of information you have and you don’t have. So, we will give the variable name for the length of the field as “L” and the width of the field as “W”.

6. Search the word problem

You need to know some words that are related to mathematical operation. Those words are including:

· Addition: increased by, total, more than, sum, combined, plus, in all, together/altogether.

· Multiplication: times, product, of, multiplied by.

· Subtraction: less/fewer than, minus, decreased by, less, difference.

· Division: out of, a, per, percent, quotient of, ratio of.

· Equal: are, were, is, was, yields, gives.

7. Translate the English term into Mathematical term

The last step, from the example, there are important words to be highlighted. The first one is “more than” means (=) and “is” as (=) with the variable names before (W and L) that indicates the width and the length.

Now, finally you can solve the translating word problems based on the example above. The algebraic expression is L=W+40. Following these steps will make you good at solving any word problems in no time!

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Literal and Idiomatic Translation

Literal and Idiomatic Translation

Idiomatic Literal Meaning Translation

What is literal Translation?

Literal translation or form-based translation attempt to follow the form of the source language.

What is idiomatic translation?

Idiomatic translation or meaning-based translations makes every effort to communicate the meaning of the source language text in the natural forms of the receptor language. The basic overriding principle 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.

Read also  Goal of Translation

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Methods of Translation

Methods of Translation

Communicative Idiomatic Literal Method Translation

Newmark (1988b) mentions the difference between translation methods and translation procedures. He writes that, "[w]hile translation methods relate to whole texts, translation procedures are used for sentences and the smaller units of language" (p.81). He goes on to refer to the following methods of translation:

Word-for-word translation: in which the SL word order is preserved and the words translated singly by their most common meanings, out of context.
Literal translation: in which the SL grammatical constructions are converted to their nearest TL equivalents, but the lexical words are again translated singly, out of context. Literal translation or form-based translation attempt to follow the form of the source language.


Faithful translation: it attempts to produce the precise contextual meaning of the original within the constraints of the TL grammatical structures. 

Semantic translation: which differs from 'faithful translation' only in as far as it must take more account of the aesthetic value of the SL text. 

Adaptation: which is the freest form of translation, and is used mainly for plays (comedies) and poetry; the themes, characters, plots are usually preserved, the SL culture is converted to the TL culture and the text is rewritten. 

Free translation: it produces the TL text without the style, form, or content of the original. 

Idiomatic translation: it reproduces the 'message' of the original but tends to distort nuances of meaning by preferring colloquialisms and idioms where these do not exist in the original.Idiomatic translation or meaning-based translations makes every effort to communicate the meaning of the source language text in the natural forms of the receptor language. The basic overriding principle 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.

Communicative translation: it attempts to render the exact contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both content and language are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the readership (1988b: 45-47).
Newmark (1991:10-12) writes of a continuum existing between "semantic" and "communicative" translation. Any translation can be "more, or less semantic—more, or less, communicative—even a particular section or sentence can be treated more communicatively or less semantically." Both seek an "equivalent effect." Zhongying (1994: 97), who prefers literal translation to free translation, writes that, "[i]n China, it is agreed by many that one should translate literally, if possible, or appeal to free translation."
Translation procedures, strategies and methods
by Mahmoud Ordudari at translationjournal

Read Also Translating Word Problems: How to Solve Word Problems

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