Lecture Notes

Waleed Othman
Introduction to Translation

abbreviations

SL : source language
TL : target language
ST: source text
TT: target text

?What is translation
Translation generally refers to all
the processes and methods used to
render and/or transfer the meaning
of the source language text into the
target language as closely,
completely and accurately as
. possible

:Meaning comprises
1- grammar
2- Vocabulary
3- Style
4 phonology
see page 2

Types of Meaning
Denotation: the literal meaning of
the word; e.g. snake, owl
Connotation: associations that are
connected to a certain word, OR
The emotional suggestions related to
that word; e.g.
Snake = evil/ danger
Owl = wisdom

Connotations
1.

2.

3.

Positive connotations (e.g. active

member)
Neutral connotations (e.g.
enthusiastic member)
Negative connotations (fanatical
member)

Connotations may vary across

languages and cultures; e.g. owl

Methods of translation
Literal translation
Word-for word translation
One-to-one translation
Direct translation
Free translation
Bound free translation
Loose free translation

Word-for word translation

This is a translation at the level of word.
It transfers the denotative meaning of words
It ignores the TL completely
It ignores grammar and context
Find the dictionary meaning of the words in
this sentence. Does the translation make
sense?
e.g. Ahmad is a good student.
Stop beating about the bush.

One-to-one translation
Respects context but retains the word order
of the SL
keeps the same number of words, the
grammatical class and type of language:
A SL noun is translated into a TL noun
Two adjectives into two adjectives,
An idiom into an idiom
A collocation into a collocation
A metaphor into a metaphor

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One-to-one translation
Examples:
I have blind confidence in you.
Let us shake hands.

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Direct translation

It is the literal translation of meaning

in CONTEXT
It respects TL grammar and word
order
The COMMON meaning of run is
The LITERAL meaning of run is NOT
in to run a company
Other examples on page 9

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Literal/ Direct translation

Question
His efforts came to nothing.
)(
)(
)(
)(

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Literal/ Direct translation

The translation of the real meaning

of a word, or an expression in its
linguistic context as accurately and
closely as possible, regardless of its
metaphorical/non-metaphorical use.

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Bound free translation

Derived from the context in a direct
way
Exaggerative, expressive, effective,
rhetorical, OR formal HOW
- Expressions from the holy Quran,
prophet traditions, proverbs, poetry,
etc.

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Bound free translation

Examples:
He got nothing at the end.
/
She had a new baby.

CANNOT be used in all types of texts

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Loose free translation

Goes far away from the direct

linguistic context to INFEERENCE
Translation of intentions =
pragmatic translation
e.g. Its half past nine.
No bacon with my breakfast, please.

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Grammatical Problems

Verb BE

Dictionary practice

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Grammatical Problems

Verb DO

Dictionary practice

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Grammatical Problems

Verb HAVE

Dictionary practice

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Modals
Textbook (pp. 37-40)

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Questions

Textbook (pp. 41-2)

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Negation

Textbook (pp.43-5)

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