November, 2013

VOL 6, ISSUE 8

Translation for Beginners:

From Experts to Prospects
Current Edition Edited by: Michelle Johnson

In this issue of Translation for Beginners readers will see many important things to remember before translation.

Things to Remember Before Translating:

Be able to comprehend the languages that a document needs to be translated to and from. Understand the basic theory behind translation. Understand the document and the meaning behind the document to be translated. Know the audience the document is intended for. Interpret the meaning and purpose behind the document to be translated.

Table of Contents:
Things to Remember Before Translating: As shown to the right. Ask Sensei: A short Q&A section with Dr. Strecher. Pg. 2 Pg. 1

Common Translation Problems:

Some questions for translation Henri Gobbards Four Types of Language: Vernacular, vehicular, referential, mythical Pg. 3 Pg. 3

Understand the dialect, style, tone and voice needed for a particular document that is to be translated.
Use a dictionary. Only use it if it is absolutely needed, but make sure to be prepared, just in case.

Ask Sensei:
Questions and Answers For Dr. Matthew Strecher

When it comes to translation, what is the most important thing to do?

Interpretation. Without interpretation, you cant read, write, or translate. Although I suppose that reading is also an important thing to work with. After all, if you cant read, you cant interpret.

What sort of training do you need in order to translate?

You can translate if you have an understanding of more than one language, but of course that usually isnt enough. Its recommended to have a bachelors degree and a masters degree to translate professionally. Although you can translate without a degree, previous experience is more important than a degree to translation work.

What difficulties do you find yourself facing with translation work? Dr. Matthew Strecher is the lead Japanese teacher at Winona State University with a specialization in Japanese literature and translation.
All language resists our efforts. There is no such thing as a seamless or transparent gloss into language. Everything has to be broken down and reconstructed. Writing is hard and translating is just as hard. Working with language is the hardest part of translating. I personally find it most difficult to work with someone who doesnt know what theyre trying to say and then having to translate their words.

Whats harder to work with - technical writing or fictional writing?

Theyre both different challenges. Tech writing is more about terminology than about language. Its less difficult to me. Literary translation is more difficult because its more visual and descriptive. A real literary text says things without saying them. Capturing a writers style is also difficult, its about how to keep it and keep it grea t. All in all, both pose problems and stay difficult while also staying good.

November, 2013

VOL 6, ISSUE 8

Common Translation Problems

And Important Reminders in Translating
Translation Questions and Problems:
Annie Brisset, professor at the School of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Ottawa, has noted in her article The Search for a Native Language notes several questions that must be asked before someone translates. Some questions are: Translating is difficult when historical time is factored in. How should someone translate a document from an older form of the source language? Some languages have different language forms between men and women. In that case, what gender does a translator translate into? These are only a few questions and problems that often come up when a document is to be translated. It is the translators job to assess and decide on these questions and possible solutions.

Henri Gobbards Four Types of Language and Subcode:

What form of language to use is important to know when translating. A vernacular language o A Local, spoken spontaneously language thats considered t native language. It is less appropriate for communicating than for commuting. A vehicular language o A National or regional language, learned out of necessity, a community language. A referential language o Tied to cultural, oral, and written traditions that keeps traditional works in a common language.

Even if translation is considered one of the oldest professions pursued by mankind, translation has only recently become a discipline in its own right (Snell-Hornby, 1988).

A mythical language
o A sacred language that makes no sense to the general populace, but is considered proof of the revered.

Translation for Beginners

From Experts to Prospects
A simple newsletter, giving important information for those who wish to translate for fun, work, or any other reason.

November, 2013

VOL 6, ISSUE 8

175 W Mark St Winona, MN 55987

Current Resident
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If youre translating literature, all the great poets and writers will tell you that in order to be a true translator, you have to be a poet yourself. You have to be able to push the language in the same way that the original writer did, you have to bend the words to do what they wont usually do. - Dr. Matthew Strecher

Winona, MN 55987