WHAT IS TRANSLATION?

Translation is a mental activity in which a meaning of given linguistic discourse is

rendered from one language to another. It is the act of transferring the linguistic
entities from one language in to their equivalents in to another language.
Translation is an act through which the content of a text is transferred from the
source language in to the target language (Foster, 1958). The language to be
translated is called the source language (SL), whereas the language to be translated
into or arrived at is called the target language (TL). The translator needs to have
good knowledge of both the source and the target language, in addition to a high
linguistic sensitivity as he should transmit the writer's intention, original thoughts
and opinions in the translated version as precisely and faithfully as possible.
Due to its prominence, translation has been viewed differently.
- According to Ghazala (1995), "translation is generally used to refer to all the
process and methods used to convey the meaning of the source language into
the target language" (P.1)
Ghazala's definition focuses on the notion of meaning as an essential element in
translation. That is, when translating, understanding the meaning of source text
is vital to have the appropriate equivalent in the target text thus, it is meaning
that is translated in relation to grammar, style and sounds (Ghazala, 1995).
Translation is a process and a product.
- According to Catford (1995), translation is the replacement of textual material
in one language (SL) by equivalent textual material in another language (TL) ",
(p 20).
This definition shows that translation is a process in the sense that is an activity.
Performed by people through time, when expressions are translated into simpler
ones in the same language (Rewording and paraphrasing). It can be done also
from one language into another different language.
- Translation is, on the other hand, a product since it provides us with other
different cultures, to ancient societies and civilization life when the translated
texts reaches us (Yowell and Mutfah, 1999).
REFERENCES:
Catford, J. (1995) A linguistic Theory of Translation. London. Oxford University
Press.
Foster, M. (1958) Translation from/in Farsi and English. Retrieved April, 2007,
from http://www.parasa.ts.com/index.htm.
Ghazala, Hasan, (1995) Translation as problems and solutions (4th ed.) Syria: Dar
Elkalem ElArabi.
Yowell, A. Muftan, S. L (1999) Principles of Translation. Dar Annahda Alarabiya.
https://translationjournal.net/October-2017/definition-of-translation.html

- Translating consists of reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural

equivalent of the source language message, first in terms of meaning and
secondly in terms of style (Nida and Taber, 1982)
- Translation is the general term referring to the transfer of thoughts and ideas
from one language (source) to another (target), whether the languages are in
written or oral form; whether the languages have established orthographies or do
not have such standardization or whether one or both languages is based on
signs, as with sign languages of the deaf (Brislin, 1976)

- Translation is a process of finding a TL equivalent for an SL utterance.

(Pinhuhuck, 1977:38)

- Translation is a craft consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or

statement in one language by the same message and/or statement in another
language. (Newmark, 1981:7)

- Translation involves the rendering of a source language (SL) text into the target
language (TL) so as to ensure that (1) the surface meaning of the two will be
approximately similar and (2) the structure of the SL will be preserved as closely
as possible, but not so closely that the TL structure will be seriously distorted.
(McGuire, 1980:2)
Dr. Mashadi Said

(Secretary of Master’s Program in Translation of Gunadarma University, Jakarta)

 Drs. In English Literature and Education, 1984

 Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics, 1990

 Magister in English Education, 1994

  Ph D. in English Education, 1998

1. I stood like one bewitched. I drank the wonderful sunset in a speechless rature. The
world was new to me and I had never seen anything like this at home.

2. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered…but nobody could ever count my love for
you…

3. His brother and mine are as different as day and night.

4. Age comes wisdom.

5. Wealth is nothing where a true affection is concerned.