Translation Terminology

Talking about translation as a process requires a rich body of knowledge. Translation is not limited to replacing a word with its equivalent. If that were the case, we would not need translators and would simply rely on bilingual dictionaries and other reference works. On this basis, it is worth pointing out that translation is an independent field of study. It is based on several criteria, governed by specific concepts, and founded on specialized terminology. Below, we will discuss some terms that enable the student to identify the main features of translation. From this starting point, we will first define the concept of translation, as it is the fundamental term, and then move on to some important and useful terms. Source-oriented translators: These are advocates of translation that focuses on transferring the linguistic and cultural elements of the source language, starting from the text itself. They usually focus on translating literary and religious texts. Target-oriented translators: Unlike the previous group, target-oriented translators focus on the meaning of the discourse, relying on the linguistic and cultural features of the target language in a way that serves the receiving society, as if the text had originally been written in that language. This approach is common in the fields of literature, philosophy, and religion. Translation: Translation is a process of transfer between languages. It relies on encoding and decoding the source text in order to interpret it and reformulate it in the target language through linguistic and cultural equivalents that are subject to the customs and traditions of the receiving society, especially in literary and religious texts. Untranslatability: This refers to the degree of difficulty of the source text. The more competent the translator is, the greater their command of the text becomes, and the closer their interpretation is to the author’s intended meaning. Linguistic, cultural, and cognitive resources determine the success of a translation. A text’s resistance to translation reaches its highest level especially in poetry, because meaning is closely connected to rhyme, meter, imagery, and rhythm. Note: The concept of untranslatability does not apply to terms and vocabulary, because when no equivalent exists in the target language, various techniques may be used, such as Arabization through borrowing, calque, word formation, and so on. Revision: Revision is a precise comparison between the target text and the source text in order to correct what needs to be corrected and to reformulate the text in the target language. Translation unit: A translation unit is a group of elements from the source text from which the translator begins the transfer process. It may consist of words, phrases, or even the entire text. Arabization through borrowing: This is a translation method used by the translator when the target language lacks an equivalent, or for stylistic or rhetorical reasons. It consists of borrowing a word or phrase from the source language. The words produced through borrowing are called Arabized borrowed words or loanwords. Arabization is also used when the translator cannot find an equivalent for terms of international form, such as “television,” which has Greek or Latin origins, as well as the names of scientists, elements, and chemical compounds. Translation exercise: There are two types of translation exercise: Translation into the foreign language: This is translation carried out into a foreign language and falls within the framework of language teaching. It is not professional translation. The teacher uses it to train students in the new language and to assess the extent of their understanding of it. Translation into the dominant/native language: This is translation carried out by the student into their mother tongue. It serves as an exercise or assessment aimed at checking the knowledge acquired in the source language and evaluating writing skills in the target language. Literal translation is considered the commonly used strategy in translation exercises into the mother tongue. Translation procedures: These are methods followed by the translator during the translation process. They are numerous, including reduction, calque, substitution, compensation, discursive creation, Arabization through borrowing, modulation, and reclassification. Translation procedures differ from translation strategies in that the former concern the smaller context, that is, parts of the text, whereas the latter concern the overall path followed by the translator in relation to the source text. However, some scholars disagree with this distinction. Below, we discuss a French text containing some concepts related to translation, which we translated into Arabic with the aim of teaching students how to translate. Interpreting: Interpreting is a communicative activity carried out by an interpreter immediately or consecutively through speech or gestures between two or more speakers. Professional simultaneous interpreting is common in international forums, diplomatic missions, summit conferences between heads of state, and so on. There are several forms of interpreting, including consecutive interpreting, simultaneous interpreting, visual interpreting, whispered interpreting, and gesture-based interpreting for the deaf and mute. Computer-assisted translation: Computer-assisted translation is translation carried out by the translator using a software program designed for this purpose. Note: In computer-assisted translation, the machine serves the translator, whereas in machine translation, the translator serves the machine.