CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH

Translation and Interpretation

DETERMINING THE
KNOWLEDE BASE

A presentation by
Tiglu Geza (PhD, Associate Professor)
Wolkite University, Ethiopia
tigezan@[Link]
Translation and
Interpretation
► People commonly use the words “Interpretation”
and “Translation” interchangeably.
► However, these are two very different activities,
requiring different skills and experiences from the
Interpreter or Translator. The difference in skills,
training, aptitude and even language knowledge
are so substantial that few people can do both
successfully on a professional level.
► On the surface, the difference between interpreting
and translation is only the difference in the
medium: the interpreter translates orally, while a
translator interprets written text.
► Both interpreting and translation presuppose a certain love of language
and deep knowledge of more than one language.
► In other words, “Interpretation” is the act of rendering the spoken or
signed language into another spoken or signed language. Therefore,
interpreters are used whenever the message is spoken or by the use of
gestures (as in the case of sign language). “Translation”, in contrast to
interpretation, is the act of rendering written language into another
written language. Here, translators are used whenever a message is
written, regardless of the written media (i.e., text, books, written briefs,
websites, etc.). Note that audio recordings may also be translated.
► So what is the difference between “translation” and “interpretation”?
● “Translation” refers to the translation from one language to another of something which is
frozen in time: a book, a TV show, a letter, a play, a speech someone has already
delivered which is recorded and then given to the translator in its entirety.
● “Interpretation” is a real-time exercise–when you interpret, conversation, speech, etc. is
actually taking place, and as it happens you are taking what is said in Language A and
communicating it in Language B. It may be that you are interpreting at the same time as
others are speaking, or it may be that you wait until the end of a chunk of speech and
then interpret it into another language while the speaker pauses to wait for you.
► Although many people seem to regard “translation” and
“interpretation” as the same or at least activities that the same
person would do, and although there are people who do both
translate and interpret, the two are radically different both
experientially and practically.
● Translation is you in a room; interpretation is you in the
world.
● Translation is out of time; interpretation is in time.
● For translation you have to be able to write; for
interpretation you have to be able to talk.
► The key difference between translation and interpretation lies within the
choice of communication channel. Simply put, translation deals with
written communication, while interpreting is all about the spoken word
► Translators work on written documents, including books, essays, legal
documents, medical records, websites, instruction manuals, subtitles for
film or TV, or any other form of information in written form. Interpreters,
on the other hand, are involved in projects that require live translation;
for example conferences and business meetings, medical appointments
and legal proceedings
► Both translators and interpreters have a deep linguistic and cultural
knowledge of their working languages, as well as the ability to
communicate clearly and succinctly. It is, however, important to
highlight the distinctive features of these two professions
► Translators generally work from their home computers, and tend to
specialize in a particular field. Good translators have excellent
written skills and are usually perfectionists by nature, paying
particular attention to the style of the source documents, as well as
the accuracy and significance of the terms used within their
translations
► Unlike translators, interpreters do not provide a word-for-word
translation; instead, they transpose spoken messages from one
language into another, instantly and accurately. Interpreters work in
real-time situations, in direct contact with both the speaker and the
audience. They rely primarily on their linguistic expertise acquired
through training and experience - a sentence in one language may
be rendered an entirely different way in another. Good interpreters
are endowed with very quick reflexes, as well as a good memory
and speaking voice. An interpreter is often more than an on-
demand translator, however - they also act as a facilitator between
speaker and listener, both linguistically and diplomatically.
► Interpretation and translation are quite different.
Interpretation works with the spoken word and
translation works with the written word.
Interpreters have little time to process the
spoken words and then change them into
another language. Translators, on the other
hand, have the luxury of being able to think
carefully before changing the text of the
language that they are reading into another
language.
Interpretation
► Interpreting happens whenever two people or two groups of people do
not share a common language but need to or want to communicate with
each other in order to conduct business or share information and ideas.
When people who are Deaf (and who use sign language) and people
who are not Deaf (and who use a spoken language) want or need to talk
to one another, that’s when interpreters do their work.
► Interpreters must understand the meanings and intentions expressed in
one language (the source language) and then express those meanings
and intentions in the other language (the target language). In order to do
this, interpreters have to have a high level of fluency in each language.
Most of the time interpreters work simultaneously, which means
expressing what someone just said while at the same time focusing on
what someone is saying right now.
► Sometimes interpreters work consecutively, which means listening until
someone has completed an idea and then interpreting that idea.
Interpreters also have to follow a professional Code of Conduct; one of
its most important tenets is to maintain confidentiality. This means
keeping private whatever happens in the interactions that are interpreted.
► Interpreting is a very challenging and rewarding career especially for
those who enjoy the way languages work, enjoy the way that people
use language to get things done and enjoy playing an important role in
helping people interact with each other.
► An interpreter is a person who converts a thought or expression in a
source language into an expression with a comparable meaning in a
target language either simultaneously in "real time" or consecutively
after one party has finished speaking. The interpreter's function is to
convey every semantic element (tone and register) and every intention
and feeling of the message that the source-language speaker is
directing to target-language recipients.
► Interpretation is a complex practice that requires the interpreter to fully
understand, analyze, and process spoken or signed messages. The
interpreter, after processing this information, renders the message into
another language.
► It is useful to understand the modes of interpreting, the areas of
interpreting and some of the qualifications that are required in
interpreting.
► Interpreters, by contrast, are trained in precise listening
skills under taxing conditions, memory and note-taking
techniques for consecutive interpreting (in which the
interpreter listens and takes notes while the speaker
speaks, and then after several minutes provides the
version in the other language), and split-attention for
simultaneous interpreting (in which the interpreter,
usually in a booth with a headset and microphone, listens
and speaks at the same time, usually producing the
interpreted version only seconds after the speaker
provides the original).
Consecutive vs.
Simultaneous
Interpreting
► Consecutive Interpreting requires highly specialized
interpretation skill. A consecutive interpreter renders the
speaker’s message into another language when the speaker
pauses to allow interpretation. Simultaneous Interpreting also
requires highly specialized interpretation skill. However, a
simultaneous interpreter renders the speakers’ message into
another language while the speaker continues to speak.
► In Consecutive interpretation, thhe interpreter takes notes
while listening to a speech, then does his or her interpretation
during pauses. This is commonly used when there are just two
languages at work; for example, if the American and French
presidents were having a discussion. The consecutive
interpreter would interpret in both directions, French to English
and English to French. Unlike translation and simultaneous
interpretation, consecutive interpretation is commonly done into
the interpreter's A and B languages.
Simultaneous interpretation
► The interpreter listens to a speech and simultaneously interprets
it, using headphones and a microphone. This is commonly used
when there are numerous languages needed, such as in the
United Nations. Each target language has an assigned channel,
so Spanish speakers might turn to channel one for the Spanish
interpretation, French speakers to channel two, etc.
Simultaneous interpretation should only be done into one's A
language.
Areas of Interpreting
► The areas of interpreting may require unique skills and
experiences from the interpreter to properly render the source
message into the target language. A few of the leading types of
interpretation are described here:
► Diplomatic – interpretation that facilitates communication
between government and/or international organizations; may be
simultaneous or consecutive depending on the context.
► Liaison – also known as “escort interpreting” -- consecutive
interpreting while accompanying visiting individuals or groups to a
location.
► Conference – Interpreting for the benefit of people attending
congresses, conventions, summits, or other meetings. It is most
often performed in the simultaneous mode, but may be performed
consecutively. The best example of this occurs when the U.N. is
in session where each delegation has a simultaneous interpreter.
► Legal – interpreting in settings that are related to the
administration of justice. This area encompasses a wide variety
of legal settings, within court settings, out-of-court settings, and
quasi-judicial proceedings.
► Community and others – there are a number of other
interpreting settings for social services, community support,
education and healthcare activities.
► Conflict Zone/Disaster Interpreting – supports individuals
affected by conflict, disaster or other emergency situations.
These may include humanitarian and military interpreting,
depending on the context.
Interpreter Qualifications
► Interpreters need more than language proficiency in order to be
effective. They need a broad education to handle a number of topics
and specific knowledge of subject matter for highly technical information
Determining the Interpretation Requirements
► To better understand your needs, your Requirements Liaison will ask
you a number of questions to help determine your needs. Some of
these include:
► Concentration
► Analytical skills
► Short term memory
► Note taking skills
► Clear delivery
► Interpretation skills
► Cultural awareness
► Flexibility
Interpreter
Qualifications
► Interpreting, just like translation, is fundamentally the art
of paraphrasing—the interpreter listens to a speaker in
one language, grasps the content of what is being said,
and then paraphrases his or her understanding of the
meaning using the tools of the target language. However,
just as you cannot explain a thought to someone if you
did not fully understand that thought, neither can you
translate or interpret something without mastery of the
subject matter being relayed.
► It simply cannot be overstated: when choosing an
interpreter, his or her expert knowledge of the subject
matter is equally as important as their interpreting
experience.
Qualifications of a good
interpreter
► Interpreters find it difficult to make a living from the art if they
don't possess, at a minimum, the following skills:
► Knowledge of the general subject of the speeches that are to be
interpreted.
► General erudition and intimate familiarity with both cultures.
► Extensive vocabulary in both languages.
► Ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely in both
languages.
► Excellent note-taking technique for consecutive interpreting.
► At least 2-3 years of booth experience for simultaneous
interpreting.
Translation
► Translation is written communication. Translators
specialize in 2 languages and change texts that are
written in one language into another language. They do
not change the content, tone or style of the message.
Translation is a challenging task that requires a strong
knowledge of languages, good writing skills and, often,
knowledge of a specific subject. Not everyone who
speaks 2 languages is a good translator. It is
recommended that you use the services of a professional
translator. Translators are specifically trained to make
sure:
● The language they use is accurate and consistent.
● They have a thorough knowledge of the vocabulary in a
particular field of expertise.
► Translation is an activity comprising the interpretation of the meaning of
a text in one language — the source text — and the production, in
another language, of a new, equivalent text — the target text, or
translation.
► It is the process of turning an original or "source" text into a text in
another language.
► It is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by
means of an equivalent target-language text
► Translators always risk inappropriate spill-over of source-language
idiom and usage into the target-language translation.
► It is “The process of transferring written text from one language into
another. Anything that is written can be translated: advertisements,
books, games software, legal documents, websites, film subtitles etc.
Translators work either in-house (as employee of an organization) or
freelance. Usually, translators work from one or more languages into
their mother tongue”.
What skills do I need?
► “Excellent skills in your own languages and at least one other
language as well as knowledge of and interest in other cultures
and interpersonal and problem solving skills. For translators, the
ability to write well in your own language, thoroughness and
research skills are essential.”
► Translation is the transmittal of written text from one language into
another. Although the terms translation and interpretation are often
used interchangeably, by strict definition, translation Refers to the
written language, and interpretation to the spoken word. Translation
is the action of interpretation of the meaning of a text, and
subsequent production of an equivalent text, also called a
translation, that communicates the same message in another
language. The text to be translated is called the source text, and the
language it is to be translated into is called the target language; the
final product is sometimes called the "target text.“
► Translation must take into account constraints that include context,
the rules of grammar of the two languages, their writing
conventions, and their idioms. A common misconception is that
there exists a simple word-for-word correspondence between any
two languages, and that translation is a straightforward mechanical
process. A word-for-word translation does not take into account
context, grammar, conventions, and idioms.
► Translation is often used to describe a variety of steps in a process that
renders the written message in a source language to the target message.
► It is useful to understand the types of finished products available in
translation, the main steps in the translation process, and the qualifications
necessary for a translator.
► Translation Uses While there are countless ways of defining the use of
translations, some other common uses of the translation product may require
less rigorous formatting and quality controls. Some of these include:
► •Gisting and Abstraction – Summarizing abstracts of the source material.
► •Informational Use – Translating documents, emails, and other text for
personal use and understanding.
► •Extraction of Information – Reviewing target language materials for
answers to specific questions.
► •Final Translated Copy – Translating materials for use in briefings,
meetings, conferences where high-quality text is required without artistic,
graphical or literary editing.
► •Polished Translation – Editing materials to be published or used publically
in finished products like marketing documents, books, websites, etc.
► Translators receive extensive practice with
representative texts in various subject areas, learn to
compile and manage glossaries of relevant terminology,
and master the use of both current document-related
software (for example, word processors, desktop
publishing systems, and graphics or presentation
software) and computer-assisted translation (CAT)
software tools.
The Translator and the
Process of Communication
► Who is translator?
► What are the things the translator supposed to do during translation?
► The communication process made by a translator
► Translation is a communication process that involves the transfer of a message
from a source language to a target language. Text linguistics, which is concerned
with the way the parts of text are organized and related to one another in order to
form a meaningful whole, is useful for the analysis of the translation process and
the transfer of meaning from one language to another.
► De Beaugrande and Dressler (1981) define the text as a communicative
occurrence that meets seven standards of textuality. These standards of textual
communication are: cohesion, coherence, intentionality, acceptability,
informativity, situationality and intertextuality. However, according to Widdowson
(1979), a text cannot be an occurrence since it has no mechanism of its own, but
can only be achieved by a human agency. It does not itself communicate, but
rather provides the means of achieving communication. Moreover, Hatim defines
a text as a stretch of linguistic material that maps on the surface a set of mutually
relevant communicative intentions.
 Translation
Translation is፡
 All the processes and methods used to
convey meaning of the source lang (SL)
into the target lang (TL) (New mark
(1981).
“The replacement of textual material in
one lang by equivalent textual material in
another (Catford, 1965).
“Reproducing in the receptor’s lang the
closest equivalent of the message of the
SL, first in terms of meaning and then in
terms of style” (Nida (1964).
 Introduction. . . Cont’d

All definitions of translation share in common:

 Meeting two extreme demands of the SL
and the TL at the same time.
Thinking and rethinking, expressing and re-
expressing.
“Equivalence” in respect of different levels
of presentation (of context, semantics,
grammar, lexis, etc.) and at different ranks
(Word-for-sentence) and in different degrees
(fully or partially)
the difference between
interpreting and
translation
►the difference between interpreting
and translation is only the
difference in the medium: the
interpreter translates orally, while a
translator interprets written text.
Both interpreting and translation
presuppose a certain love of
language and deep knowledge of
more than one language.
 In other words, “Interpretation” is the act of
rendering the spoken or signed language into
another spoken or signed language.
Therefore, interpreters are used whenever the
message is spoken or by the use of gestures
(as in the case of sign language).
“Translation”, in contrast to interpretation, is
the act of rendering written language into
another written language. Here, translators
are used whenever a message is written,
regardless of the written media (i.e., text,
books, written briefs, websites, etc.). Note that
audio recordings may also be translated.
 The Translation Process
(Bell, 1991:21)

Memory

SLT Analysis

Semantic
Representation

Synthesis TLT
The translation process
► Translation as a process
► Translation is a complex dichotomous and cumulative process
that involves a host of activities drawing upon other disciplines
related to language, writing, linguistics and culture. This multi-
disciplinary process suggests that three major activities run
concomitantly:
► • Transfer of data from the source language to the target language
► • Synchro-analysis of text and translation and research of subject-
matter
► • Continuous self-development and learning
What do we translate?

SENSE/ FORM/
CONTENT STYLE

Sense can be translated; form cannot.

When form contributes to sense or
becomes merged with it (as in poetry,
songs, ads, puns, etc.), untranslatability
comes into play.
What do we. . . Cont’d
Proverbs:
One who woks hard eats honey; one who doesn’t is
regarded as a dog /If one woks hard, s/he eats
honey; if not, s/he is considered a dog/ (Gurage
proverb) (የሰራ ማር ይበላል፣ ያልሰራ እንደዉሻ
ይቆጠራል)
Seeking tasty food, a rat gets into a trap

(Dawro proverb) (ጣፋጭ

እበላለሁ ብላ አይጥ ከወጥመድ
ትገባለች፡፡
What do . . . Cont’d
Can you translate this into English as it is
in the SLT?
Is the meaning in the content or style?
Song:
አይዞሽ ሙሽሪት አይበልሽ ከፋ አይበልሽ ከፋ፣
ሁሉም ያገባል በየወረፋ በየወረፋ፡፡
Poem:
እንኳን ተጠጥቶ እንኳን ተጨልጦ
እንዲያዉ የሚያሰክር የሚያዞር ጥምቢራ
እግዜር ጠመቅኩ ይበል ኑሮ የሚሉት ቢራ፡፡
Methods
Methods . of Translation
. . Cont’d
1. 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.
2. Literal translation: the SL grammatical
constructions are converted to their nearest TL
equivalents, but the lexical words are again translated
singly (as if from the dictionary), out of context. But TL
grammar is respected. It often appears unnatural, hard
to read and understand, and hence should be avoided
unless a translator is specifically asked to do so.
Methods . . . Cont’d
3. Faithful translation: attempts to
produce the precise contextual
meaning of the original within the
constraints of the TL grammatical
structures.
4. Semantic translation: differs from
'faithful translation' only in as far as
it must take more account of the
aesthetic value of the SL text.
Methods . . . Cont’d
5. Adaptation: 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.
6. Free translation: produces the TL
text without the style, form, or content
of the original.
Methods . . . Cont’d
7. Idiomatic translation: 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.
8. Communicative translation: 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).
Methods . . . Cont’d
►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“ (Newmark, 1991:10-
12).