Dept.
of Translation 1st class
Steps of language translation process
Translating a text from one language (the source language) to another (the target
language) involves a clear process. For beginners, it's important to follow simple steps
to ensure the translation is accurate and makes sense in the target language. Here is a
straightforward, step-by-step guide to help you understand the translation process:
1. Understand the Original Text
The first step in translating is to read and fully understand the text you are translating.
This means you should:
Read Carefully: Read the text several times to understand its meaning.
Know the Context: Understand what the text is about and its main ideas. This helps
you know how to translate words and phrases.
Recognize Difficult Words: Make a list of difficult or unknown words and find their
meanings.
Understanding the text well helps you translate it correctly and keep its original
meaning.
2. Identify Translation Challenges
Before you start translating, think about any problems you might face. Some parts of
the text may be hard to translate. This could be because of:
Idioms and Phrases: Some expressions in one language do not have direct
equivalents in another language.
Cultural References: References that only make sense in one culture may not work
in another.
Complex Sentences: Some sentences may be long or have complicated structures.
Identifying these challenges early helps you plan how to handle them during
translation.
3. Start the First Draft of Your Translation
Now that you understand the text and its challenges, you can begin translating. Start
by writing a first draft of the translation. Focus on:
Meaning Over Words: Do not translate word-for-word. Focus on what the text
means.
Natural Language: Use language that sounds natural in the target language. Avoid
awkward or strange wording.
Maintain the Original Tone: If the original text is formal, keep it formal. If it’s
casual, keep it casual.
The first draft does not have to be perfect. The goal is to get the main ideas and
content translated into the target language.
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Dept. of Translation 1st class
4. Review and Improve the Translation
After completing the first draft, take time to review it. This step is crucial because it
allows you to make your translation better. While reviewing:
Check for Errors: Look for any mistakes in grammar, spelling, or word choice.
Ensure Accuracy: Make sure that the translation correctly conveys the meaning of
the original text.
Smooth Out Awkward Phrases: Change any parts that do not sound natural or are
hard to understand.
This step might require a few rounds of editing to make the translation as clear and
accurate as possible.
5. Proofread
You can:
Ask for Feedback: Have someone else read your translation and give suggestions for
improvement.
Proofread Carefully: Look for small errors that you might have missed, such as
punctuation mistakes, extra spaces, or incorrect words.
Proofreading ensures that your translation is polished and ready for use. It’s a final
check to make sure there are no mistakes.
6. Finalize and Format the Translation
The last step is to finalize the translation. This means making any final changes and
preparing the text for its intended use. You should:
Check Consistency: Ensure that terms and names are translated the same way
throughout the text.
Adjust Formatting: Make sure the layout, spacing, and formatting look good,
especially if you are translating documents like reports or books.
Deliver the Translation: If you are translating for a client or a project, make sure the
translation is ready to be submitted.
Once you complete these steps, your translation is done and ready for others to read or
use.
Conclusion
Translating a text from one language to another involves more than just changing
words. It requires understanding, careful planning, and attention to detail. By
following these six simple steps—understanding the text, identifying challenges,
drafting the translation, reviewing it, getting feedback, and finalizing the work—you
can ensure your translation is clear, accurate, and effective. Remember, practice
makes perfect, so keep translating and learning!
1
Dept. of Translation 1st class
Glossary of terms related to translation
1- Source Language (SL) and Target Language (TL)
Definition: The Source Language is the language from which content is
translated, while the Target Language is the language into which it is
translated.
Explanation: For instance, if translating from English (SL) to Arabic (TL),
English is the starting language, and Arabic is the destination.
2- Equivalence
Definition: Equivalence is the idea of finding similar meaning, style, or effect
between the source and target languages.
Explanation: Translators aim for equivalence to make the translation feel
natural and preserve the original meaning.
3- Literal Translation
Definition: Translating word-for-word from the source language to the target
language.
Explanation: This method can be useful for technical texts but often sounds
awkward with literary or idiomatic content.
4- Free Translation
Definition: Translation that focuses on conveying meaning rather than
translating word-for-word.
Explanation: Used for creative texts where meaning and style are prioritized
over exact wording.
5- Transliteration
Definition: Writing words from the source language in the alphabet of the
target language.
Explanation: Common with names or terms that lack a direct translation (e.g.,
"pizza" in Arabic as ")"ﺑﯿﺘﺰا.
6- Domestication
Definition: Adapting content to make it more familiar to the target audience's
culture.
Explanation: Aiming to make the text feel as if it was originally written in the
target culture, like changing "dollar" to "dirham" for Arabic readers.
7- Foreignization
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Dept. of Translation 1st class
Definition: Retaining elements of the source culture within the translation.
Explanation: This helps introduce the reader to the original culture but may
feel unfamiliar to the target audience.
8- Context
Definition: The circumstances, setting, or background that give meaning to
the text.
Explanation: Translators must consider context to choose words and
expressions that fit both the meaning and situation.
9- Text Type
Definition: Refers to the kind of text being translated, like literary, scientific,
or legal.
Explanation: Different text types need different translation approaches (e.g., a
novel vs. a technical manual).
10- Culture
Definition: The social norms, traditions, and values associated with a
language or group.
Explanation: Culture impacts meaning, so translators need cultural
knowledge to translate effectively.
11- Ideology
Definition: The beliefs or values expressed in a text, often politically or
socially driven.
Explanation: Translators might face challenges when dealing with ideological
content, especially if sensitive.
12- Machine Translation
Definition: Using software like Google Translate to translate text
automatically.
Explanation: While fast, machine translation often lacks accuracy and the
nuanced understanding of human translators.
13- Back Translation
Definition: Translating the target language text back into the source language
to check accuracy.
Explanation: This technique helps identify any meaning changes or errors in
translation by comparing the back-translated text with the original.
14- Loss and Gain
Definition: The idea that some meaning may be lost or new meaning added
during translation.
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Dept. of Translation 1st class
Explanation: Translators often have to decide what is most important to
convey when exact meaning or expression cannot be transferred between
languages.
15- Modulation
Definition: A shift in perspective or angle of expression in translation to fit
the target language better.
Explanation: For instance, translating "it’s raining cats and dogs" as "it’s
pouring heavily" in Arabic, changing the metaphor to fit the target culture.
16- Register
Definition: The level of formality or tone used in a text.
Explanation: Translators must match the register of the source text to ensure
the right tone is maintained, whether formal, informal, or conversational.
17- Untranslatability
Definition: Words or expressions that cannot be easily translated due to
unique cultural or linguistic elements.
Explanation: In such cases, translators may add explanations or use
adaptation to communicate the idea, like footnotes or descriptive phrases for
culturally specific terms.
