Translation

While the trend of translation theory usually differentiates between the original language and its translation, Benjamin treats translation not as a substitution to for the original but rather as an independent, autonomous work of its own. Such a claim proves that the work of art is not restricted to the “original” language, but also goes beyond that to encompass the translation as well. According to Benjamin, translation is a form of art. It has the same value and follows the same rules in the realm of art. Benjamin considers both (the original and the translation) as “fragments that are parts of vessel … equally significant pieces of a broken and scattered whole” (Erben 2). This suggests that the status of translation becomes a significant…

While reading Beowulf this week, I could not help but think that I was missing something, something critical. Beowulf is originally written in Old English which we do not speak anymore and in order for modern audiences to enjoy the epic it had to be translated. This is the part that gets tricky. Different translations say different things that may give a completely different meaning to the text. You feel like you are missing something essential to the original story. As any bilingual person can…

Translation existence results from the expansion and diversification of languages making individuals in need to collaborate and interact with each other and communicate. This implies that it has been practiced for thousands of years since the need for translation emerges when two (or more) different languages come into contact with one another. Its significance shows up from the earliest of the human development and civilization since it was – and still is – an important factor in establishing…

This means that once a certain human history is discovered, the whole world will need to learn about it. Since each part of the world has a different language, translation is a necessary tool in ensuring the history of a certain place is known in another by translating its works to a language understood by people in another part of the world. Babylon is a location with lots of history; this has led to numerous translations of its history. One such translation is the Epic of Gilgamesh. This…

(2007, 208) argues that the profile of the person who is going to be in charge of revising the translation have to depend on the type of revision that the target text requires. The type of revision will depend on the needs that the target text requires and the specifications of the translation brief (ibid.). In this, Parra Galiano (2007, 209) distinguishes four types of revisers: 1) A subject matter reviser for content revision: this person has an expert knowledge of the topic in the…

There are many versions and translations of the bible, just as there are many types of people reading the bible there are many different versions to accommodate the variety of people reading . Although all of the versions and translations are accurate and there is an overall message for each verse that all the versions stick to, there are definitely a lot of differences among the versions. The above table shows the differences among just three versions of the same verse. The First translation,…

The art of translation can be a tricky business because language itself is very complex. According to the Linguistic Society of America, there are roughly 6,909 languages in the world. Each language offers a complex set of rules in which they operate, rules that a translator must follow. It is because of such complexities that translations tend to be subject to context errors and cultural mistakes. In this essay I will discuss examples of such errors as well as the challenges that translation…

The differences between Desmond Costa, Lionel Casson, and Bryan Reardon’s translations of section 1.22 in Lucian’s True Histories provide the reader with different interpretations of how reproduction takes place on the moon. Costa and Reardon are more familiar and conversational in their translations; their translations sound like anecdotes. On the other hand Casson’s translation is more formal which gives the work the qualities of a scientific account. The diction of these three translations…

In Translations, by Brian Friel, language is used as a mechanism to feature the many issues of communication within the characters’ small Irish village. Throughout the play, Friel attempts to advocate for the Irish language because he believes that language represents one’s identity and historical background. Unfortunately, the town, and specifically the local school, have been appropriated by British officers, whose main goal is to transition the school into an entirely English-spoken school,…

To start, let’s take a look at some commonly confused terminology in the language services field: 1. Translation versus Interpreting Translation is the process of converting written text from one language into another language. Interpreting is orally translating one language into another. The Main Difference: Translation Is Written While Interpretation Is Oral. 2. Translation versus Transcription While translation is the process of converting written text between languages, transcription is…