Today is our topic of discussion – Rules and Kinds
Rules and Kinds
Definition of translation
Translation is the means of communication. It is the communication meaning from one language to another language. The purpose of translation is to convey the original tone and intent of a message, taking into account cultural and regional differences between a language and other languages. In simplest words, the process of translating words or texts from one language into another is called translation.
Suggestion
In translation tasks, there are two languages used as terms. One is called Source Language (SL) and the other is Target Language or Translated Language (TL). Grammar rules are applied based on the TL, not on the SL
Types of translation
There are various types of translation depending on the texts and the meanings they want to convey to the readers. Such as:
Literal translation
Literal Translation means the translation aims to have as close as possible word-for-word correspondence between original source language of translation to the target language. This approach (when pursued in earnest) is often in contrast to semantic or free translation although in some cases, may produce less natural awkward phrases.
Suggestion: Follow the parts of speech and subject-verb agreement pattern depending on the sentence structure. For instance, consider to maintain simple, complex, and compound target language structure; also maintain assertive, affirmative, negative, imperative, optative, interrogative, exclamatory target language structure.
Examples: English to Bengali
Source Language: Honesty is the best policy
Translated Language: সততাই সর্বোৎকৃষ্ট পন্থা।
Source Language: Man is mortal
Translated Language: মানুষ মরণশীল।
Comment:
In English, article ‘the’ is used before superlative degree. But, the target language (Bengali) do not use articles in such cases. That’s is why the translation followed the target language grammar pattern.
Source Language: I eat rice.
Translated Language: আমি ভাত ভাই।
Comment:
In English, verb is placed after subject and before predicate. But in target language (Bengali), verb is used at the end. That’s is why the translation followed the target language grammar pattern.
Source Language: Have you finished reading the book?
Translated Language: তুমি কি বইটা পড়ে শেষ করেছ?
Comment:
The target language interrogative sentence structure is maintained in the translation.
Source Language: Obey your parents.
Translated Language: মা-বাবাকে মান্য করো।
Comment:
The target language imperative sentence structure is maintained in the translation.
Source Language: I go to school every day.
Translated Language: আমি প্রতিদিন স্কুলে যাই।
Source Language: He knows English well.
Translated Language: সে ভালো ইংরেজি জানে।
Comment:
In English, adverb of time/manner is used at the end of a sentence. But in Bengali, adverb of time/manner is used before predicate, and therefore the translation follows the target language grammar rules.
Source Language: The moon is up. Translated Language: চাঁদ উঠেছে।
Source Language: Birds fly in the sky. Translated Language: পাখিরা আকাশে উড়ে।
Comment:
In English, preposition changes the meaning of a verb. But in Bangla, it is not at all necessary to use. Therefore, the translation followed the grammar pattern of the target language.
Literary translation
Literary translation means the translator aims to convey the author’s intention of the text (what the author was intending to communicate) as faithfully as possible into another language but the sentence structure changes and word-to-word translation is not maintained.
Example:
Source Language: Twinkle, Twinkle little star.
Translated Language: ঝিলমিল ছোট তারা।
Idiomatic translation
Idiomatic translation means that the translation will bring the original source language into contemporary language expression.
Example:
Source Language: It is raining cats and dogs.
Translated Language: মুষলধারে বৃষ্টি পড়ছে।
Source Language: Too many cooks, spoil the broth. Translated Language: অধিক সন্ন্যাসীতে গাজন নষ্ট।