Translation in ELT

1.      Translation is the transfer of information from one language or language variety into another. "Translation" refers to the transferrence of meaning from text to text —usually written, recorded, or sign language— with time and access to resources such as dictionaries, glossaries, et cetera. There is a very high standard of accuracy demanded for translation.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation)

For example: English into Indonesian

   I        like     the way     you           treat                 me

Saya   suka       cara        kamu    memperlakukan   saya

2.      Source language is a language from which information or ideas are derived. In translation a source language is the original language that is to be translated into another language

Target language is a language that is the focus or end result of translation. It is used to refer to a source language being translated.

For example: 

They will come tomorrow morning – English as Source language

Mereka akan datang besok pagi – Indonesian as Target language

3.      Linguistic features are translated:

According to Larson (l998) that linguistic features which are translated   consist of the lexicon, grammatical structure, communication situation, and cultural context of the source language text, analyzing it in order to determine its meaning, and then reconstructing this same meaning using the lexicon and grammatical structure which are appropriate in the receptor language and its cultural context.

A translator must have ability in some follows:

R  syntax that is how to analyze the structure of sentence in a text, how to analyze the meaning of word, phrase and sentence and able to analyze the usage of certain sentences and its contexts

R  Syntax is how to analyze the architecture of phrases, clauses and sentences that is of the way they are constructed

R  Pragmatics is how language is used to communicate

R  Semantics is how to analyze linguistic meaning that is the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences.

4.      The differences between fluency and fidelity

Fluency is the property of a person or of a system that delivers information quickly and with expertise. Fluency indicates a very good information processing speed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluency).Fluency in translation is so accessible and readable for the target-language reader as to seem like an original in the target language. It never makes the reader stop and reflect that this is in fact a translation 

Fidelity is the extent to which a translation accurately renders the meaning of the source text, without adding to or subtracting from it, and without intensifying or weakening any part of the meaning.

5.       

R  Word-for-word Translation is the translation when the two long grammatical systems are in cognate or similar.

It is generated by many machine-translation systems, often results in patent nonsense with only a humorous value (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation). It is also often demonstrated as interlinear translation, with the Target Language (TL) immediately below the Source Language (SL) words. The SL word order is preserved and the words translated singly by their most common meanings, out of context. Cultural words are translated literally. The main use of word-for-word translation is either to understand the mechanics of the source language or to construe a difficult text as a pre-translation process. (Newmark: 1988)

For example:

I          will     play        Badminton   Tomorrow

 

Saya    akan   bermain  Badminton    besok

R  Literal Translation is the rendering of text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than conveying the sense of the original. Literal translations thus commonly mis-translate idioms. Also, in the context of translating an analytic language (such as English) to an agglutinative language, it renders even the grammar unintelligible. The SL grammatical constructions are converted to their nearest TL equivalents but the lexical words are again translated singly, out of context. As a pre-translation process, this indicates the problems to be solved (Newmark: 1988)

For example:

My teacher      is          a nice person

 

Guruku       adalah    seseorang yang baik

R  Free Translation reproduces the matter without the manner, or the content without the form of original. Usually it is a paraphrase much longer than the original, a so-called ‘intralingual translation’, often prolix and pretentious, and not translation at all. (Newmark: 1988) 

For example:

I          passed      the exam    with       flying colour

 

Saya      lulus          ujian       dengan     nilai yang sangat bagus

6.      The difference between literal and pragmatic translation

Literal translation is the rendering of text from one language to another "word-for-word" rather than conveying the sense of the original. Literal translations thus commonly mis-translate idioms. Also, in the context of translating an analytic language (such as English) to an agglutinative language, it renders even the grammar unintelligible. The SL grammatical constructions are converted to their nearest TL equivalents but the lexical words are again translated singly, out of context. As a pre-translation process, this indicates the problems to be solved (Newmark: 1988)

For example:

My friend      can            sing                  a         beautiful song

 

Temanku      dapat    menyanyikan  sebuah     lagu yang indah

Pragmatic translation is largely tentative and presumptive, as opposed to literal translation where the only assumption is that the readers are literate. In the case of the illustrative text, only some of the SL or TL readers are likely to be emotionally involved.

For example:

Naila      is        beautiful girl   and   her touches              as smooth as     snow.

 

Naila   adalah   gadis cantik    dan   sentuhan-setuhannya   selembut       kapas

Be my guest!                                 Silahkan!

7.      Interpreting is the intellectual activity that consists of facilitating oral or sign language communication, either simultaneously or consecutively, between two or among three or more speakers who are not speaking, or signing, the same language. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpretation)

Interpreting usually occurs "on the spot", with the clients present, dealing with utterances, though the source language may be a text.

8.      The relation of translation to language teaching: translation is without question an integral part of the explosion of both intercultural relation and the transmission of scientific and technological knowledge. The need for a new approach to the process of teaching and learning is certainly felt in translation. It is really important in process teaching learning. It is concerned with the transfer of information from one language or language variety into another. When students have problem with meanings or they find some strange words, they have to find the equivalent meaning in the target language. In this case, teachers have to explain students and translate it into target language. Teachers also can check their students’ understanding by ordering them to translate some texts.

9.      The contribution of Translation:

The translation has some contributions as follows:

R  It helps people in understanding the meaning of texts. By helping translation, people can easily understand some difficult meanings such as the instructions or clues in foreign language.

R  It help teacher to shed light on students concerning with some strange or unfamiliar words, phrases and sentences.

R  It helps students to know some texts in detail. Thus, students can prevent from misunderstanding and misconception