Teaching Translation: A Pedagogical Framework

ATS School of ThoughtBasic Concepts

ByAbdelaziz Hamdy

Arabic and Translation Studies Division

1Apr 19, 2023

Apr 19, 2023 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Unless otherwise stated, all quotations are taken from:

Perspectives and Limitations of a Didactic Framework for the Teaching of Translation

Chapter 3 By Wolfram Wilss (Translation, Applications and Research. Edited by Richand W. Brislin, East-

West Center, Gardens Press, Inc. New York, 1976)

3

Let’s remember:

“Translation Teaching is a subject matter that permits only limited theoretical insights, and can therefore only partially – certainly less than the theory of translation – be systematized and formalized. This is because a pedagogical approach is always less systematic than a theatrical approach.”

Wolfram Wilss (1976)

Apr 19, 2023

4Apr 19, 2023

5

Please note:

We are Academic in the sense that we are rigorous in attitude and approach, i.e. we are careful, thorough and exact.We are also Professional in the sense that we can do the job as required, i.e. we are educationally prepared and very well-trained.

Apr 19, 2023

What is the difference between a bilingual speaker and a competent translator?

A bilingual speaker is the person who can express himself effectively in two languages.

A competent translator is the person who knows how to express what other people (want to) say, or what is

being said effectively in two languages.

6Apr 19, 2023

Q: Why do we need translation?

A: In two cases:a)Someone needs to understand what is being said in a language he does not speak.b)Someone needs to know what is being said – as is – in a language he dos not speak.

7

There is a difference between:

1- Giving one’s own understanding in a foreign tongue.

2- Giving what is being said or what is written as is in a foreign tongue.

8Apr 19, 2023

As the case may be:

Professional translators will either:1- Give their understanding or their own take, or belief, or preference of what is being said or what is written.

OR2- Give the best of their competence in recasting in the TL what is being said or written as is.

9Apr 19, 2023

Q: What do professional translators rely on when they do their job?

A: The grammatical relationships which will lead to meaning relationships.

10Apr 19, 2023

Translation Measurability

SL1 SL2 = TL1 TL2

in terms of in terms of

11Apr 19, 2023

Translation is a science and can be subsumed under Applied Linguistics.

Can the process of translation be formalized?

Can we change intuition into cognitively-based rules?

12Apr 19, 2023

The Raw Material is Language

•Language is analyzable and can be broken down into clearly discernible units.•There are levels of language analysis that will simply give insight to the complex structure.

13Apr 19, 2023

Remember

- Every language is a new version of life.

- Every language is another window on the world.

-Every language is “sui generis,” i.e. not classifiable with one another.

14Apr 19, 2023

Apr 19, 2023 15

BUT REMEMBER:

“It is impossible to obtain unexceptionally applicable and exhaustively determined translational rules, because the relation between form and function in linguistic communication is hetermorphous, which means that lexical, syntactic, semantic and stylistic features can interlingually be expressed in different ways.”

Translational Competence:

It is the ability to translate common language, technical, documentary and/or literary texts

effectively into the target language.

16Apr 19, 2023

Apr 19, 2023 17

“TC is an interlingual competence clearly marked off from the four traditional monolingual skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.”

Apr 19, 2023 18

“TC is a super-competence requiring as a pre-condition a comprehensive lexical, syntactic and stylistic knowledge of the respective SL & TL and the ability to synchronize these two monolingual knowledge areas to bring about A COMMUNICATIVELY EFFECTIVE INTERLINGUAL TRANSFER.”

Apr 19, 2023 19

“TC is composed of two sub-competences which are in complementary relation and together constitute the basis of TC:

-An SL receptive competence, and -A TL reproductive competence.”

Apr 19, 2023 20

“What are the professional minimum qualifications for a translator?

To answer this question there are two implications that should be first taken into consideration:1.The need to differentiate between a number of discourse type-specific competence areas, such as technical translation, common language translation, literary translation and translation for special purposes.2.The need to differentiate between two competence directions for translation from foreign language to native-tongue and vice versa.”

“Translational competence constitutes the overriding learning target on which all curricular components should be focused:

1.Native-tongue training.2.Controlled second-language acquisition.3.Common language.4.Technical and literary classes.5.Workshops & seminars”.

21Apr 19, 2023

“In order that a TT-operational strategy may be developed, it is important to look at the translation process in such a way as to make clear that it is a complex activity that brings various interrelated language levels functionally together”.

22Apr 19, 2023

Linguistic features for any variety should be studied under the following headings:

1.General features2.Layout3.Graphetics and graphology4.Lexis (vocabulary)5.Syntax (sentence-structure)

23Apr 19, 2023

Simple levels of language analysis:

1- Sound Phonology2- Letter Graphetics and Graphology3- Word Morphology (Lexis)4- Sentence Syntax

24Apr 19, 2023

N.B.

a)Close attention should be paid to the inter-relatedness of all levels and to the contextual inseparability b)All levels have their own semantic dimensions:

Words have a structure Sentences have a structurec)What is phonologically stressed is usually graphetically and graphologically foregrounded.

25Apr 19, 2023

Basic structures in a language will set the norm, and consequently will give a “normal” message.

Thus we have to be very careful and meticulous about the inter-play of all levels of language analysis in any given text. This inter-play will ultimately show the meaning relationship(s) established.

26Apr 19, 2023

What is meant by “a normal statement?”

It is the statement which does not say anything more nor less than what it appears to declare.

27Apr 19, 2023

Let us be clear about these two concepts:1- Grammaticality, which is high standards of correctness.

vs2- Acceptability, which is the norm of usage.

And RememberGrammaticality will definitely lead to meaningful messages, whether acceptable or not, whether said or not.

Acceptability is what is in conformity with the norms.

28Apr 19, 2023

Apr 19, 2023 29

* The Translation Unit

“The pedagogically easiest-to-handle translation unit is the SENTENCE, because it reveals a self-contained network of the often complicated inter-play of lexis and syntax and, after all, in any translation activity the translator is trying to bring these two language levels, lexis and syntax, functionally together. The sentence, as it is understood here, is a syntactically-structured, communicatively-controlled, context-sensitive combination of linguistic signs that are formally marked off from other sentences of the same text by means of punctuation marks.”

Apr 19, 2023 30

“Within the framework of a sentence-based TT, all teaching methods are permissible that take into account the three factors which constitute the translation result, namely:

1.The communicative intention of the text to be translated.2.The stylistic competence of the SL text author.3.The translational competence of the translator.”

The Incorrect Transfer Strategy

SL TL

Will definitely lead to either:1- A language error OR2- A translation error

31Apr 19, 2023

Remember

Even if this transfer strategy leads in a certain case or example to a correct translation, the translation will be considered accidentally correct, and consequently methodologically unreliable.

32Apr 19, 2023

Translation errors can be precluded by:

1.Identifying the problem areas2.Pinpointing the linguistic and non-linguistic difficulties3.Developing adequate transfer techniques

33Apr 19, 2023

Therefore we need to have a clear methodology for:

1.Building up a hierarchy of translation difficulties2.Employing error analysis systematically 3.Internalizing translation criticism

34Apr 19, 2023

The Correct Transfer Strategy

SL (1) SL(2) Rethink TL

in terms of in terms of in terms of

Text requestedto be translatedAnother recast of parts or whole, meant to make sure the linguistic relations are accurately understood

35Apr 19, 2023

SL (2)

should be done on two levels of language analysis:1- Lexical2- Syntactic

Andshould be done for two purposes:1- To understand2- To facilitate translation

36Apr 19, 2023

Translation Assessment

A good translation is the translation which will observe THREE primary rules which – though inseparable – are relative in actual performance. These are:1- Ideas2- Style3- Original composition

37Apr 19, 2023

Attention should be paid to:

1- How ideas are expressed. Learn how to manage ideas.2- How style is made. Learn the making of different styles and modes of expression.3- How original composition is achieved. Learn the language well enough to master its genius and be aware of its typical spirit.

38Apr 19, 2023

Re-defining the concept of “Difficulty”:

That which is difficult is:- very hard to understand or deal with- beset with problems and causing a lot of trouble

Let us learn Difficulty Management

39Apr 19, 2023

Remember“Literal Translation” means two completely

different things in the eye of the layman and of the “professional translator.”

To the layman “Literal” is incorrect language, meaningless rendering.

To the professional “Literal” is being quite exact, accurate and faithful.

40Apr 19, 2023

In certain cases, literal translation will be the legitimate and valid method because the syntactic

relations are then explicit semantic relations.

41Apr 19, 2023

Apr 19, 2023 42

Back Translation:

In back translation you can only make sure the meaning – in general terms – is conveyed. The factors that guarantee that the translation given is a good one do not apply.

42

THANK YOU

Apr 19, 2023 43