Translation involves reproducing the meaning and style of a source language text in the target language. There are three main types of translation: intralingual (rewording within the same language), interlingual (translating between languages), and intersemiotic (translating between verbal and nonverbal sign systems). Written translation allows revising and correcting the target text, while oral translation is done simultaneously or consecutively with limited time and inability to revise. Simultaneous interpretation involves translating the source speech simultaneously as it is uttered, while consecutive interpretation involves translating after segments of the source speech.

1. Translation

2. Translation consists in reproducing
in the receptor language the closest
natural equivalent of the source
language message, first in terms of
meaning and secondly in terms of
style.
Nida and Taber (1969: 12)

3. Dubois (1974) :
Translation is the expression in another
language (or the target language) of what
has been expressed in another, source
language, preserving semantic and
stylistic equivalences.

4. Translation is the replacement of a text in
one language by a replacement of an
equivalent text in a second language.
(Meetham and Hudson, 1972: 713)
Translation is the replacement of textual
material in one language (SL) by
equivalent textual material in another
language (TL).
(Catford, 1965: 20)

5. Roman Jakobson (1959 in Schulte and
Biguenet,1992:145) distinguishes three
ways of interpreting a verbal sign: it may
be translated
*into other signs of the same language,
* into another language, or
*into another code that is nonverbal
system of symbols.

6. Intralingual translation or rewording : It
is an interpretation of verbal signs by
means of other signs of the same
language.
The first type is exemplified by
synonyms in the same linguistic code or
language, paraphrase or replacing an
idiom such as ‘pass away’ by ‘die’.

7. Interlingual translation or translation
proper : It is an interpretation of verbal
signs by means of some other language.
The second type is seen in replacing
certain code-units in Sl by equivalent
code-units in TL.

8. Intersemiotic translation or transmutation
: It is an interpretation of verbal signs by
means of signs of nonverbal sign system.
The third refers to the use of signs or
signals for the purpose of
communication; the most important
semiotic system is human language in
contrast to other systems such as sign
language and traffic signals.

9. In written translation the original can be read
and re-read as many times as the translator may
need or like. The same goes for the final product.
The translator can re-read his translation,
compare it to the original, make the necessary
corrections or start his work all over again. He
can come back to the preceding part of the
original or get the information he needs from the
subsequent messages. These are most favourable
conditions and here we can expect the best
performance and the highest level of
equivalence.

10. The conditions of oral translation impose
a number of important restrictions on the
translator’s performance. Here the
interpreter receives a fragment of the
original only once and for a short period
of time. His translation is also a one-time
act with no possibility of any return to the
original or any subsequent corrections.
This creates additional problems and the
users have sometimes; to be content with
a lower level of equivalence.

11. There are two main kinds of
oral translation –
consecutive and simultaneous.

12. In consecutive translation the translating starts after
the original speech or some part of it has been
completed. Here the interpreter’s strategy and the
final results depend, to a great extent, on the length of
the segment to be translated. If the segment is just a
sentence or two the interpreter closely follows the
original speech. As often as not, however, the
interpreter is expected to translate a long speech
which has lasted for scores of minutes or even longer.
In this case he has to remember a great number of
messages and keep them in mind until he begins his
translation. To make this possible the interpreter has
to take notes of the original messages.

13. In simultaneous interpretation the interpreter
is supposed to be able to give his translation
while the speaker is uttering the original
message. This can be achieved with a special
radio or telephone-type equipment. The
interpreter receives the original speech
through his earphones and simultaneously
talks into the microphone which transmits his
translation to the listeners.
(Prof. A. B. As-Safi, Translation Theories,
Strategies And Basic Theoretical Issues)

14. Thank you for Your Listening
Goran Omar
UoH
English Department