This document discusses translation methods and the challenges faced by translators. It describes translation as transferring meaning from the source language to the target language as closely, completely, and accurately as possible. This includes syntax, vocabulary, style, and phonology. The document outlines several methods of translation, including literal vs. free translation, semantic vs. communicative translation, and formal equivalent vs. dynamic translation. It also discusses two main difficulties for translators - difficulties related to items/vocabulary and sentence structure/style. Specific challenges include words having different meanings depending in context and translating idioms.

1. What We Translate
By
Dr. Montasser Mohamed
AbdelWahab

2. What Do we Translate?
Translation generally refers to all processes and
methods used to transfer the meaning of the
source language text into the target language as
closely, completely, and accurately as possible.
When we translate, we translate meaning which
comprises syntax, vocabulary, style, and
phonology.

3. How we Translate
To be able to identify the way we translate, we
need to consider two points;
1. Methods of Translation
2. Process of Translation

4. Methods of Translation
Writers on translation have suggested different
methods based on the two major old-new
methods of translation, Literal and Free.
1. Literal vs. free translation
2. Semantic vs. communicative translation
3. Non-idiomatic vs. idiomatic translation
(Peter Newmark(1981); Approached to Translation, Oxford: Pergamon Press)
(Peter Newmark (1988); A Textbook of Translation, London, Prentice Hall.)
4. Formal equivalent vs. dynamic translation
(Nida (1964): Towards a Science of Translating with Special Reference to
Principles and Procedures Involved in Bible Translating, (Leiden:E.J.Brill)
5. Non-pragmatic vs pragmatic translation
(Hatim B &Mason, I 1990; Discourse and the Translator, London and New
York: Longman.

5. Difficulties that Translators face
• Translators face two kinds of difficulties during
translation;
1. Difficulties related to items and vocabulary
2. Difficulties related to sentence structure
3. Difficulties related to style

6. Difficulties related to the use of words
The word does not have a meaning in itself but
it acquires its meaning from the context in
which it is found. The translator must free
himself from the meaning that he learned
during his childhood or youth. The translator is
advised to refer to a specialized dictionary if he
found that the meaning he knows is not suitable
in this context. Sometimes, the dictionary may
not be helpful so he needs to use his mind to get
the meaning.

7. Words with different meanings
(1) The word “spring”
As a verb it may mean
2) The word “tender”
in a medical context
in a trade context
in trains
in a literary context
As a verb it may mean

8. An Example
• Let’s see together the use of the word “right” in the
following passage to identify some of the problems that a
translator may face during translation.
The teacher asked the student to draw a right angle,
but he insisted that the student draws it with his
right hand while the student was left handed. Of
course he did not draw it right so the teacher gave
him low marks. Right away, the student went to the
headmaster and complained that it was his right to
draw with the hand he liked. The headmaster who
was an upright man agreed that he was right and
that the teacher did not treat him right and ordered
the teacher to right the student’s marks.

9. Meanings of the word “right”
Right angle
Right hand
Draw it right
Right away
Right
Upright man
He was right
Treat him right
Right the marks