research paper arbresha klaiqi.docx

UNIVERSITETI AAB
MASTER I GJUHES ANGLEZE

Research Paper : Literal translation and word-for-word translation

Name :Arbresha Klaiqi

Table Content


Abstract

1. Avoid Word-for-Word Translations in Language Learning
2. Literal translation word-for-word translation.

3. Literal Translation

4.. What is the difference between literal translation and word for word translation?

5. How to use literal translation correctly

Conclusion

Bibliography





ABSTRACT
This article is about literal translation and free translation and how to use literal translation and free translation properly. Literal translation is a good choice to use, it keeps the original message form. But literal translation is not word-for-word translation. Some sentences should not be translated literally because these sentences contain some idioms or not according with the custom of target language. Then, translators should use free translation. Free translation is a translation skill which is active. But free translation can not add personal emotion to the original works. Translation must be acceptable which use free translation. And free translation skill needs extensive knowledge and culture of both source language and target language. If a translator wants to use literal translation and free translation proficiently, practise is the most important.

















1.Avoid Word-for-Word Translations in Language Learning
Today we'll take a look at something that I feel is extremely important to grasp if you wish to reach fluency in a foreign language that of avoiding word-for-word translations. When learning a foreign language, especially one that differs dramatically in grammatical structure, it is tempting to translate word-for-word what you're reading. For example, in Korean and in Japanese, the verbs come at the very end of sentences. In short, the word order is the exact opposite of English and mos t Western European languages. Partly due to this, when people start learning such a language, they tend to translate word-for-word what they read or hear.
This simple sentence means "Yesterday I went to school" in Korean. If we were to directly translate this word-for-word, however, it would be rendered as: "I [subject particle] yesterday school to went.". While Korean and Japanese are languages that vary dramatically in word order compared to English, word-for-word translations should be avoided for just about any language. Even the simplest sentences should be thought of as loose translations, for example "la maison rouge" in French should be thought of as "the red home" in English and not "the home red." Of course, it's a good thing to know that the adjective in this case comes after the noun, and that "rouge" actually means "red" and not "home," but when you read or listen to these particular words, you should associate them with the general idea of "a red home".


2. Literal translation word-for-word translation.

At first, which kind of translation is word-for-word translation? Word-for-word translation is that: When translating, consider every words. Every word of source language is translated cordinantly:
For example:
5) It was an old and ragged moon.
Word-for-word translation:. Kjo ishte një hëna e vjetër dhe i shprishur (Albanian)
6) Many of his ideas are especially interesting to modern youth.
Word-for-word translation: Shumë nga idetë e tij janë veçanërisht interesante për rininë moderne ( Albanian).
From the example 5) and 6), we know word-for-word translation does not do any changes to source language. The form is close to the original, but it does not express the meaning of the source language. Strictly speaking, it is not translation. Nevertheless, some translation which did some change to source language and the structure of target language is also the same as source language, the translation is smooth, but the meaning and the style are far from the original, usually , target language readers did not know what it said. This is also word-for-word translation.
For example:
7) Every atom of your flesh is as dear to me as my own: in pain and sickness it would still be dear.
Word-for-word translation: Çdo atom mishi juaj është aq e dashur për mua si mi : në dhimbje dhe sëmundje ai ende do të ishte dashur (Albanian)
8) Being a teacher is being present at the creation, when the clay begin to breathe.
Word-for-word translation: Duke qenë një mësues është i pranishëm në krijimin , kur argjila të fillojë të marrë frymë (Albanian)
Translation of 7) and 8) are smooth. But they do not accord with the expressive way of Albanian language. It is word-for-word translation.
From all above, word-for-word translation is so starchy, goes after the form of source language that it never think of the effect of target language. Because word-for-word translation does not accord with the expressive way of target language, it is obscure, hard to understand it even makes target language readers did not know what does translator want to express. Word-for-word translation makes target language readers confused. It is unqualified translation.
3.Literal Translation
Literal translation also keeps the general form of source language,and keeps the structure and the metaphor of the original. But literal translation does make some neccessary adjustment, make target language smooth, clean and acceptable. After reading, target language readers can have almost the same feeling as the source language readers. But word-for-word translation only translate word by word, it is stiff and unitelligible. Quality of literal translation is good. Word-for-word translation is inferior. Literal translation and word-for-word translation can give different feeling to target language readers. All translation which is hard to accept, which have bad effect, which message is indistinct, which meaning is far from the original is word-for-word translation. This kind of translation is abortive.
But in which suituation translators should not translate literally? How to use literal translation correctly?
Any source language which does not accord with the expressive way of target language should not use literal translation. For example: In example 9), "Break out the pot that hole us in", it is an English idiom, it means do something successful. But how to translate it into Chines?There is also an idiom in China. It almost has the same meaning as"Break out of the pot that hold us in". It is "出 头地". So when translating that sentence translators should not use literal translation, translators should use free translation.
4..What is the difference between literal translation and word for word translation?

"Literal translation" and "word-for-word translation" are synonymous terms: they mean the same thing. These are both "direct translations." When we translate literally, we are translating one word at a time, hence, word-for-word translation. We are not concerning ourselves with the intended meaning, the connotation, the idiomatic meaning as much as we are with the literal meaning of the words, the denotation. A good translator does not do this because that sort of translation interferes with the reader or listener's language. 
A good translator must consider many different factors. One is word order, which differs from one language to the next. Another is the use of idiomatic language. In English, for example, one might say it is raining cats and dogs, and that idiom is not familiar to the speaker of another language, so the translator might very well simply say it is raining hard. Still another factor is cultural context, since the author of a text written for a "native" audience might assume an understanding on the part of the reader that will not exist for a foreign audience. Sometimes a translator must provide that cultural context. One of the most challenging tasks a translator faces is in the translation of poetry that rhymes. The translator wants to preserve the author's rhyming scheme, but of course, this is nearly impossible in another language. Translators must know a great deal more than the two languages they are working with.
5.How to use literal translation correctly?

First, know source language and target language culture as much as possible and translators should have extensive knowledge with the problems which the original wrote or talk about, translators should be conversant. We often have experience like that: Because lake of some knowledge that somebody talking about, even after others explained, we still did not know or understand. So before translators translating some materials, especially some proffessional materials translators must grasp some knowledge about the materials. For example, if translate some materials about economy,translators should know some knowledge about economy; if translate some material about news, translators should know some knowledge about news;if translate some professional materials,translators should know some knowledge about that proffession, or be an export of that proffession. If translator was a man who did not know something about the material which he wanted to translate, his translation would be unqualified. Second, comprehend source language message correctly and thoroughly. It is very important. Translators should not only know the surface meaning of the original and translators should read through the surface, know what does the original want to express. If a translator does only know surface meaning of the original and translate it literally, his translation would be correspondingly. After target language reader read his translation, they would be confuse and have different feeling between the original and the translation or even have erroneous comprehension.
Translation is different from reading. When we reading, it no matter how much we understand or can be understand or have erroneous comprehension. Because level of the readers is limited. Reading is only a feeling of himself. But translation affects others. Instead of the original author, translation is a man retell source language massage to target language. So translators should comprehened the source language message deeply and thoroughly, then retell the meaning of the source language correctly and close to the source language message. If a translator comprehened the source language just a little nmbiguiously,translation would be different from the source language message. Therefore, comprehension is very important. If translators had false comprehension to the source language message, his translation could be far from the original. This will lead his translation to be unqualified. From all above, literal translation is a basic skill of translation. It keeps the form of source language, including construction of sentences, mataphor. Sometimes it should do some neccessary change to the original, make the translation accord with the expressive way of target language. So make the translation acceptable. A translation which translated literally is close to the original. But literal translation is not omnipotent. Some sentences should not translate literally, because these sentences contained idioms which are different in source language and target language. Translators should have extensive knowledge. Comprehened source language message correctly and thoroughly, enhance acceptability of translation. If translators want to use literal translation properly and skillfully, they must comprehened all above, and have some practice. After all, practise is the most important aspect in translation.





















CONCLUSION:
If using literal translation and free translation proper, you will succeed in translating a composition. The most important in translation is the way in which how to deal with the complex problems of equivalence between the source and target articles. But complete identity of message is important, even use literal translation on the designative level of informative function one can only aim at the closet approrimotion and in general it is posible to obtain a functionally satisfactory correspondance.
Literal translation is a good choice to translate lively and closely, as the original. It retains the idea, style and rhetoric of the original. Translators should grasp it. Literal translation is not word-for-word translation. Sometimes, translators should do some change in translation so that they can make the translation more acceptable. Word-for-word translation is unqualified. Not all sentences can translate literally. Some sentences, if used literal translation would not be according with the culture of target language. Especially for some idioms. Translators should have extensive knowledge, comprehend the original thoroughly. Especially in translating some proffessional materials.
Free translation is a skill. It need not pay more attention to the form of the original and the details. But free translation should accord with target language culture and customs. Then target language readers can accept translation easily. Though free tranlation gives leeways to translators, they should not add personal emotion to the original works. Because if translators added their own emotion to the translation, target language readers and source language readers would have different feeling. So the translation is unqualified. Free translation also needs extensive knowledge and culture of both source language and target language. Translators should be proviede with literature training. Especially knowing some idioms in both target language and source language is very important.
Literal translation and free translation are two different way in translation. An excellent translation includs this two kinds of translation. An excellent translator could use these two kinds of way properly and proficiently. No translators can use literal translation and free translation proficiently at beginning. All successful translators have practised lots. When they were translating, they accumulated experience and knowledge. After they have translated some composition, they accumulate extensive knowledge. So translators needs practise. And both content and style are insparaby linked in any text, and success in translation means dealing creatively with both of these aspect of communication.



























Bibliography

Fanzhongyan 1994 Foreign Language Teaching And Researching Press

Nida,Eugene A. 1991 Translation:Possible and Impossible

Zhuguangqian 1984 Foreign Language Teaching And Researching Press