Translation procedures
How should the translator deal with the source text and the target text during the translation process?
Published online: 3 November 2017
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.63.3.04alw
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.63.3.04alw
Abstract
Translation can be seen as a process through which the translator begins with the source text, with an attempt at analyzing this particular text into semantic construction. The translator then reconstructs the semantic construction concerned into proper forms of the target language, seeking to produce an equivalent receptor language text (Larson, M. L. 1998. Meaning-based Translation: A Guide to Cross-language Equivalence. 2nd ed. Lanham: University Press of America Inc.: 519). In practice, the translator places himself/herself between the source and target texts, moving from the former to the latter and vice versa. The present paper crucially addresses the stages through which the translator is required to pass in order to achieve an acceptable and appropriate translation. It considers each stage in sufficient detail, showing the significance of these stages for the purpose of achieving a successful translation project. Finally, the present paper argues that the translator has to pass specific steps for the sake of accomplishing an acceptable and appropriate translation and that cognizance of translation theories is crucial in carrying out translation procedures, specifically when adopting the translation strategy on which the whole translation project will generally be based.
Résumé
La traduction peut être considérée comme un processus par lequel le traducteur commence par tenter d’analyser la construction sémantique du texte source avant de reconstruire la structure sémantique concernée dans des formes propres à la langue cible. Et ce, en cherchant à produire un texte équivalent dans la langue du récepteur (Larson, M. L. 1998. Meaning-based Translation: A Guide to Cross-language Equivalence. 2nd ed. Lanham: University Press of America Inc. : 519). En pratique, le traducteur se positionne entre les textes source et cible et passe du premier au second et vice versa. Cet article aborde essentiellement les étapes que le traducteur est contraint de franchir pour parvenir à une traduction acceptable et appropriée. Il traite de chaque étape de manière suffisamment détaillée, en montrant l’importance de ces étapes pour l’obtention d’un projet de traduction concluant. Enfin, cet article soutient que le traducteur doit franchir des étapes spécifiques pour réaliser une traduction acceptable et appropriée et que la connaissance des théories de la traduction est cruciale pour mener à bien les procédures propres à la traduction, en particulier, lorsqu’il adopte une stratégie de traduction sur laquelle la totalité du projet sera généralement basée.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Stages of translation
- 3.Familiarity with the background information of the source text
- 4.Analysis of the source text
- 5.The process of transfer
- 6.Production of the first draft of the target text
- 7.Production of the second draft of the target text
- 8.Testing the translation
- 9.Translation theories
- 10.Concluding remarks
References
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