Types of Text: Translation - 4 Stage - 2

Translation – 4th stage – 2nd lecture
SECTION TWO
Types of Text
Built on the concept of equivalence, which is the milestone in
linguistic theories, the text, rather than the word or sentence, is
deemed the appropriate level at which communication is achieved
and at which equivalence must be sought. Reiss links the functional
characteristics of text types to translation methods. The main
characteristics of each text type can be summarized as follows:
1. Informative: It is concerned with ‘plain communication of
facts’: information, knowledge, opinions, etc. The language
dimension used to transmit the information is logical or
referential; the content or ‘topic’ is the main focus of the
communication.
The TT of an informative text should transmit the full
referential or conceptual content of the ST. The translation
should be ‘plain prose’ without redundancy, but with the use
of explication when required.
2. Expressive: It denotes the ‘creative composition’ wherein the
author uses the aesthetic dimension of the language.
The TT of an expressive text should transmit the aesthetic and
artistic form of the ST. The translation should use the
‘identifying’ method, with the translator adopting the stand
point of ST author.
3. Operative: The purpose is to induce behavioural responses,
i.e., to appeal to or persuade the reader or ‘receiver’ of the text
to act in a certain way.
The TT of an operative text should produce the desired
response in the TT receiver. The translation should create an
equivalent effect among TT readers.
4. Audiomedial: It refers to films and visual or spoken
advertisements which supplement the other three functions
with visual images, music, etc.
Audiomedial texts require the ‘supplementary’ method,
written words with visual images and music. The text type
approach moves translation theory beyond a consideration of
lower linguistic levels, the mere words beyond even the effect
1
they create, towards a consideration of the communicative

purpose of translation.
Methods of Translation
There are two main groups of methods based on the emphasis they
place.
A) Source Language Emphasis
1. Word-for-word translation: The SL word order is preserved and
the words translated by their most common meanings. Cultural
words are translated literally. The main use of this method is either
to understand the mechanics of the source language or to construe a
difficult text.
This kind of translation is old-fashioned and suffers many substantial
problems on different linguistic levels.
what passed died ‫ما فات مات‬
2. Literal translation (direct): The SL grammatical constructions
are converted to their nearest TL equivalents but the lexical items are
again translated out of context. As pre-translation process, it
indicates problems to be solved.
Meaning (metaphors): it rains cats and dogs = * ً ‫إنها تمطر قططا ً وكالبا‬
Idioms: Arabian Nights = ‫*الليالي العربية‬
Proverbs: birds with a feather fly together = *ً ‫الطيور ذات الريش تطير معا‬
3. Faithful translation: It attempts to reproduce the precise
contextual meaning of the original within the constraints of the TL
grammatical structures. It transfers cultural words and preserves the
degree of grammatical and lexical deviation from SL norms. It
attempts to be completely faithful to the intentions and the text
realization of the SL writer.
.‫مثل هذه األشياء عليها إقبال كبير اآلن‬
Things like these are in great demand now.
4. Semantic translation: It differs from faithful translation only in
taking more account of the aesthetic value of the SL text,
compromising on meaning where appropriate so that no assonance,
2
word play or repetition jars in the finished version. It does not rely
on cultural equivalence and makes very small concessions to the
readership. While 'faithful' translation is dogmatic, semantic
translation is more flexible.
.‫مثل هذه األشياء عليها إقبال كبير اآلن‬
This kind of thing is in great demand at the moment.
B) Target Language Emphasis
1.Communicative translation: attempts to render the exact
contextual meaning of the original in such a way that both language
and content are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the
readership.
I would've thought you'd try to accomplish two goals at once.
.‫كنت ألظنك تحاول ضرب عصفورين بحجر واحد‬
2. Idiomatic translation (natural translation): ‘idiom’ means
affixed figurative expression whose meaning cannot be deduced
from the denotative meanings of the words that make it up as in:
‘car racing is not my cup of tea’.
It reproduces the message of the original but tends to distort nuances
of meaning by preferring colloquialisms and idioms.
.‫سباق السيارات ليس محل اهتمامي‬
3. Free translation: reproduces the matter without the manner, or
the content without the form of the original. Usually it is a
paraphrase much longer than the original.
.‫مثل هذه األشياء عليها إقبال كثير اآلن‬
This one’s dead trendy.
4. Adaptation: This is the freest form of translation mainly used for
plays, stories, novels, poetry and even in press and advertisements:
themes/ characters/ plots preserved, SL culture converted to TL
culture & text is rewritten.
It just takes .. one bite !
! ‫ مرة مهمة‬... ‫هي قضمة‬
3
Now, try to translate the following sentences in an acceptable

method:
1- Life is full of surprises that we meet again like this.
2- The financial requirements of this section are included in the
general budget of the Ministry of Education.
3- It contains only the main legal materials that pertain to
indigenous peoples and their relationships to land, territories
and resources.
‫ ويبدو إن األم{{ر‬،‫ت في الترجمة للمرة األولى في دراستنا الجامعية‬ ٍ ‫ نحن نتلقى محاضرا‬-4
.‫شيّق لكنه ال يخلو من صعوبة بالغة‬
‫ الواليات المتحدة تفرض عقوبات على تركيا على خلفي{{ة ش{{راء األخ{{يرة لمنظوم{{ة أس‬-5
.‫ الدفاعية من روسيا‬400
.‫ ال أبالي‬،‫ فليرحل ربيع العمر عني‬-6
7- "To do good, you actually have to do something."
8- "Most people are afraid of freedom. They are conditioned to be
afraid of it."
9- "Let your life speak!"
10- "Always give them the old fire, even when you feel like a
squashed cake of ice."

Types of Text: Translation - 4 Stage - 2

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Translation – 4th stage – 2nd lecture

they create, towards a consideration of the communicative

Now, try to translate the following sentences in an acceptable

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