Translation Strategies
Translation Strategies
Translation Strategies
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Daw Ei Khine Zune,Lecturer, Department of English, Hpa-an University
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What is Translation?
Translation occurs very often in our daily life in order to transfer meanings
from one language to another language. Some of the experts and scholars have
proposed various definitions on translation. For example, Larson (1984) states that
translation means transferring the meaning of the source language (SL) into the target
language (TL). The definition of translation stated by Larson cannot be considered as
a complete definition because translation means more than transferring meaning. The
translator needs to consider the cultural and social background of the target language
as well as its grammatical structures. Newmark (1988) stated in his book 'A textbook
of translation' that translation is rendering the meaning of a text into another language
in the way that the author intended the text. It means that translation is transferring the
meaning of a text into another language in accordance with what the author intended,
but this definition is incomplete because it does not consider the form and the
grammar of the target language.
Catford (1965) also stated that translation is the replacement of textual
material in one language by equivalent textual material in another language. It means
that the translation is the replacement of textual material in the source language with
the closest meaning in target language. He distinguished between total translation,
which is the replacement of SL grammar and lexis by equivalent TL grammar and
lexis, and restricted translation that is based on the replacement of SL textual material
at only one level. In the book 'The Technique of Making Idiomatic Translation',
Based on the definitions that have been stated by the experts, the researcher
concludes that the translation is the process of transferring message, knowledge, and
culture of source language into target language as natural as possible by considering
the closest equivalent and the rules of target language, so that readers can understand
the message easily.
Bell’s Pragmatic Strategies
According to Bell (1991) retrived from https:/etheses.bham.ac.uk/1163/1/
Tso10PhD 1-2.pdf, the domain of pragmatics is one step beyond syntax and
semantics. It involves “plans and goals and the textual characteristics of intentionality,
acceptability and situationality – the attitudes of the producer and receiver of the text
and its relevance to its context of use”. From the pragmatic perspective, the most
common translation strategies include:
(a) addition
(b) omission
(c) explicitation
(d) implicitation
(e) domestication
(f) foreignization
(g) formality change
(h) speech act change
(i) transediting
(a) Addition
According to Eco (2003) cited in Bell (1991), sometimes, in order to avoid a
possible loss, a translator may say more than the source text.
(b) Omission
Omission in translation is normally considered unfavourable because during
the process of omission, some information or effect in the source text will be omitted
and therefore lost. While omission is carried out when the content is intentionally or
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unconsciously deleted by the translator, sometimes, omission also occurs when certain
qualities in the source language cannot be kept in the target language.
(c) Explicitation
According to Vinay and Darbelnet cited in Bell (1991), explicitation is
described as “the process of introducing information into target language which is
presented only implicity in the source language, but which can be derived from the
context or the situation”. It can be seen as a method of addition in translation.
(d) Implicitation
According to Vinay and Darbelnet cited in Bell (1991), inverting the process
of explicitation, implicitation is “the process of allowing the target language situation
or context to define certain details which were explicit in the source language”. Being
considered as a form of omission, it is also discussed in term of losses in translation.
(e) Domestication
According to Venuti (1995) cited in Bell (1991), the term “domestication” is
the issue of invisibility and a trend dominating Anglo-American translation culture. A
translator who uses the translation technique of domestication is target – oriented and
reader – oriented. Sometimes, domestication can also be unavoidable.
(f) Foreignization
Foreignization is like the opposite of domestication. Venuti (1997) cited in
Bell (1991) explains a highly desirable translation strategy that “entails choosing a
foreign text and developing a translation method along lines which are excluded by
dominant cultural values in the target language”.
(g) Formality change
According to Heylighen and Dewaele (1999) cited in Bell (1991), formality
can be understood at two levels – surface formality and deep formality. Surface
formality is characterized by attention to form for the sake of convention of form
itself. Occasions such as ceremonies, rituals and examinations are typical social
situations that exemplify surface formality. On the other hand, deep formality is
defined as avoidance of ambiguity by minimizing the context-dependence and
fuzziness of expressions.
(h) Speech act change
J.L Austin, the British Philosopher cited in Bell (1991), he introduces the
notions of “locutionary act”, “illocutionary act” and “perlocutionary act” which later
on become common terms in the study of speech acts. Locutionary act is the simplest
speech act. It refers to the surface meaning of an utterance.
(i)Trans-editing
Trans-editing is a two-in-one term consisting of the processes of translation
and editing. According to Hursti (2001) cited in Bell (1991), trans-editing is “the
composite term used to refer to work done in the realm of “practical texts”, such as
news items in which the processes, editing and translation, are not only very much
present but also equally important and closely intertwined.” Usually trans-editing
takes place when the translator realizes that the readers may need additional
explanations to understand the text.
Research Methodology
The focus of this research is to find out translation strategies in Pe Myint’s
Myanmar version of the story “A Brother Like That” written by Dan Clark through
the translation strategies proposed by Bell(1991). They are Translation by Addition,
Translation by Omission, Translation by Explicitation, Translation by Implicitation,
Translation by Domestication, Translation by Foreignization, Translation by
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The above table and figure describe the use of translation strategies found in
Pe Myint’s Myanmar version of the short story “A Brother Like That”. The translator
applied all strategies in his translation except the translation strategy of
‘Implicitation’. Among them, the translation strategy of ‘Domestication’ is the most
used and the translation strategy of ‘Speech Act Change’ is the least used.
Findings and Discussion
The present research paper analyses the translation strategies used by Pe Myint
in translating the story “A Brother Like That” by Dan Clark into Myanmar version
“ ”. The original author describes the young boy’s feeling and
affection on his younger brother. It shows that he values their relationship by showing
his mercy and sympathy on his younger brother. To convey the original message of
the story, the translator uses a lot of translation strategies.
According to the findings, it can be found that the most frequently strategies
used by the translator are translation by “domestication”. It is used 9 times. They are 9
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out of 36 and that is (25%). In order to give the information without deviating the
original meaning, the translator uses the strategy of “domestication”. The strategy of
“Domestication” is the opposite of the translation by “Foreignization”. The translator
domesticated some words from the source text to be able to get the main theme with
better understanding. This strategy makes the translation more familiar and suitable
with the Myanmar readers.
By applying the strategies, the translator makes his text more understandable,
effective, and worth reading for the readers. The original story “A Brother Like That”
is an excellent one. Similarly, the translated version “ ” can also
maintain the essence of the story.
Conclusion
Translation is not an easy task. Every language has different structures and
cultures that can complicate the translator to convey the original message from the
source text. One of the most difficult parts in translation process is translating literary
works, such as short stories and novels. In translating the story, the more skillful the
translator, the more he can give the main theme of the original text to the readers.
The analysis of the data shows that the translator uses a variety of strategies in
translating the story “A Brother Like That” to make his translation more effective and
excellent without deviating the intended meaning of the original text. It is found that
the translation strategy by “Implicitation” is not used. In this research, the most
frequently used strategy is “Translation by Domestication”. Such strategy helps the
translator in covering the general meaning of the intended message. The least
frequently used strategy is “Speech act change”. The translator used this strategy only
one time. The translator also applied “Translation by Additon”, “Translation by
Omission”, “Translation by Domestication”, “Translation by Foreignization” and
“Translation by Trans-editing” to make the story more figurative, attractive and easy
to understand.
It is observed that the intended messages of the story are vividly accepted by
the readers and the readers are easily able to appreciate the essence of the story. The
translator’s skillful choice of strategies make his text more understandable and worth
reading for the readers. Finally, the researcher expects that this study can partially
fulfill the need of the students who want to improve their translation qualities by
studying the translation strategies found in the famous translator’s work. In addition,
through this study, the researcher hopes that other researchers can develop the
researchs in the filed of translation by using better techniques and analysis in the
future.
Acknowledgements
First of all, I would like to express a great sense of gratitude to Dr. Soe Soe Aye, Acting-
Rector of the Hpa-an University, the pro-rectors, Dr. San San Hmwe and Dr. Khin Moe Moe, for
giving me opportunity to do this research paper. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to
Associate Professor Daw Zar Chi Soe, Head of English Department, Hpa-an University, for her sincere
encouragement and invaluable comments in the writing of this research paper. My gratitude and
appreciations are also addressed to all of the teachers from English Department in Hpa-an University,
for their valuable suggestions. Without their sound advices, the completion of this work would not be
possible.
References
Bell, Roger T (1991). Translation and Translating: Theory and Practice. London
and New York: Longman.
F. R. Arivanti, K. S. Piscayanti and P. A. K. Juniarta (2018). An Analysis of
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Jaray Onsomboom (2007). An Analysis of Translation Strategies Employed in
Contemporary American Poetry from English to Thai. Master
Project, M. A. Srinakhainwirot University.
Wong Bo Tso (2010). An Explorative Chapter on Translation and Translating
Studies, A Research Training and Subject Preparation Paper.
University of Birmingham.
Zohre Owji (January 2013). Translation Strategies: A Review and Comparison of
Theories. Translation Journal Volume 17, No.1.