Translation Toolkit

10. Summary

• Translation is a two-stage process, involving: (i) decoding; that is interpretation and comprehension; and, (ii) encoding; that is rephrasing. Careful consideration should be given to both parts of the exercise.
  
• A TT is a product whose relationship as a whole and in parts to the ST culture can be assessed. A translator should devise an overall strategy for handling this relationship, in toto, but may need to take independent decisions as to the nature of this relationship for discrete parts.
  
• It is useful to take account of the likely end-user of the TT. The more specific the target audience the translator has in mind, the more consistent his or her TT is likely to be. Defining a specific target audience can help determine which textual features to focus on in preparing the TT.
  
• Translation loss of salient features can give rise to the need to compensate.
  
• It is useful to accept the inevitability of loss in translation, and work towards minimizing relevant objectively measurable loss.
  
• TT is reworking in which the translator strives to reduce the loss of some - the most salient - features of the ST.
  
• Any ST can be assessed for its relevant objectively-measurable features in terms of its linguistic levels, which are laid out in the schema of textual filters. Doing this can be helpful in determining in which areas to concentrate effort, and which areas are less important.
  
• Translation at Part II can been accompanied by a translator's note indicating briefly the strategy adopted (i.e. who the target audience comprises; whether and why there is TL-SL bias; where the translator's loss-reducing activity is focused). Marking criteria are available at /undergrad/marking/TranslationProject.pdf
  
• Year Abroad Translation Project (TP) may be accompanied by Translator's Footnotes, which must be clearly distinguished from ordinary footnotes to the text.
  
• Year Abroad TP Introduction should contain information about the author (if known), context, reception and translation history of the TT, and analysis of the translator's strategy. Criteria are available at /undergrad/marking/TranslationProject.pdf.

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