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The art of translation

Translation consists in interpreting the meaning of a text. It involves producing an equivalent text that communicates the same message in another language. The original text is called the “source text” and must be translated into the “target language”. The final product is the “target text”.

It is also said that translation mixes the idioms and usages of the two languages involved, since both languages repose within the single brain of the translator. This mingling of two languages can easily result in linguistic hybrids, such as “Franglais”, “Spanglish”, “Poglish” or “Portuñol”.  

The art of translation goes back as far as writing itself. There is evidence of translation of the oldest written works such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, which has been translated into several Asiatic languages. This work may have been consulted by the authors of the Bible and the Iliad.

Today, in the golden age of computers, some people are trying to automate the translation of texts and to turn machines into real translation aids.

 

Computer-aided translation (or CAT) is a form of translation in which a translator translates using translation software developed to assist the process of translation.

Translation software can be very helpful to the translator, since it speeds up the translation process either with the help of translation memories when working with very repetitive texts or using translation software for texts written using controlled language. Terminology management tools can also be extremely valuable when working on big translation projects.

 

Translation memory software

A translation memory allows the translator to enter source text data and their translations in various target languages into a database. When new text is being translated, the translation memory compares previously entered segments and suggests translations.

Such software breaks the source text into units called “segments”.   Segments can be source text sentences, titles, items in a list, or larger units such as paragraphs. When the translator translates a document, the software displays the source segments in turn and suggests a translation that has previously been entered in its memory. If there is no translation in the database, the translator can enter one. Once a segment is translated, the software moves on to the next one.

Such software improves consistency in translation and builds up real “linguistic capital” which increases on a daily basis.

 

This software enables the translator to search automatically in a database for unknown terms or terms that are difficult to translate. This can be done automatically by means of a window or by using keyboard shortcuts to view the entries in the terminology database, and without stopping the translation process.