MODULE 2

FIDELITY AND TRANSPARENCY

INTRODUCTION

To do a translation, a translator must know the source language well that’s why in this course; we use
Filipino, English, and Bikol Naga or Central to make it easy for you to practice translation. In this module,
you will learn that it is an advantage to know these languages to make your translation faithful and
comprehensible.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

Translate the lyrics of the given songs to your chosen target language while maintaining the
faithfulness and the cultural aspect of the source text.

FIDELITY
Translate this excerpt of interview with a folk healer in English.

Excerpt English Translation

Researcher: Ang pagbubulong po Researcher: Is this way of healing

naiitutukdo o pinipili?
Folk Healer : Ako, para sa sakuya, ning
iyo ang linya ko. Ako ngani kang aki pa
mayo sakuyang anu yan, pero kang aki
pa talaga ko, itong gurangan igding
parabulong iniiba ako pirmi sa Hinulid,
pag Biyernes Santos. Tas iniiba niya ko
sa Gabas Gabas na iyan.Tapos
pinapatukaw niya lang ko sa
sementeryo, tapos maduros yan.Kan
aki pa ako arog kayan ang ano ko.
passed on by teaching another
person or is it just being chosen as
the next?
Folk Healer: For me, since childhood
it felt like I was meant to do this later
on. I was always brought along by our
elders who perform such healing
methods and we would go to various
places like HInulid, Gabas Gabas and
even the cemetery.

When you did the translation above, what were the things that you considered? Is it the culture that
reflects in the text? Or you just thought of the grammar and vocabulary to translate it word by word? Or
you considered all these things. In translation, the target text must be faithful to the source text to be
understood by the target audience. Your task as a translator is not to add or delete information from the
source text to maintain the faithfulness of the target text. So, if you considered the culture behind the
text, you thoroughly thought of your grammar and vocabulary to remain faithful to the source text, you
are on the right track in translation.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1.1

Translate the lyrics of the song Just Give Me a Reason by Pink.

Sa simula palang ninakaw mo na ang aking puso

at ako’y handa ibigay ito
Pinakita ko sa’yo lahat pati ang parte na pangit sakin
At sa bawat haplos, naghilom ito lahat
Ngunit may mga sinasabi ka habang ika’y nananaginip
Mga bagay na hindi mo nasasabi sakin
Sabihin mo nalang sakin kung ayaw mo na nang pagiibigan natin
Linawin mo nga sakin
Kahit papano
Sandali hindi tayo sira kundi nasugatan lang
At kaya natin magsimula ulit
Hindi man lang ako tumigil sa pagmahal, nakaukit sa aking puso
Hindi tayo sira kundi nasugatan lang
At kaya natin magsimula ulit

TRANSPARENCY

One of the difficulties encountered by translators is to provide the readers with the same feeling or
impact given by the source text. So, being aware of your target language is very important as mentioned
earlier. Fidelity and Transparency make a text comprehensible. Fidelity maintains the faithfulness of the
text while transparency makes the text understandable when it comes to the cultural perspective.

Source: Maryum. (2017). Fidelity and TransparencyTranslation. Retrieved on July 4, 2020 from
https://translationblog.net/fidelity-vs-transparency-in-translation/
 LEARNING ACTIVITY 1.2
Translate the lyrics of the song Try Everything by Shakira. You may send a copy
of your translation through Messenger (picture, file, or recording) or email
for critiquing. A recorded feedback will be sent to you after checking.

Ako’y nagkamali ngayon

Ako’y natalo din
Nagkakamali ulit ngunit susubukan muli
Ako’y nadadapa
Ako’y tumutumba
Ngnuit ako’y babangon at susubukan muli

Ang mga ibon hindi lang sila lumilipad

Sila din ay nahuhulog at lilipad muli
Wala tayong matutunan kung hindi tayo nagkakamali

Hindi ako kailanman susuko

Hanggang sa huli
Ako’y magsisismula ulit
Hindi ako aalis
Susubukan ko lahat
kahit may pangmabnag mahulog
Hindi ako susuko, hindi ako bibigay

Hanggang maabot ko ang dulo

Magsisimula ako muli
Hindi ako lilisan
Susubukan ko lahat
Susubukan ko kahit may panagnib ng pagkatalo

SUMMARY OF KEY CONCEPTS

● Fidelity maintains the faithfulness of the text while transparency makes the text understandable
when it comes to the cultural perspective.

ASSESSMENT
Translate the song The Climb by Miley Cyrus to your chosen target language but this time; make sure
that the translated text will also suit the melody of the song.

Source Text Source Target Target Text

Language Language

I can almost see it tagalog Makikita ko na

That dream I'm dreaming
English Ang aking mga
but
There's a voice inside my pinapangarap
head saying Ngunit
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking, May nagsasabing hindi ko
Every move I make feels yan maabot
Lost with no direction
Bawat hakbang
My faith is shaking but I
Gotta keep trying Bawat galaw
Gotta keep my head held
high Parang ako’y nawawala

There's always gonna be Ako’y nawawalan ng loob

another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna Susubukan muli
make it move
Taas noo na magpapatuloy
Always gonna be an uphill
battle
Sometimes I'm gonna
have to lose Palaging mayroon bundok
Ain't about how fast I get ng pagsubok
there Gusto kong malampasan
Ain't about what's waiting
on the other side Palaging matirik ang
It's the climb pagdadaan

At minsan ako’y matatalo

Source: LyricFind Hindi sa gaano kabilis

Hindi din sa kung ano man

ang nasa kabilang dako ang
 importante

Yung pagakyat ang

mahalaga

REFERENCE

Maryum. (2017). Fidelity and TransparencyTranslation. Retrieved on July 4, 2020 from

https://translationblog.net/fidelity-vs-transparency-in-translation/