Translation:

Definitions, Importance, and Types

Dr. Muhammad Tahir
HOD-DIS; Assistant Professor
Department of Islamic Studies (DIS)
Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities
tahir.griffithuni@gmail.com
mohd.tahir@riphah.edu.pk
Mobile: 03007941178, Whatsapp: 03319293908
 Session Objectives
• To understand the meaning and
definition of translation
• To highlight the importance of
language worldwide
• To learn about different
types/methods of translation
 Translation: Meaning
• Etymologically (a history of the word),
"translation" is a "carrying across" or
"bringing across“.
• Literally, the Latin word "translation"
derives from "translatum," of
"transferre" ("to transfer" — from
"trans," "across" + "ferre," "to carry"
or "to bring").
 Translation: Meaning
• Additionally, the Greek term for
"translation,“ "METAPHRASIS" ("a
speaking across"), has supplied
English with "metaphrase" — a "literal
translation," or "word-for-word"
translation — as contrasted with
"paraphrase" ("a saying in other
words," from the Greek
"PARAPHRASIS")
 Translation: Definition
• Translation is “the process of
translating words or text from one
language into another.”
• Translation is “the communication of
meaning from one language (the
source) to another language (the
target).”
• Translation refers to written
information, whereas Interpretation
refers to spoken information
 Importance of Translation
• In a world with over 7000 spoken
languages, translation is important
because it allows people to communicate
and understand each other's ideas and
cultures, without having to learn a second
language.
• The Importance of translation in this era
of globalization where mostly everyone
wants to explore something new each
moment, it becomes impossible to
actually avoid how important translation
is.
 Importance of Translation
• Communication is the key of any
successful relation, business or in fact
anything, you are nothing if you cannot
communicate well and so here the role of
a translator becomes more crucial (vital)
and very important.
• Translation also carries one culture to the
other altogether in all around the world.
For a nation, it is most significant for
every nation to maintain the economy.
 Types of Translation
There are eight types of translation:
1. Word-for-Word Translation
2. Literal Translation
3. Faithful Translation
4. Semantic Translation
5. Adaptive Translation
6. Free Translation
7. Idiomatic Translation
8. Communicative Translation
 1. Word-for-Word Translation
The source language 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
(procedure) of the source language or
to understand a difficult text as pre-
translation process.
 2. Literal Translation
The source language grammatical
constructions are converted to their
nearest target language equivalents
but the lexical items are again
translated out of context. As pre-
translation process, it indicates
problems to be solved.
 3. Faithful Translation
It attempts to reproduce the precise
contextual meaning of the original
within the constraints (limits) of the
target language grammatical structures.
It transfers cultural words and
preserves the degree of grammatical
and lexical (verbal) deviation from
source language norms. It attempts to
be completely faithful to the intentions
and the text-realization of the source
language writer.
 4. Semantic Translation
It takes more account of the aesthetic value
of the source language text, compromising
on meaning where appropriate so that no
rhyme (poem), 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
(inflexible, rigid), semantic translation is
more flexible.
 5. Adaptive Translation
This is the freest form of
translation mainly used for plays
and poetry: themes/ characters/
plots preserved, source language
culture converted to target
language culture & text is rewritten.
 6. Free Translation
It 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.
 7. Idiomatic Translation

It reproduces the message of the

original but tends to distort
(mislead, change, alter) nuances
(shades, degrees) of meaning by
preferring colloquialisms (common
terms) and idioms. [Hit the Books,
In a nutshell, Think big]
8. Communicative Translation

It attempts to render (concentrate

or extract) the exact contextual
meaning of the original in such a
way that both language and content
are readily acceptable and
comprehensible (understandable)
to the readership.