Name:

Irsa Saleem

Roll no:

081

Department:

BS English (B)

Assignment:

Translation studies
Question no: 1

How technology has changed the perspective of translation? Is it worth

considering? Machine translation is better than translations done in person?
Agree or disagree?

Answer:

Translation is a process of translating the different languages. Translation helps to translate the
literary text and language. But sometime translation is not proper way of translating the different
languages due to different cultural perspectives. Human translator will always be superior over
machine translator. With this understanding we have to look the following reason why the
human translators are better than the machine translator.

Machine translators have become predominant in modern society, but translation done by them
not clear and correct. Language and culture both are dependent. Different nations have different
nations. So translation technology develop by them is according to their culture. It is not
possible to get proper and accurate translation from a machine translator. The reason is that
machines do not understand the culture. The machine cannot translate the different lexical items
and slang of a specific culture.

On the other hand Human translators know the tune and the right word to use in right context.
In different culture meanings of words vary. They can identify the error easily. Human
translators are also affordable than the machine translator.

Example:

For example the word “Duppata” in Urdu language is not properly translated by the Google
translator, because in Muslim community it can be seen as hijab. But according to the western
countries this word stands for scarf due to different culture.

So coming toward conclusion I disagree on the point of view that machine translation are better
than human translators. Because machines cannot understand the culture as well as machines
cannot relate the words in proper context. Machines cannot understand the style and tone of
every writings. And translation cannot be complete without human input.

Question no: 2

Discuss cultural and ethical issues in translation theory with reference to the
role of the translator of cultural literary texts full of idioms, metaphor and
proverbs, etc.

Answer:

Translator converts the text from the source to target language. There are following role of a
translator. It should maintain confidentially and it should be sensitive to cultural aspect.
Translator should respect the sensitivity of data and it should be accountable as well.

Goal of translator: The main purpose of translator is that it should communicate the same
information and same mood as convey by the original text.

Cultural issues in translation:

Language and culture both are dependent. So language is the heart with in the body of culture.
There are many cultural issues in translation.

1-Snell- Hornby in 1993 presents the five basic groups of prototypes in addressing the problems
existing in translation process like:

 Terminology (senses of words)

 Concrete objects, basic level items
 Internationally known
 Word, expressing perception and often linked to the socio-cultural norms
 Cultural –bound elements

2- Ideology (system of ideas) in translation has been always accompanied by its political
connotation. These types of ideology cause problem in translation.

3-idioms and proverbs and cultural bounds words also cause the problems.
Translating idioms: in all languages idioms have cultural association. And always cultural
problems occur when we are trying to understand the idioms.

Translating proverb: The proverb is cultural- bound. So it can also create the trouble in
translation.

Translating metaphor: a metaphor is a complex of three dimensions and it reflects the tension
resemblance and disparity. Translator should translate the sense, to please, to delight.