February 2, 2023

Basic Characteristics of a
TRANSLATOR

Marvin Baguio
Rico Planea
Claudine Margarette Tuplano
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

1. Sufficient Knowledge of two languages involved

Tw o T h i n g s t o C o n s i d e r

1. Grammatical Knowledge of the two

languages involved.
2. Capacity in literary expression against
capacity to use the language.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

2. Sufficient knowledge on the topic involved

Ainon Muhammad (1972:12)

“An author on translation, a good

translator must be a subject specialist, be
a good in the source language, even better
at the target language, and must have
received training in translation theory
and practice.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

1. Sufficient knowledge on the topic involved

Tra n s l a t e t h e f o l l o w i n g :

1. The square root of four raise to the

power of ten.
2. One word is enough for a wise man.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

3. Sufficient knowledge about the culture of two

languages involves in translation.

L o o k a t t h e f f c u l t u ra l
expressions:
1. “Hakuna Matata” – East Africa
Hakuna Matata, which means “no worries” or “there are no troubles”
in Swahili) is one of the most commonly used cultural expressions in
East Africa. That’s more of a trademark of cultures such that of Kenya
and Tanzania.
Hakuna Matata is more than just a phrase; it’s a philosophy. It
basically tells you to stop worrying, and that everything’s eventually
going to be alright.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

3. Sufficient knowledge about the culture of two

languages involves in translation.

L o o k a t t h e f f c u l t u ra l
expressions:
2. “Pura Vida” – Costa Rica
One of the most famous cultural expressions that you might have heard before is Costa
Rica’s “Pura Vida”. The Spanish phrase literally translates into “pure life” or “simple life”, but
what does it really mean?
Pura Vida is more than just a phrase; it’s a vibe and lifestyle deep-rooted in the Costa-Rican
culture. In a similar manner to Hakuna Matata, the term also reflects a worry-free attitude,
but it’s also a simple way of appreciating life. It’s an act of becoming aware that life’s what
you make it and it doesn’t define who you are. And it is definitely a notion of unity that
brings Costa Ricans together.
You don’t just use it when facing a disappointment or a misfortune; it’s also a hello and
goodbye, and it could be used as a response for a casual “how are you?”
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

CLAIM #2
CLAIM #1

A translation must give A translation must give

words of the original. ideas of the original.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

CLAIM #2
CLAIM #1

A translation should A translation should

read like an original read like a translation.
work
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

CLAIM #2
CLAIM #1

A translation should A translation should

reflect the style of the possess the style of the
original. translator.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

CLAIM #2
CLAIM #1

A translation should read A translation should read

as a contemporary of the as a contemporary of the
original. translator.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

CLAIM #2
CLAIM #1

A translation may add to or A translation may never

omit from the original. add to or omit from the
original.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

CLAIM #2
CLAIM #1

A translation of verse A translation in prose

should be in verse. should be in prose.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

Let us examine each pair:

A. “Words” against “Idea”

❖ Is word equivalence a must against
idea?
❖ Is it literal translation or idiomatic
translation?
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

Let us examine each pair:

B. “Original-like” against “Translation-like”

❖ Literal translation is equal to
translation-like
❖ Idiomatic translation is equal to
natural and original-like
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

Let us examine each pair:

C. Style of the author against style of the

translator
❖ Is there a need to maintain/ retain the
style of the author?
❖ Is there a need to reflect the style of
the translator
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

Let us examine each pair:

D. Author’s time against translator’s

time
❖ This is applicable to classical literal
texts.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

Opposing claims on the Process of Translation

Let us examine each pair:

E. Verse to verse against verse to prose

❖ the technical and scientific materials in translation
and non-technical or creative literary text in
translation
❖ the case of par excellence in which the old Italian
saying “traduttori tradition” (translators-traitors)
applies (Santiago, A., 20
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

PURPOSES OF TRANSLATION

A C C O R D I N G TO S T U D I E S :

The aim of translation is to find the equivalent

meaning of the source language expression in
the target language. Thus, meaning is
important in translation and it must be held
constant. Furthermore, translating a literary
work into another language is creating a new
literary work in another language.
 February 2, 2023

Qualities of a Translator ENG ELEC 1

AGREEMENT:

Make a waray waray

(poem) siday and
translate into Filipino.
 February 2, 2023

Basic Characteristics of a
TRANSLATOR

Marvin Baguio
Rico Planea
Claudine Margarette Tuplano