constructing pathways to translation - Higher Education Commission

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pedagogy,
as he has extensively quoted western thinkers and philosophers like Ezra
Pound
and Matthew Arnold etc.
The
crucial fact that came to the forefront during the investigation, was the non-existence
of the standard Urdu Grammar. The talk with Dr Attash Durrani confirmed the fact that
Urdu Grammar and even Urdu graphemes, have yet to take
their final form. The fact of
the matter is that Urdu Language has never been taken seriously by the authorities.
Resultantly, no single comprehensive Urdu grammar book exists which encompasses
the
fundamentals of Urdu grammar in all its aspects, whereas English grammar is fully
developed and well researched.
There is no standard Urdu- English dictionary, which could suffice the need of the
researchers, especially the Translators, translating from Urdu into English. There is a dire
need to develop such a dictionary which could cater the needs of the Translators.
National Language Authority (NLA) (Muqtadira) has developed a very comprehensive
dictionary from English into Urdu since the main aim of NLA is to translate the western
Literature from English into Urdu and not vice versa, but at the same time, there is no
systematic attempt at the development of formal Translation pedagogy either in English
or Urdu. This is yet another main reason for the non-existence of Urdu Translation
Pedagogy.
Guidance or expertise in the field of Translation pedagogy in general and Urdu in
particular is no where to be found in Pakistan at the professional and academic level.
Vague ideas are thrown at random to be pursued intuitively and imaginatively. There is
no denying the fact that Translations from Urdu into English, and vice-versa, are done by
amateurs, who do not follow any particular theory and framework, and at the same time
do not feel the need for it. Dr Naeem Kalasra and Dr Asif Furrukki are medical doctors,
who are literary figures as well (their replies are attached in Appendix D). Muhammad
Umer Memon, for long working in the Wisconsin University, U.S.A., has done
considerable work, of translating from Urdu into English, but very openly admits that he
has no time to follow any theory, nor he has developed a theory of his own.(response
attached in the Appendix D). However all such notions prevalent in Pakistan have been
covered in the succeeding discussion.