constructing pathways to translation - Higher Education Commission

Translation is the matter of Linguistic performance. Universals are absolute, Translation
is probabilistic. The true interest in Translation stems from the fact that recodification is
an uncertain act, and the uncertainty results from the inevitable structural mismatch of
the codes, though the single semiotic element may be identical. When the
170
whole
structures are identical, the recoding is academic and uninteresting, as in exercise in
musical transposition; but it is not worthy of the name Translation.
Translation Theory thus is concerned with Translation Methods appropriately used for
certain types of text, and is therefore dependent on the Functional Theory of Language.
In a wider sense, Translation theory is the body of knowledge about Translating,
extending from general principles to guidelines, suggestions and hints. It is concerned
with minutiae as well as generalities and both may be equally important in the context.
What Translation theory does is, first to identify and define a translation problem; second
to indicate all the factors that have to be taken into account in solving the problem; third
to list all the Translation procedures, and finally to recommend
the most appropriate
Translation procedures, plus the appropriate Translation. Translation theory is pointless
and sterile if it does not arise from the problems of Translation practice, from the need to
stand back and reflect, to consider all the factors, within the text and outside it, before
coming to the decision.
It leads to the point, that a respectable Theory of Translation must abandon notions of
good and bad in recodification. The closest that a Theory of Translation can come to an
evaluative judgment is to label translation as moderate or radical, and let the critics judge
whether or not the moderate/radical Translation is worth the effort to be considered.
10.2.3 TRANSALTION THEORY AND LITERARY THEORY
The detailed theoretical framework and contribution of Literary theories to Translation
has already been discussed in Literature review, only the concluding remarks are added
here: The key question is
whether the activity of Translation is to be seen as
separate from or intrinsic to general theories of Literature and Language.
Research has proved that when Translation is considered a transforming principle, a
fundamental and vital ingredient in perception, reading, writing and re-reading, then its
study takes place as an essential element in any general theory of Literature, ranging