Translation Procedures, Strategies, and Methods

This essay is about the translation procedures in translation culture-specific concepts (CSCs). There are many problems in translating culture-specific concepts (CSCs) in general and allusions in particular. It seems to be one of the challenging tasks for the translators. It can be seen in the fact that the allusions have particular connotations and implications in the source language (SL) and the foreign culture (FC) but not necessarily in the TL and the domestic culture. In order to translate CSCs and allusions properly, it needs some procedures and strategies.

1.      Introduction

The purpose of translation is to reproduce various kinds of texts—including religious, literary, scientific, and philosophical texts—in another language and make them available to wider readers. The biggest problem in translating texts is the difference between an SL and TL and the variation of their culture that makes make the process of translating a real challenge.

2.      Translation procedures, strategies, and method

Based to Nida (1964), there are some procedures that needed in translating texts; they are:

                                I.         Technical procedures:

                                        A.                     analysis of the source and target language
In translating a text, the translator should have enough knowledge about the text itself. The translators also have to know very well about the target language so that the translation is not misinterpreted. For example in translating a tourism book, a translator should know about the tourism place mentioned in the book. He/she also has to know very well about the words that is used in tourism businesses. 

                                         B.                     a through study of the source language text before making attempts translate it
 The translator should master the source language before he/she translate the text. It can make the production of translation is natural and understood. The translators also has to make sure that he/she does not do any misinterpretation. That's why mastering the source language is important.  For example in translating a novel. There are so many expression in a novel that might be not easy to deliver the message. The translator might translate the expression that is appropriate without changing the meaning.

                                         C.                  Making judgments of the semantic and syntactic approximations. (pp. 241-45)
This step is the way of delivering the meaning in translation. The translator should consider about semantic and syntactic problem that is found in the process of translation. He/she has to make sure that he/she knows the meaning of the text and can deliver the message as is. The translator can change the word, but not change the meaning. He/she also has to make sure that they translate the text well so that the readers can understand the content of the text. For example, in the manual instructions book, the translator should translate the steps properly.
 

                                  II.   Organizational procedures:
- constant reevaluation of the attempt made
The translator should reevaluation the translation he/she made in order to check the content of the translation itself. The step can make the translator's work optimal. They may check the effectiveness of the words, grammatical feature, and semantic feature. For example after translating a book, the translators can read their product. They can analyze the mistakes that they have done and fix it. 
- contrasting it with the existing available translations of the same text done by other translators
 If the text is very popular and it has already translated by the other translators, the translator can compare his/her work with the other work. It can make the translations better because he/she can improve the translation. They can make the other work as comparison in choosing words, sentence order, or the style of translation. For example in translating Harry Potter, the translator can compare with the other translators, may be from the internet or forum.
- checking the text's communicative effectiveness by asking the target language readers to evaluate its accuracy and effectiveness and studying their reactions (pp. 246-47)
 After the translator finish in translating a text, they can ask other people to read his/her work. After reading the translation product, the readers can give advises to the translator. The translators can make an evaluation of the mistakes that he/she had done in translating the text and they can find the best way in translating the text. 

That’s all that I know about translations procedures. It is very important for the translators to understand and follow the translation procedures in order to translate the text properly.  It can help the translators to follow the steps so that their translation can be a good one. It might be not the best but  it is better.