Introduction to Translation Communicative vs. Semantic Theory

Communicative Vs. Semantic Theory Communicative Translation: It attempts to produce on its readers an effect as close as possible to that obtained on the readers of the original. Semantic Theory: It attempts to render, as closely as the semantic and syntactic structures of the second language allow, the exact contextual meaning of the original.

Differences Communicative translation addresses itself solely to the second reader, who does not anticipate difficulties or obscurities, and would expect a generous transfer of foreign elements into his own culture as well as his language where necessary. But even here the translator still has to respect and work on the form of the source language text as the only material basis for his work.

Semantic translation remains within the original culture and assists the reader only in its connotations if they constitute the essential human message of the text. Basic Difference: where there is a conflict, the communicative must emphasize the force rather than the content of the message.

Communicative translation is likely to be smoother, simpler, clearer, more direct, more conventional, conforming to a particular register of language, tending to under-translate, i.e. to use more generic, hold all terms in difficult passages. Semantic translation tends to be more complex, more awkward, more detailed, more concentrated, and pursues the thought-process rather than the intention of the transmitter. It tends to over-translate, to be more specific than the original.

Similarities Both semantic and communicative translation comply with the usually accepted syntactic equivalents for the two languages in question Both convey a general rather the a culturally bound message. The two methods are cooperative and complementary in coping with specific translation problems.

Relation with Text Typology Scholars suggest that translator should decide the translation method depending on text type, which mean that translation is a text-oriented activity. They have to consider the characteristics of the text and choose the appropriate method.

Types of Texts There are three types of texts: Expressive Text, Informative Text, Vocative Text. Expressive Texts: Literature (poem, novel, drama), authoritative speech (political statements, rules, laws, academic works), autobiography, prose and personal letters.

Informative Text: Textbooks, technical reports, newspapers, journals and theses. Vocative Text: treats readers as center. Its purpose is to call readers to think and feel as the writer’s aim. Propagandas and advertisements.

Semantic Translation can handle expressive texts. Communicative Translation can handle informative and vocative texts.

Introduction to Translation Hermeneutics Theory

Hermeneutics Theory Translation theory was once strictly confined within the scope of linguistics. Translation was merely referred to as a conversion of languages, from the source language into the target language. Nevertheless, when research is carried further and deeper, meaning is found not only associated with the language or the text but also with the author and the reader.

What is Hermeneutics? Hermeneutics can be defined as the science and methodology of interpreting texts. Traditional hermeneutics is the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law. Modern hermeneutics encompasses everything in the interpretative process including verbal and nonverbal forms of communication as well as prior aspects that affect communication, such as presuppositions, pre-understandings

Hermeneutics in Translation The three factors that hermeneutics considers in translation are: Author Text Reader

Author Centering on the author, there has been a lot of followers who preach that in literary translation a thorough study of the author's life experience, historical and social background is of paramount necessity for any translator to ensure interpretation of the author's meaning or intention is most adequate. There have been many articles and theses on evaluation of a literary work, digging quite in depth those factors about the author to make sure the interpretation of the work is the closest.

Text The stress on text results in the supreme status of the structuralism and later deconstruction in translation theory. This school accuses the above-mentioned group of staying far away from the essential element and foundation of interpreting the meaning of the original. They hold that as soon as the author has finished the writing the meaning is fixed in the text and any 'guess' away from the text should be abandoned completely. Thus when two translations are compared the grammar, diction and sentence structures are valued above anything else.

Reader Reception theory is introduced in translation theory which is defined as the "approach to literature that concerns itself first and foremost with one or more readers' actualization of the text.“ The translation should include the enjoyment of the effects as stirred by speech or poetry which can bring about both a change in belief and the liberation of his mind in the listener or the spectator