1. What We Translate By Dr. Montasser Mohamed AbdelWahab

2. What Do we Translate? Translation generally refers to all processes and methods used to transfer the meaning of the source language text into the target language as closely, completely, and accurately as possible. When we translate, we translate meaning which comprises syntax, vocabulary, style, and phonology. 3. How we Translate To be able to identify the way we translate, we need to consider two points; 1. Methods of Translation 2. Process of Translation 4. Methods of Translation Writers on translation have suggested different methods based on the two major old-new methods of translation, Literal and Free. 1. Literal vs. free translation 2. Semantic vs. communicative translation 3. Non-idiomatic vs. idiomatic translation (Peter Newmark(1981); Approached to Translation, Oxford: Pergamon Press) (Peter Newmark (1988); A Textbook of Translation, London, Prentice Hall.)4. Formal equivalent vs. dynamic translation (Nida (1964): Towards a Science of Translating with Special Reference to Principles and Procedures Involved in Bible Translating, (Leiden:E.J.Brill)5. Non-pragmatic vs pragmatic translation (Hatim B &Mason, I 1990; Discourse and the Translator, London and New York: Longman. 5. Difficulties that Translators face Translators face two kinds of difficulties during translation; 1. Difficulties related to items and vocabulary 2. Difficulties related to sentence structure 3. Difficulties related to style 6. Difficulties related to the use of words The word does not have a meaning in itself but it acquires its meaning from the context in which it is found. The translator must free himself from the meaning that he learned during his childhood or youth. The translator is advised to refer to a specialized dictionary if he found that the meaning he knows is not suitable in this context. Sometimes, the dictionary may not be helpful so he needs to use his mind to get the meaning. 7. Words with different meanings (1) The word spring As a verb it may mean 2) The word tender in a medical context in a trade context in trains in a literary context As a verb it may mean 8. An Example Lets see together the use of the word right in the following passage to identify some of the problems that a translator may face during translation.The teacher asked the student to draw a right angle, but he insisted that the student draws it with his right hand while the student was left handed. Of course he did not draw it right so the teacher gave him low marks. Right away, the student went to the headmaster and complained that it was his right to draw with the hand he liked. The headmaster who was an upright man agreed that he was right and that the teacher did not treat him right and ordered the teacher to right the students marks. 9. Meanings of the word right Right angle Right hand Draw it right Right away Right Upright man He was right Treat him right Right the marks