Microsoft Word Revised Syllabus Ver doc

Issues of Translation
Translation in the first place, is transference of meaning from the source language to 
the Target language. But what matters is not a translation of words from SL to TL, for exact 
equivalence of words of the former is hard to get in the latter. Translation is both linguistic 
and cultural activity and it is concerned with communication of meaning. It is not merely 
lexical equivalent of words of one language to that of another, but much more. Since each 
word is charged with memory, associations, and literary echoes, it is difficult to find full 
equivalence of our SL word in another word in TL, that is why, total or full translation.
A translator, in the first place, should possess inwardness with both the languages-the 
source language (SL), from which the translation is to be made, and the target language (TL) 
to which the translation is to be done. He should have a mastery over both languages and the 
words should 'obey his call'. Above all, he should have the 'feel' of the language. Secondly, in 
case of literature translation, literal translation should be avoided at all costs because it fails 
to carry the transposition of culture.
The translator should not only give the lexical equivalent of words but keep in mind 
the socio-cultural sound system, for each word is charged with memory, associations and 
literary allusion. Meenakshi Mukherjee makes an apt observation on this subject: (i) 
According to her, "the act of translation is voluntary, that is the material has been chosen by 
the translator himself and the prime mover is a compelling devise to recreate. (ii) The 
translator is a writer in the language in which he is translating that is, his handling of the 
language is not merely competent but creative. Since language is to some extent culture 
oriented, translators face the problem of translating certain culture-based words inter another 
language with a different culture for instance, Lord Krishna's: Rasa Krida" is difficult to 

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translate into English, Similarly, the isolation of "Love play" for "Lila" seems to be 
inadequate and something is missing in such translation.
The problems of translation are greatly enhanced by linguistic indeterminacy which is 
the result of perpetual change; next to it is the uncertainty of knowing the meaning of the 
"text" completely. In literati on translation the "text" is for it is the "text" that has to be 
rendered in another language. The indeterminacy of the text is a crucial concept in 
contemporary literary criticism.
In the process a new category of recoding takes place after 'de-coding' the SL text. 
Both linguistic and cultural factors shape the acts of ‘decoding’ and 'encoding'. The decoding 
of the message and meaning in the TL text, is what we understand by translation in our time. 
It is well neigh impossible to get an exact equivalent of the messages of the SL text in the 
target language. The indeterminacy of words and the elusive nature of language have made 
the task of the translator difficult. Even then the 'meaning' (i.e. the overall meaning) of the SL 
text can be rendered into the target language. In spite of all the problems that threaten the 
authenticity of translation and undermine its position, the desire to translate on the part of 
scholars and translators has shown an upward trend. Translation in midst of all the problems, 
continues to be rendered, is something one should rejoice ironically enough, it is the 
problems that make the act of translations challenging and finally fascinating.

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