Microsoft Word Revised Syllabus Ver doc

Translation: 
1.
Translation refers to the process of changing something that is written or spoken 
into another language. E.g. He specializes in translation from Danish into English. 
2.
Translation may also refer to a text or work that has been changed from one 
language into another. E.g. Copy of Dryden’s translation of the Aeneid.
3.
Translation also refers to the process of changing something into a different form. 
E.g. The translation of theory into practice. 
The dictionary also says that ‘trans-’ is added to other words to make words not only 
with the meaning ‘across’ ‘beyond’ as in ‘transatlantic’, ‘transcontinental’ but also with the 
meaning ‘into another place or state’ as in ‘transplant’ ‘transform’ etc. Etymologically, it is 
related to ‘transfer’ Transliteration is the process of writing words or letters using letters of a 
different alphabet or language. Transcription is the act or process of representing something 
in a written or printed form sometimes in short-hand notes or in a special form of writing, for 
example, using the phonetic alphabet. 
Another commonly used word is interpretation, if you ‘interpret’ what someone is 
saying, you translate it immediately into another language, so that speakers of that language 
can understand. ‘Interpretation’ refers to the particular way in which something is understood 
or explained. Translation and interpretation involves directly or indirectly, explanation, 
explication, paraphrase, synonymy etc. In short, they involve the ‘search for equivalence’ – 
formal, semantic, stylistic, rhetorical, pragmatic, associative as well as equivalence in tone 
and cadence (rhythm). 
Thus, it can be said that the aim of translation is to provide semantic equivalence 
between source and target language. This is what makes translation different from other kinds 
of linguistic activity, such as adapting, précis writing and abstracting. Exact equivalence is of 
course impossible, no translator could provide a translation that is a perfect parallel to the 
source text, in such respects as rhythm, sound symbolism, puns and cultural allusions. There 
is always some loss of information.
The success of translation depends on the purpose for which it was made, which in 
turn reflects the needs of the people for whom it was made. Translation has come a long way 
since time immemorial. The process can be summed up in the words of Nida (1964). He 
opens his account on translation in the following way. The polyglot empire of ancient 
Babylon with its hardworking core of multilingual scribes sending out official 

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communication on cuneiform to the far corners of the realm is a far cry from the electronic 
equipment used today in simultaneous interpretation at the United Nations in New York.