TRANSLATUS.RU (Russian translators) Conceptual Page
In the modern world of rapid globalization and growth of cross-cultural and business communication the role of quality translation has grown immensely. Yet we frequently realize that quality is what is lacking in translated editions of fiction, scientific literature and periodicals, let alone numerous ordinary things, such as user manuals for appliances, advertising prospectuses, resumes and situation vacant inquiries.
Translation is a bridge between cultures and civilizations, the reliability of this bridge promotes or balks connection, removes or generates misunderstanding, wrong beliefs and controversies. It also inescapably creates stereotypes and prejudices about other cultures. Therefore it is of paramount importance to make sure the translation is made by a responsible, conscientious, wise and well versed person (or group of persons) with a perfect knowledge of both languages.
Let us define the essence and problems of translation.
There are several types of rendering a written foreign text, the main subdivisions being brief and full translations. The former suits the purposes of making synopses or skimming texts. The full translation, in its turn, falls into literal, semantic and communicative (functional, pragmatic). Literal translation - the ‘translator’s enemy’ - is the most unskilled type of translatorese. We may get an idea of it from schoolmasters’ translation exercises, or more abject, the products of any of the numerous electronic translators.
A semantic translation implies the close-to-text rendering of concepts and their definitions, metaphors, similes, associative rows – this translation is introspective, focusing on the veracity of meaning, rather than ensuring the adequate understanding of a text.
The communicative type is the one primarily oriented to a recipient’s adequate understanding of a message. It is true to the original meaning, yet it gives the translator leeway in form, so that he can modulate a text to convey its ideas adequately to a representative (or representatives) of a different culture. If we take translation of fiction or poetry, communicative translation may be regarded as a parallel work of art - congenial in spirit, diction, technique and style, yet different in phrasing. In communicative translation, the translator should equal the author in the art of expression, to be able to strike a foreign reader or listener as much as a native reader or listener of the original text might be struck.
An important feature of communicative translation is regard for the cultural and social environment; knowledge of words and grammar rules is but a mechanical skill at the service of an individual, complete with his personal experience, knowledge of a subject and the capacity to adequately estimate a situation and adjust to it.
Only real professionals can do communicative translation. Realia present in one culture and absent from others, new and archaic words, idioms and nonce-words, immense structural differences of languages, etc. can impede an inexperienced or inept translator from doing his job properly. They can distort the message of a text or muddle it up past recognition. ‘Traduttore – tradittore’ – ‘Translator is a traitor’ – runs an old Italian adage implying the negative consequences of inefficient translation. Professionalism matters extremely much. And a real professional, like an athlete or a musician, needs to constantly enrich his knowledge and practice his skills.
Mention should also be made of translator’s ethics. The translator bears responsibility for the authenticity of information processed by him. He should avoid his own comments except cultural explanations (or glosses), discrepancy of styles of the original and translation, embellishment of the original by inappropriate proverbs, metaphors, catch-words – it is better to render a text in stylistically neutral vocabulary than by overacting to place wrong accents in its meaning. A translator also ensures the confidentiality of information, he or she should be accurate and friendly.
TRANSLATUS.RU (Russian translators) is the translation agency, which has a record of following the highest standards of its trade. We implement the new achievements of translation theory, constantly perfect our skills, work out new methods of ensuring quality service. It is also an advantage that many of our translators are university professors, teaching theory and practice of translation (scientific, economic, technical, literary; oral consecutive and simultaneous).
Being scientists and professional Russian translators in one, we can apply ourselves to the translation of highly scholarly and specialized texts, as well as general subjects, documentation, correspondence, websites, films, etc.
Our position as a linkage of nations and cultures results in our desire to broaden the view of Russia for foreign public, therefore we issue the bulletin of Russian economic, political and cultural news 'Real Russia'.
Read the archive issues:
- Restoration in Russia: Much needed and Inevitable
- The Power of Media: Russian Perspective
- Perestroika and Democracy in Russia: Illusions and Reality
We hope that our clients's cooperation with TRANSLATUS.RU will be fruitful and mutually beneficial.
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