No translation is perfect

Gain and loss of linguistic and cultural features


Essay, 2006

9 Pages, Grade: 2


Abstract or Introduction

The basic assumption of laymen concerning translation is that every word or meaning can universally be translated from one language to another. Their idea of translation is that of a straightforward mechanical process which simply replaces source language (SL) items with target language (TL) items. Some conceptions in translation studies seem to encourage this view, and debates suggest that it is only a matter of the right scope, focus or technique to create perfect translations.
The paper at hand will refute this notion. It will prove and exemplify the facts that not everything is translatable, and that a transfer of meaning necessarily involves changes entailing loss or gain of linguistic, cultural and stylistic features (cf. Harvey 2001, 38; Pym & Turk 2001, 274). Translation cannot create an identical TL copy of the SL text, but only permits a relative equivalence to it. A maximal approximation, however, can never be achieved, due to the complexity of language, its dependence on constantly changing cultural norms, and because the human factor. Especially the aspect acceptance by the audience will show that perfection is just an abstract evaluative term, which largely depends on individual taste.

Details

Title
No translation is perfect
Subtitle
Gain and loss of linguistic and cultural features
College
Liverpool John Moores University
Course
Translation Studies
Grade
2
Author
Year
2006
Pages
9
Catalog Number
V77472
ISBN (eBook)
9783638828567
ISBN (Book)
9783638831444
File size
385 KB
Language
English
Keywords
Translation, Studies
Quote paper
Dipl.Jurist Marco Sievers (Author), 2006, No translation is perfect, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/77472

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