Commentary On Linguistic Aspects Of Translation Essay

“Our culture, our traditions, our languages are the foundations upon which we build our identity.” - Unknown. The concept of bilingualism represents several different ideas, two writers share their personal stories about learning being immersed into the English culture and learning the language. They both share their views of what Bilingualism means to them personally and make arguments about the importance of the concept.

The English language is particularly complex in almost all aspects. Many of the words in the English language have different meanings for the same word. This is not unlike the definition of the different levels of usage. McCrimmon defines the three levels, formal, moderate, and colloquial, by their sentence structure, diction, and tone (McCrimmon 193). ¹ Using McCrimmon’s definitions, authors can determine what type of writing is applicable to each of the three levels. For the formal writings, an adequate example of where readers can find it is in a professional journal, and an appropriate place to find an example of the moderate level is in a weekly news magazine. Also, the best place to look for an example of the colloquial level is in certain sections of the newspaper. All of the levels of usage apply to these different types of writings and assist in defining what each level involves.

Salman Rushdie once said, “The word 'translation' comes, etymologically, from the Latin [word] for 'bearing across'. Having been borne across the world, we are translated men. It is normally supposed that something always gets lost in translation; I cling, obstinately to the notion that something can also be gained.”

Now let’s make a comparison between translations for some passages which translators might show disagreement about because of the lack of clarity or missing fragments of text or abundance of synonyms or ambiguous referents.

In the interpretation from the ST to the TT there is fluctuating level of exoticism and calque and also social transplantation. A case of this is in the main passage where the TT utilized "God", yet then in the following sentence utilizes "Allah". Allah is not an English word, but rather a social transplantation from Arabic. Another illustration is the point at which they gave more setting to "Ya Allah" however including the clarification of "getting out woefully". This give the peruse of the TT a clarification with regards to the activity being minded out in the ST. The intentions in minding out a different type of interpreting is so that the ST TT still can have a similar impact. That way the peruse of the TT who could conceivably have a social comprehension of the first ST have a superior comprehension of the activity, which means, or profundity of the content in its unique stature. In interpretation of writings a primary part is to decipher not recently each word, but rather the foundation of each word in a way that significance has not been lost

inspiration for the composition of the piece, as it was written in French to make use of the language’s sound and enhance its decadence.

It is well known that immigrants come to America with the hope of a better life filled with immense opportunity. Immigrants are filled with ambition, the driving force of their success. Their ambition is fueled by adversity faced in their native countries, and the realization that their situation, no matter how bad it may be, is much better than previous living conditions; they hope it will eventually improve. “Girl in Translation” is yet another novel, which explicates how immigrants are more ambitious in striving for success than American citizens.

  There is not unanimity among Beowulf translators concerning all parts of the text, but there is little divergence from a single, uniform translation of the poem. Herein are discussed some passages which translators might show disagreement about because of the lack of clarity or missing fragments of text or abundance of synonyms or ambiguous referents.

agitator of the C19, and his main aim was to secure the repeal of the

What innumerable follies laid waste my waking and sleeping thoughts after that evening! d to annihilate the tedious intervening days. I chafed against the work of school. At night in my bedroom and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page I strove to read. The syllables of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated and cast an Eastern enchantment over me. (Joyce 549)

Linguistic relativity is the notion that language can affect our thought processes, and is often referred to as the ‘Sapir-Whorf hypothesis’, after the two linguists who brought the idea into the spotlight. Whorf writes how “Language is not merely a reproducing instrument for voicing ideas but rather is itself the shaper of ideas, the program and guide for the individual’s mental activity” (1956:212), and I will explain how it is able to do so. In this essay I will argue that certain ways of mental categorization, spatial cognition and reality interpretation, based on the characteristics of our specific variety of language, influence our perception of the world. I will discuss how languages divide up nature differently, and

Originally published in the Wall Street Journal in 2010, Lera Boroditsky’s paper titled “Lost in Translation” analyzes the impact language has on thought. Formatted as more of a persuasive than truth seeking essay, Boroditsky begins by asking the reader if the language a person speaks shapes the way they think. This makes the reader believe as though she is truly trying to find an answer to this inquiry, but as the paper goes on, the reader is mostly introduced to evidence that supports Boroditsky’s stance and she merely touches upon the argument of the opposing side. Although Boroditsky does not include more counterarguments, “Lost in Translation” is a well written article which demonstrates that languages indeed shape the way people think through her use of the Rhetorical Triangle, inductive logic, and her stylistic choices.

In Jorge Luis Borges’ short story “The Library of Babel”, the author depicts the entire universe in the form of a mysterious and intricate “Library.” The author gives life to the library by describing the fruit- like “bulbs” that emit light, as well as a vestibule which contains two compartments for “sleeping and satisfying one’s physical necessities.” (Borges 112) This library is lined with “an infinite number of hexagonal galleries,”(Borges 112) containing bookshelves with an immeasurable amount of books. However, most of these books are indecipherable, and therefore, meaningless. Borges’ characterization of the library leads the reader to believe that he is alluding to the numerous books of the Bible. He questions the Bible’

Walter Benjamin’s essay, The Task of the Translator, is illuminating in the way in which it shatters any preconceived ideas that may view the act of translation as diminishing the value of the original. Benjamin has high regard for translation, placing it in the realm of art as a distinct form. He argues that art is not about the audience or the receiver that is, it is not primarily about communication. The purpose of art is not to instil a specific belief, impart information or to entertain certain sentiments in the reader thus, appreciation does not reside in generating a moral by interpreting its content. As an art form, translation for Benjamin is not about propagating ideas or beliefs but is about embarking on the task of attaining pure

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/interpreters-and-translators.htm employment for interpreters and translators is projected to grow 46 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average of all occupations. Employment growth reflects increasing globalization and a more diverse U.S. population, which is expected to require more interpreters and translators.