An overview of the interpreter’s and translator’s role. What are the different approaches to translation? How about confidentiality? Who has the liability?
2. An overview of the interpreter’s role
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Relay spoken content from an L1 (source language) --> L2 (target language)
orally
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Operate in the least invasive way, as a conduit/ communication bridge
between speaker and audience
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Convey social and cultural cues that play along with the words (and take the
time to explain them separately if speaker is not familiar with the cultural
context)
3. An overview of the translator’s role
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Relay a written text in a target language, in writing
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Deliver a text which the reader will be able to read and
understand fluently, without struggling
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Convey the original intentions and meaning of the author
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Translators= language and cultural experts, language and
meaning analysts
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More on http://goo.gl/9lcgLf
4. ●
Often, there are more than one different translations of one single text or book
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This reflects the two different approaches that may be adopted when
translating a text
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The translator is always on a continuum between author and reader
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Gives priority to either author or reader
Different approaches to translation
Closer to the reader (based on the target-
language, TL)
Closer to the author (based on the source-
language, SL)
The translator is creative with the text in terms of
structure, punctuation, tone, content placing the
emphasis on the message rather than the (literal)
content
Maintains original structure, punctuation, tone, content
throughout placing the emphasis on the (literal)
content rather than the message
The text is a transfer of the original but deliberately
contains wording that carries cultural significance to
the audience/ readership (that sounds more English or
American or French etc.) e.g., names of places,
people, magazines, popular products – think
localization also
The text is a transfer of the original and carries
nothing but the author’s identity in a way that the
reader might need to do some additional reading on
the cultural aspect of the text in order to fully capture
the text
Perhaps achieves more powerful impact on the
reader, reads smoothly
Less powerful impact on reader, may sometimes read
clumsy or unnatural
5. ●
Is one translation better than the other? Which type of translation is better,
the literal or free?
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So, is the translator also an author? Here’s a link to a fervent discussion
on this question http://goo.gl/mg4rdn
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Are there any ethics to consider before choosing one or the other
approach?
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Do the two approaches carry any additional benefits or restrictions for
translators, authors or readers or is it a matter of mere preference?
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What’s your take on this? Which translation approach do you prefer?
So is it one or the other?
6. Confidentiality and Code of Ethics
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Maintaining confidentiality is a central stipulation in the interpreter and
translators’ code of ethics.
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Interpreters take an oath to protect the privacy of all parties and maintain all the
information they translate confidential. See, for example: Interpreter Code of
Ethics http://goo.gl/1I0tol
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Here’s an interesting read on confidentiality in Translation and how it might be
breached when using Google Translator. http://goo.gl/ZP0UsV
7. Interpreters’ and translators’ liability
- Interpreters and translators with prior experience and background in translation
area are preferred
- Translation is a process that requires research into different topic areas (it is this
constant discovery that stimulates and keeps me going:)
Stay tuned for author’s blog “The diary of a medical interpreter”: Stories and lessons from the field
