Translation Definitions
Hereinafter, some of the most common definitions about translation
• Translation is an activity comprising the interpretation of the meaning of a text in one language—the source text—and the production of a new, *Banned**Banned**Banned**Banned**Banned*alent text in another language—called the target text, or the translation.
• a written communication in a second language having the same meaning as the written communication in a first language.
• a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something.
• Interpretation, or interpreting, is an activity that consists of establishing, either simultaneously or consecutively, oral or gestural communications between two or more speakers who are not able to use the same set of symbols.
• Translation uses scientific data, mainly taken from different branches of linguistics (like neuroinguistics, semantics, sociolinguistics, etc).
• Translation is an art Like composers and painters, translators often find their own moods and personalities reflected in their work.
• Translation : is often regarded as a project for transferring meaning from one language to another.
• Translation is the process of transferring linguistic and non-linguistic elements from one language into another
Translation & Interpretation
There is not a clear understanding of the difference between the very common linguistic functions of translation and interpretation.
Translation and interpreting are often confused, but they are different jobs
• Interpretation and translation are different professions. Each requires a distinct set of skills and aptitudes, and most people are better suited for one or the other. While interpreters often work into and from both languages, translators generally work only into their active language.
• Translators convert written materials from one language into another. They must have excellent writing and analytical ability. And because the documents that they translate must be as flawless as possible, they also need good editing skills.
• Interpreters convert one spoken language into another-or, in the case of sign-language interpreters, between spoken communication and sign language.
There are two types of interpretation:
Simultaneous and consecutive. Simultaneous interpretation requires interpreters to listen and speak (or sign) at the same time. In simultaneous interpretation, the interpreter begins to convey a sentence being spoken while the speaker is still talking. Ideally, simultaneous interpreters should be so familiar with a subject that they are able to anticipate the end of the speaker's sentence
Consecutive interpretation begins only after the speaker has verbalized a group of words or sentences. Consecutive interpreters often take notes while listening to the speakers, so they must develop some type of note-taking or shorthand system.
So, Translators work with the written word, while interpreters work with the spoken word.
Translators have to write texts that convey the message and content of the original document and are grammatical and readable in the target language.
Translators must understand all the shades of meaning of the source language so that they can reproduce it as faithfully and naturally as possible in the target language.
Interpreters provide spoken versions that convey, in another language, the content and intentions of the statements by the original speaker.
Unlike translators, interpreters are seen by their customers. They make face-to- face communication possible. They identify with the speaker by speaking in the first person. They present the speaker's ideas and convictions with the same intensity and the same shades of meaning.
Literary translators adapt written literature from one language into another
Localization involves the complete adaptation of a product for use in a different language and culture
Sign language interpreters facilitate communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people who can hear
Diplomatic translation:
Diplomatic translators must have a vast wealth of knowledge and be very familiar with international affairs and in particular with the political, social and economic situation of their own countries.
The diplomatic world is a very closed one, extremely inaccessible to outsiders and, paradoxically enough, not very diplomatic on many occasions.
Diplomatic terms:
It is important to outline some of the terms and concepts common to the diplomatic context:
It is important to know the different levels within the diplomatic strata, since each level deals with different aspects and has a different approach:
Ambassador: Also called Head of Mission or by the acronym, HOM. He/she occupies the highest level within a diplomatic career, and is the head of a diplomatic mission or embassy.
Counsellor: Second in command in a diplomatic mission. He/she represents and substitutes, in his/her absence, the ambassador.
Secretary: Category immediately under that of Counsellor. There can be several subcategories: First, Second, Third Secretary. He/she is directly above the Attaché.
Consul: Hierarchically situated below the Secretary, his/her diplomatic and administrative functions are basically consular affairs (looking after the country's nationals abroad, handling passports, visas, certificates of non impediment, etc.). He/she can be a "career" diplomat or an Honorary Consul (designated for his/her personal merits or profile, he/she does not need to be a national of the country he/she represents).
Administrative Officer / Chancellor / Viceconsul). Consular offices can be located within the Embassy or be in a different location in the same city.
Attaché: They can be diplomatic civil servants or of a lower category, in charge of a particular military, political, cultural or economic field, perhaps the most popular ones being the Military, the Cultural and the Commercial attachés. As in the case of the consuls, there can also be Honorary Attachés
Apart from the diplomatic staff accredited to a diplomatic mission, there is also as Locally Engaged Staff or LES.
Diplomatic Documents
within the scope of diplomatic translation, there are two main groups of documents (although they are not the only ones):
• chancery documents
• consular documents
the two groups consist of texts or documents aimed to serve as a vehicle for diplomatic communication between the given diplomatic mission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and vice versa. The most common one is the Third Person Note, which is used to inform or advise about a particular issue, to obtain the support of the government for an international body or agency (for example, in cases of candidacies), to communicate the termination or commencement of a person's functions as a diplomat, etc.
Similar to the Third Person Note, albeit having its own characteristics and format, is the Memorandum or Aide-mémoire. This is a document presented by an embassy or diplomatic mission to a ministry (normally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), explaining the situation of a given matter, including the position or viewpoint of the issuing country with regards to a specific issue, making particular suggestions, etc. This document is written in an impersonal way, excluding any courtesy formulae unlike Third Person Notes. Letterheads are not commonly used here.
Diplomatic security code.
• Security and confidentiality are always crucial in professional translation.
• Diplomatic translation is no exception to this. Furthermore, confidentiality is probably much more important and compromising in this field than in any other field of translation, as it involves the security of one or several countries.
Degrees of confidentiality of diplomatic documents:
• Unclassified:
• Classified.
• In confidence.
• Confidential.
• Secret.
• Top Secret
Functions of Diplomatic Translator:
Diplomatic translators seldom deal exclusively with only translation-related matters. Basically, the duties of the diplomatic translator can be set out as follows:
• Translation: Most of the work is translation-related, including a wide variety of documents.
• Interpreting: Interpreting is, as in many other fields of life, a very little recognized skill in the diplomatic world.
• Information and documentation: Complementary to translation. This is no doubt a most gratifying challenge for the translators, who sometimes have to dive into administrative tasks.
• Research /advisory functions: In many cases, the translator at a diplomatic mission is required to write economic, political (or other) reports about the host country. Sometimes the limits are ignored and an excessive degree of responsibility or qualifications are demanded from the translator.
• A very interesting aspect of diplomatic translation is the possibility of working as part of a team.
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