Chapter Q. Translation Service (TS)

CHAPTER Q Translation Service (TS) Q.1 INTRODUCTION Although organization and dissemination of information to the users are the main tasks of an information worker, he may also have to think of some other means to help his readers. Provision of translation service (TS) is one of those additional jobs to be undertaken by an information worker. Q.2 MEANING OF TRANSLATION Translation, according to literal meaning, is expression of the ideas or the sense of a sentence or passage into a language other than the original. In this process, the original idea contained in a document remain unchanged; only the language of expression is changed. Translation is different from transliteration, which means representation of the words of one language in the alphabets of another. In transliteration, pronunciation of the original words are kept intact; only they are rendered using a different species of alphabets. Micro-documents are usually translated for researchers, while transliteration is employed for preparing entries in a multilingual catalogue or a bibliography. Q.3 NEED OF TS Since World War II, the literature on science and technology has grown at enormous speed and at present there is virtually literature explosion in these fields. But all these materials are not published in one language. English has been the most used language in scientific literature, but today sizable amount of such literature is published in Russian, German, French, and even in Chinese. Evidently, it is not possible for a research worker to learn all these languages. Neither can he/she ignore them. The only other solution is, therefore, provision of translated versions of his/her required documents. Thus translation is required for (1) crossing over the language barrier and (2) saving the time of the researchers. It may be pointed out Elements of Information Organization and Dissemination © 2017 Amitabha Chatterjee. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102025-8.00017-X Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 257 258 Elements of Information Organization and Dissemination that the need for translation arises when either the users belong to different language groups, or when resources of a library are in different languages, or when both the conditions prevail. Q.4 DEMAND FOR TS Translation work may be undertaken either on actual demand or on the basis of anticipated demand. When frequency of demand is less and there is no urgency in supplying the material, translation may be done or acquired on getting the actual demand. But when demand is received very frequently and they are to be met without loss of time, translation should be prepared or acquired in anticipation of the demand. For antici- pating the demand, it is necessary to know about the nature of proj- ects undertaken by researchers to be served. If necessary, a brief outline of each project may be obtained and studied and the researchers may be interviewed. Q.5 KINDS OF TRANSLATION Same passage or document may be translated by different persons in different ways. The quality of translation depends on the capacity of the translator to grasp the meaning of the original writing, his power of expression and vocabulary. Five kinds of translation are mainly noticed: ● Literal translation: This type of translation corresponds exactly to the original. Here words or terms are taken in their usual and obvious senses. The translator cannot employ any discretion or use any allegory or metaphor from his own side. ● Free translation: Here words or terms used in the original are not given any importance to. The general meaning or the ideas contained in a document are expressed in a suitable language by the translator. The translator has freedom of expression. ● Adapted or tailored translation: Here the translator keeps in mind the purpose for which the translation is required and molds the translation accordingly. Unnecessary elaboration of passages may be omitted by him and where necessary he may elaborate some points for the sake of clarity. ● Technical translation: In this type of translation technical jargon of the subject concerned are used instead of ordinary equivalents of words. Subject specialists prefer this type of translation. Translation Service (TS) 259 ● Translation into/from code language: Sometimes a passage or document is converted into a code language (e.g., shorthand) or a passage in code language is translated into a speaking or writing language. ● Mechanical translation: This type of translation is done by a machine and is often “approximate” rather than the exact version of the original. Q.6 WHO’S JOB? The translation work may be undertaken by various types of persons and agencies, such as (1) the reader of researcher himself, (2) the librarian himself, (3) a professional staff translator, (4) a professional freelance translator, (5) a translating agency, and (6) a translating machine. Neither the reader himself nor the librarian should be expected to take up the job and unnecessarily waste their time which can otherwise be better utilized in their respective spheres of work. Besides, they may also lack the competence of a professional translator. Therefore, the choice should be made from among the other alternatives. Q.6.1 Professional Translator A professional translator is one who has the requisite qualifications and competence to translate written material from one language to another and who has taken translation work as a profession either on full-time or on part-time basis. Such translators are often favored by many libraries. If the volume of translation work in a library is considerable and the flow of demand for translations is continuous, professional staff translators may be appointed. Otherwise, a list or panel of professional freelance translators may be maintained and they may be contacted whenever necessary. However, even where staff translators are appointed, the services of part- time translators may be requisitioned when the quantity or language of translation required is beyond the capacity of the former. Q.6.1.1 Qualifications Mere knowledge of a language is not sufficient to make a person a good translator. Translation work, specially of technical material, “is a highly spe- cialized task which requires the combination of at least two skills: firstly, knowledge of the language in which it is to be translated (often called tar- get language),” and secondly, “an adequate and competent knowledge of the subject” [1]. It is always preferable if a person translates only into his mother tongue or in a language in which he is as proficient as in his mother 260 Elements of Information Organization and Dissemination tongue. It must be stressed that the “knowledge of subject” does not mean only a general idea of a subject, but a thorough knowledge in the special field that the document to be translated deals with. The translator is also expected to know the technical jargon of the concerned subject area. The freelance professional translators should also possess the same qualifications. Q.6.1.2 Translators’ Register Persons with a combination of language proficiency and subject knowledge are not found always. As such, it is necessary to maintain a register of persons with such combinations for reference at need. Such registers/ directories have been brought out in various countries. Even such registers are being maintained by some private organizations. In the digital age, many translation registers are being maintained online. Some examples of translators’ registers are: ● Aslib Register of Specialist Translators. ● The Institute of Translation & Interpreting (ITI) Directory of Qualified Professional Translators and Interpreters (Great Britain). ● Professional Services Directory of the American Translators Association. 1976. Croton-on-Hudson, New York. ● Congrat-Butlar, Stefan. Translation and Translators: An International Directory & Guide. 1979. R R Bowker, New York. ● Indian Scientific Translators Association and NISSAT. Directory of for- eign language scientific and technical translators in India. 1989. ● National Translation Mission (India). National Register of Translators (http://www.ntm.org.in/languages/english/nrtdb.aspx). ● Directory of Freelance Translators of TranslationDirectory.Com (http://www.translationdirectory.com/translator_directory.htm). ● Directory of Translators and Interpreters (http://www.proz.com/ translator-directory/). ● American Translators Association. Online Directories of Translators and Interpreters (https://www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories/individu- als_tabs.php). ● Directory of Qualified Professional Translators (http://www.directo- ryoftranslators.com/). Q.6.2 Translation Agency Translation agencies are in existence at different levels—local, national, and international. They employ translators and/or utilize the services of freelance translators and supply translations against payment like a business Translation Service (TS) 261 house. Some of these agencies maintain translation service primarily for their own groups of users and supply copies of translations available with them to others against payment. Since the work is done in a well-coordi- nated manner, the translations supplied by these agencies are revised and checked before dispatch and therefore these are generally of good stan- dard. The following are some of the agencies which supply translations: National Translation Centre (Chicago), International Translation Centre (Delf, Holland), International Federation of Translators (Paris), NISCAIR (New

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