Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh into Southwest Asian languages of the second millennium BCE. Translators always risk inappropriate spill-over of source-language idiom and usage into the target-language translation. On the other hand, spill-overs have imported useful source-language calques and loanwords that have enriched the target languages. Indeed, translators have helped substantially to shape the languages into which they have translated. Due to the demands of business documentation consequent to the Industrial Revolution that began in the mid-18th century, some translation specialties have become formalized, with dedicated schools and professional associations.
There are five main points that you need to think about when translating a language:
- Main differences
- Grammar structure
- Articles etc.
- Simple
- Practice
- Main differences:
You need to consider the main differences between the two languages that you are translating. This may differ from language to language so be sure to research this properly. Read on and I explain in more detail.
- Grammar structure
You need to understand the grammar structure differences between your two chosen languages. As I have already mentioned I am concentrating here on Korean and English. One of the main differences between the two languages is the sentence order. To translate from Korean to English you have to effectively turn your sentence round. I.e. Brown table small, becomes the small brown table.
- Some particular areas of grammar that are different between Korean and English are the following;
- Articles (a, an, the)
Articles don’t exist in the Korean language so you have to understand them completely before you can translate correctly.
- He/She
He/she also don’t exist in the Korean language so you need to know when they are needed in the English language.
- Plurals
Plurals are a difficult area as it isn’t because they don’t exist in Korean but that they are different in concept. So understanding when and where to use them is very important.
- Prepositions (in, on, at)
These are the three most common prepositions used in the English language and often they cause difficulty in translation.
4. Simple
When you start translation begin with very simple sentences. A good example is the sentence I used above ‘The small brown table.’ But remember to do this you must understand the four points above.
5. Practice
Finally you need to practice translating, as with anything you need to practice to get better. Remember though you should start with simple sentences first and then progress onto harder and more complicated sentences.
Now you know how to do translation effectively you need to use your newfound knowledge so here are some ACTIONS for you.
1. Five
Take five simple Korean sentences.
2. Translate
Translate them using the method described in this article.
3. Check
Get your work checked by someone who can speak and understand both languages (a teacher if possible).
