NAME : AISYAH MAYANG RIZKA

NPM : A1B019112

SEMESTER 5/C

TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION

I. TRANSLATION

A. Definition of Translation

According to Manser (1996:441), translation is the activity of changing something

spoken or written into another language. It means that whatever we are doing with
something (e.g. information, idea), when changed into another language is called
translation. Nida and Taber (1974 : 12) state that translating consists of reproducing in
the receptor language (RL) the closest natural equivalent of the source language (SL)
message, first in terms of meaning, and secondly in terms of style. Here, we know that in
reproducing the message there is a good relationship between RL and SL that should be
equivalent. Catford (1965:1) defines that translation is an operation performed on
languages: a process of substituting a text in one language for a text in another.The writer
assumes that all of the activities of transferring a text from one language to another are
called translation. Larson (1984:1) states that translation consists of studying the lexicon,
grammatical structure, communication situation, and cultural context of the SL text,
analyzing it in order to determine its meaning, then reconstructing the same meaning
using the lexicon and grammatical structure which appropriate in the RL and its cultural
context. Larson also says that translation has three steps; they are studying the source
text, analyzing it and reconstructing the meaning. Newmark (1988:28) says that
translation is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the
author intended the text. In short, the meaning of a text should be the same with the
author’s aim when it is translated. Yusuf (1994 :8) says that “terjemahan dapat diartikan
sebagai semua kegiatan manusia dalam mengalihkan seperangkat informasi atau pesan
baik verbal maupun non-verbal- dari informasi asal atau informasi sumber ke dalam
informasi sasaran” (translation can be defined as all of human activities in transferring
information or message-verbal or non-verbal- from original information into target
information). It means that when we transfer information from one source to another then
we do translation. Simatupang (1999:2) defines translation as “menerjemah adalah
mengalihkan makna yang terdapat dalam bahasa sumber ke dalam bahasa sasaran dan
mewujudkannya kembali di dalam bahasa sasaran dengan bentuk-bentuk sewajar
mungkin menurut aturan-aturan yang berlaku dalam bahasa sasaran”(translating is
transferring the meaning of SL into RL and rewaken it in RL withnatural forms that
follow the valid rules in RL). It means that translation is closerto the meaning than the
style (form) but translation should follow the rules of target language.
From the definitions above, the writer may say that translation is defined as the
process of transferring the idea or information from the source language to the target
language. For instance, when a teacher explains his idea to the students, he does a
translation activity, i.e. he transfers the idea (the material of the lessons) from his mind to
the students by using language that can be understood by them. In short, in wider
meaning translation is the process of transferring the meaning of the idea, verbally and
non-verbally from one to another. The RL reader’s response to the translation work has to
be the same with the SL reader’s response to the original text itself. Actually, the
response of the SL and the RL readers will never be identical because the difference in
both readers (cultural and historical settings). The following example shows how a
translation work makes the different response we put our head together. If the sentence
is translated into Bahasa Indonesia as kami meletakkan kepala kami bersama-sama, the
response or idea is different from English. In other words, the response of the English
people and Indonesian people is not the same. The response or understanding will be the
same if it is translated as bermusyawarah. The same response between the source and
receptor readers can reach the goal if the message expressed as natural as possible in the
RL. From all of the explanations above, the writer assumes that there are four important
elements in translation. They are: source language, text, equivalence, and receptor
language. Source language is the original language of a work that is used by its author to
assert his idea. Text is the material of a work that will be translated. Equivalence is the
 suitable form whether in meaning and style. While receptor language is the aim language
that has been translated from the SL.

B. The Kinds of Translation

Many linguists make the divisions on translation. Catford divides some broad types or
categories of translation in terms of the extent, levels, and rank of translation. Below the
writer explains them one by one.

a. In Terms of the Extent

The extent type relates to full versus partial translation. In full translation, the entire text
is submitted to the translation process that is every part of the SL text is replaced by RL
text material. In partial translation, some parts of the SL text are left no translated; they
are simply transferred to and incorporated in the RL text. So, not all of the text is
translated. There are some reasons why some parts of SL text cannot be translated. First,
the vocabularies in SL cannot be found or cannot be translated correctly in RL. For
example: the Indonesian word “nasi tumpeng” cannot be translated into English because
“nasi tumpeng” is not found in English. Second, the vocabularies, in the SL have no
translation equivalence in RL. For example: the word “television” in English becomes
“televisi” when translated to Indonesia. It happened because Bahasa Indonesia has no
translation equivalence with that word. In this case, there is a loan translation i.e. the
using of SL’s element in RL by changing the phonological and morphological structure.
And a text may thus be a whole library of books, a single volume, a chapter, a paragraph,
a sentence, a clause, a phrase, a word, and a morpheme.

b. In Terms of the Levels

According to Catford (1965: 22), the levels type relates to total versus restricted
translation of language that involved in translation. Total translation can be defined as the
replacement of SL grammar and lexis by equivalent RL grammar and lexis with
consequential replacement of SL phonology/graphology by non-equivalent RL
phonology/graphology. Whereas restricted translation means replacement of SL textual
material by equivalent RL textual material, at only one level, that is translation performed
only at the phonological or at the graphonological level, or at only one of the two levels
of grammar and lexis.

c. In Terms of the Rank

The rank type relates to the rank of translation in grammatical (or phonological)
hierarchy at which translation equivalence is established. Here, Catford (1965:25) divides
this type into three distinctions. They are: Free Translation, Word-for word Translation,
and Literal Translation. Free translation is always “unbounded-equivalences shunt up and
down the rank scale, but tend to be at the higher ranks-sometimes between target units
than the sentences”. It reproduces the matter without the manner, or the content without
 the form of the original. It is usually a paraphrase much longer than the original. It is also
called as ‘intralingual translation’. Word-for-word Translation generally means what its
say: i.e. is essentially rank bound at word-rank (but may include some morpheme
equivalences). In this type the words of the SL text are rendered one by one into the RL
without making allowance for grammatical or lexical difference between them. This type
is usually used in case of translating poems. Literal Translation lies between these
extremes; it may start, as it were, from a word-for-word translation, but make changes in
conformity with RL grammar (e.g. inserting additional words, changing structures at any
rank, etc); this may make it a group-group or clause-clause translation. This type is
usually used if the structure of SL is different with the structure of RL. Below is the
example of the three distinctions (English-Bahasa Indonesia).
SL text: Her mouth is parch
RL text: 1. Mulutnya kering (Word-for-word translation)
2. Mulut perempuan itu kering (Literal translation)
3. Dia haus (Free translation)
After explaining the Catford’s type translation, the writer wants to explain categories

C. The Function of Translation

Translation plays an important function as an interlingual communication activity in
developing country to get the information and technology. Reiss in Venutti (2000: 160)
states “Interlingual translation (translation between twodifferent languages) is a bilingual
mediated process of communication, which usually aims at the production of a target
language text that is functionally equivalent to source language text”. One clear statement
is expressed by Levy in Venutti (2000: 148). He states “…Translation is a process of
communication: the objective of translating is to impart the knowledge of the original to
the foreign reader.” Duff (1989: 5) states “As a process of communication, translation
functions as the medium ‘across the linguistic and cultural barriers’ in conveying the
messages written in the foreign languages”. It functions as a bridge to carry the messages
(meanings) from the SL to the RL. This function is very useful for someone who faces a
foreign-language barrier when he/she wants to know the meaning or content of the
foreign language text. In other words, the language of the original text is the barrier for
him/her to know the content of the text. This problem can only be overcome by
translation which functions as the medium between SL and RL.

D. The Role of Translator

The main role of a language translator is to author a piece of writing. This may seem
like an odd notion at first glance since the translator is not usually the original writer of
the text being translated, but a good translation should read as though it were originally
written in the target language. A large amount of concentration and expertise goes into
making a translated text flow as smoothly as the original text, similar to authoring a piece
of writing from scratch.
 Another role of a language translator is to multitask like you’ve never imagined
multitasking before. Here is a list of things a translator must do or take into account while
working on a translation:
 Seize the intended meaning of the source language
 Gauge the word choice for the target language
 Match the formatting of the source language
 Know or research the best terminology for the subject matter
 Assess cultural differences in case it impacts phrasing or grammar
 Convert proper names into a new alphabet if applicable
 Ensure overall clarity and accuracy of finished translation

This is quite a lot to consider for one professional working on one text, not to mention that
several of these things must be done simultaneously.

II. INTERPRETATION
A. Definition of Interpretation

Many people have heard the word Interpretation. Yet, this word may have a wide
range of meanings for people based on their background, training, or experience in the
interpretive profession. However, I feel that the best definition of interpretation is the one
developed by a task force of Interpretation Canada which set out to develop the definition
that would be used within Canada (1976). That definition has been picked up over the
 past 17 years by many other organizations, and is the one most often taught in university
courses in interpretation. This definition is: "Interpretation is a communication process,
designed to reveal meanings and relationships of our cultural and natural heritage,
through involvement with objects, artifacts, landscapes and sites." -Interpretation Canada.
The basic definition of interpretation, according to the Webster dictionary is the
“action of explaining the meaning of something; the way something is explained or
understood.” In terms of language, the definition of interpretation should be broader:
rendering a spoken or signed message into another spoken or signed language, preserving
the register and meaning of the source language content. It is the spoken or signed
language communication between users of different languages. A language interpreter or
sign language interpreter must not only quickly and carefully interpret meaning, but also
tone and intent of the original message into the target or interpreted language. It should
be stressed that interpretive communications is not simply presenting information, but a
specific communication strategy that is used to translate that information for people, from
the technical language of the expert, to the everyday language of the visitor.

B. The Kinds of Interpretation

a. Simultaneous Interpretation
Simultaneous interpreters translate the speech in their head and deliver it in the preferred
language instantly, with a minimum delay, in a matter of milliseconds. It requires
immediate comprehension from the audience and speaker as the original speech
continues with no interruptions. Commonly referred to as conference interpreting,
simultaneous interpretation has high demand mainly because it saves time and engages
diverse audiences. Besides large-scale conferences and business meetings, governmental
institutions such as European Commission, European Parliament, United Nations, and
others use this mode the most to connect meaningfully despite the language barriers.

b. Remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI)

Simultaneous interpretation is the most challenging mode for interpreters. They have
minimal time, but it doesn’t stop them from staying in the same tone and register as the
speaker. As stressful as it would look, in the long term, simultaneous interpretation
actually contributes to the interpreter's ability to perform dual-tasks, thus multitasking.
You might not see the changes immediately, but you’re likely to benefit from them in the
future! Right now, this mode is getting even more attention with its remote applications.
Remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI) can be done entirely virtually or in a hybrid
set-up with some interpreters working in booths at the venue and remotely from home at
the same time. RSI platforms like Interaction also provide live statistics, dedicated
support, event recordings, and more to boost user experience.

c. Consecutive Interpretation
Consecutive interpretation mode relies heavily on taking structured notes. When used at
on-site events, consecutive interpretation can only occur if an interpreter stands in close
proximity to the presenter. While the speaker delivers a speech, the interpreter remains
silent for a few sentences. The original speaker has to take a pause every few sentences as
the interpreter constantly interrupts the speech to deliver it in the target language. Since
the interpreter and the speaker have to take turns during consecutive interpretation, event
duration increases, and audience engagement drops. These are the key reasons why
consecutive interpretation loses in popularity to simultaneous interpretation. To maintain
audience engagement against all the odds, consecutive interpreters rely on their short-
term memory a lot. After reading their notes, they need a lot of practice to deliver the
message concisely. Though active listening is a significant part of interpretation, it differs
from your regular talk with a friend. When listening, a consecutive interpreter’s goal is to
remember and reproduce the meaning with the highest accuracy possible - a task that
takes a lifetime to master.

d. Whispered Interpretation
Whispered interpretation is also called chuchotage (whispering in French). A whispered
interpreter interprets the message in their head and “whispers” it to the client. The
interpreter leans over and communicates the message in a client’s preferred language in a
quiet voice. Just like simultaneous interpretation mode, whispered interpreting carries the
challenge of immediate understanding: you have to listen, understand, translate and
deliver the speech at the same time. While it can be suitable for smaller meetings,
whispered interpretation is hard to imagine at large-scale events such as conferences.
Imagine what would happen if all 300 delegates at a governmental session had their
personal whispered interpreter! The process of communication would become chaotic,
with 300 interpreters and 300 clients constantly whispering to each other.

e. Relay Interpretation
Relay interpretation is your best mode when there are no interpreters available for a
particular language pair. For example, if Finnish to Latvian interpreters are missing, a
mediating process could take place. In this case, a Finnish interpreter would interpret the
speech into a more commonly spoken language - English. Another interpreter would
provide English to Latvian interpretation, thus covering the rarely spoken language.
Relay interpretation requires precision and synchronization, and interpreters can do it
both simultaneously and consecutively. The downside of relay interpreting is long delays:
on average, relay interpretation is longer than any other mode of interpretation.

f. Liaison Interpretation
Liaison, as a process, is established as a close working relationship between people or
organizations. It is the most informal mode of interpretation that can lack some accuracy
when compared to consecutive interpretation. Word-to-word interpreting is not required
 here. The main goal of liaison interpreters is to build connections during small meetings
or business negotiations when clients do not speak each other's language. Also known as
dialog interpretation, liaison interpretation generally takes place between two to four
clients. The focus of liaison interpreting is fostering relationships and successful
negotiations rather than communicating the essence of every word. This is the reason why
liaison interpreting is the least precise interpretation mode.

g. Travel Interpretation
Travel interpretation (also known as escort interpretation) is a mode of interpretation that
stands out from others from a cultural perspective. Travel interpreter accompanies the
client to the previously agreed destination and helps them overcome the language barrier
through interpretation. Travel interpreter is responsible for interpreting from language A
to language B and (frequently!) handling client’s administrative tasks during the trips.
That’s why clients in need of travel interpretation select interpreters based on various
aspects: personality, languages spoken, cultural knowledge, and understanding of the
location to which a client is traveling.

h. Over-the-Phone Interpretation
Over-the-phone interpreting (OPI) is one of the remote interpretation services. Such
service providers tend to operate in more than 100 languages. Governmental institutions
often use OPI on occasions related to healthcare or public concerns in countries like the
United States. However, there are some disadvantages: users and interpreters can’t see
the speaker. Body language and facial expressions play a huge role in interpreting.
Another aspect arises from the technology itself - interpreting over the phone is usually
followed by background noise. There is another thing to highlight: over-the-phone
conversations do not take a very long time. They are specialized and usually don’t go into
the depths of a matter. However, if that would be the case, OPI interpretation wouldn’t be
the best choice. Wondering why? Connected on the phone, interpreters don’t see the
client's emotions and other non-verbal cues, which leads to confusion, long pauses, and
interruptions on both sides.

C. The Function of Interpretation

m
D. The role of Interpreter
a. Various Roles Of An Interpreter In Our Daily Life
Overall, an interpreter plays the role of enabling communication between two
or more individuals who don’t speak the same language. Without an interpreter,
people are unable to understand one another speech because they speak different
languages. The interpreters aren’t accountable for what is said by the parties who need
to understand each other. However, interpreters are responsible for ensuring that the
information is converted accurately into the desired language. We assumed that the
 interpreter should know both languages at an expert level to ensure no
miscommunication. In Addition, an Interpreter must have some specific understanding
of the language and relevant skills of their interpreting services. The critical role of an
Interpreter is to interpret conversations from one source language to another target
language. They do this job on-site or remotely in real-time. They perform their job
either by oral Interpretation or using sign language. The interpretation job is different
from Translation. So, don’t be confined. The translation is concerned with written
words. However, both professions need fluency in different languages.
Moreover, these two jobs require many other different skills, knowledge, training,
and experience. An interpreter plays a vital role in converts spoken information from
one source language to another target language. This process often happens in real-
time situations, for example, conferences and meetings, medical visits, legal
proceedings, and live TV coverage. On the other hand, most of the time, a translator
accomplishes most of his work at the office, home, or remotely. Because their role
only relates to the written word, and typically, they don’t need to appear physically on
site.
b. The Role Of An Interpreter In The Modern World
In the modern globalized world, interpreters play a significant role that fulfills
peoples’ right to access information. Moreover, they keep updating people on matters
of their interest and concern, regardless of their age, education, or origin. The world’s
progress has opened the gates of migration too. People moving to different countries
for economic, religious, or political reasons often can’t speak its language. As a result,
the immigrants are highly dependent on the public sector interpreters to overcome the
communication inability. The community interpreters serve the immigrants in legal,
health, social, housing, and education to ensure equality in the immigrated country. In
this case, the speaker’s well-being depends on the quality of Interpretation frequently.
The presence of qualified interpreters is crucial in any community with multilingual
settings. It is confirmed from the above-discussed examples that interpreters play a
significant role in today’s world. Similarly, their role should not go unnoticed in the
judiciary, medical services, and widely defined media.

In the globalized world today, Interpreters not only facilitate communication in

different languages. They also play a significant role in understanding one’s position,
laws, obligations, and opportunities by efficient Interpretation. They are very often
bridging the communication gap in major issues individually and internationally.
Moreover, they help to make further the world’s progress and change happen.

c. The Role of an Interpreter in Healthcare

Imagine if someone gets seriously ill or injured in an accident on vacation in a
foreign country and nobody speaks in your language. In this case, the chances of
misunderstandings and a communication gap are huge, and the consequence can be
life-threatening. Healthcare professionals need to understand the seriousness of the
illness or accident nearly. Here a Healthcare Interpreter can play a critical role.
Similarly, they must be able to get the exact message across regarding the victim’s
health status. Moreover, proper communication will help the doctor determine the
necessary treatment and the estimated recovery time from the underlying health
condition. Here, communication is only possible if a competent interpreter provides
intercommunication among the health care professionals, the victim, and the victim’s
family.

d. The Role Of An Interpreter In Legal Settings

A legal interpreter provides a specialized interpreting service that allows
people to overcome language barriers in a legal or paralegal setting. This Interpretation
role could include the followings:
1. Communication with a law enforcement agency or employee.
2. Interpretation of legal or courtroom proceedings.
3. Interpreting between counselors and their clients.
Legal interpreting deals with spoken or signed communication strictly like other
forms of interpreting. However, the legal Translation only deals with the written
record of the proceedings. So, both legal Interpretation and legal Translation roles are
essential to administering jurisdiction in multilingual settings.

The Role of a Legal Interpreter in the Courtroom:

Moreover, a legal Interpreter makes communication possible in the legal
proceeding in the courtroom. To do this job precisely and perfectly legal interpreters
required specialized skills. Likewise, they help all parties involved to understand the
legal proceedings by eliminating the language barriers. A legal interpreter should be
highly skilled, specialized, and experienced as people’s lives depend on their roles
and interpretation quality. Moreover, they must be proficient in multiple languages
and precisely understand the legal procedure and law jargon. A courtroom interpreter
must interpret and translate every word they listen to accurately during the speech of
lawyers, witnesses, and the judge.
In this case, nobody should rely on any family members or other people who are
not acceptably qualified. Such a situation can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings
that could manipulate or influence the verdict’s outcome. Therefore, everyone’s
responsibility is to hire a professional legal interpreter to ensure all parties involved
can grasp the proceedings.

e. The Role of a Community Interpreter

 A Community Interpreter’s role is to deliver messages transmitted
between persons who speak different languages as faithfully as possible. These
interpreters enable service providers in diverse social, health, and community
communication with service settings members. A Community interpreter’s role is
to facilitate communication between two or among a group of people who speak
in different languages. In this case, the form of interpretation service can be either
spoken or signed. Moreover, the responsibility of an interpreter is not what the
parties are talking about. A community interpreter’s primary role is to convey all
necessary information to the target audience in different languages.

III. Differences between Translation and Interpretation