[ELTWeekly Volume 7, Issue 7 | February 23, 2015 | ISSN 0975-3036]
Book details:
A Review of the book “An Introductory Textbook on Translation” ISBN: 978-99924-3-413-4
Written by Fatima El-Imam (yusraipek@hotmail.com)
Design & Technical output by Ali Alamin Alhaj
Sudanese Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection Act 1996
Reviewed by:
By Prof (Dr) Shefali Bakshi
Northern Border University, (Women)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Formerly Dy. Director, Languages, Amity University, Lucknow
Review:
‘An Introduction Textbook on Translation’ is a good textbook on translation written by Dr Fatima El-Imam for translation students, amateurs, and newcomers as it claims to do so. This textbook provides basic information and observations – mostly derived from the experiences of the author. Therefore, it attempts to train translation students, amateurs, trainees, and newcomers to develop techniques, strategies, as well as the basic skills that are required for the process of translation.
The full forms of the Abbreviations used have also been detailed right in the beginning. The Appendices are exhaustive with all the necessary information, which will help the novice translator. They serve as samples to be imitated whenever relevant tasks are to be translated from any SL into any different TL.
This book is helpful for people with general interest and for skilled trainers and therefore I got drawn towards it and could not resist writing a review on it.
It concentrates on English-Arabic-English translation and thus is able to explain the translation process. The index is detailed with contents and sub-contents and proper numbering. The introductory terms with Roman numbers help to differentiate the numbering. However, as the Sr. Nos. are in capital Roman figures, the page nos. should have been in small Roman numerals in order to avoid confusion.
Also various models of different translation styles and relevant texts are exemplified as samples for translation practice. In addition, the relevant quotations and references give authenticity to the text of the book. For example; the reference of Craciunescu, 2004: np is vital as it explains that translation works on three levels – Semantic level, Syntactic level, and the Pragmatic level. He also identifies the various types of knowledge involved in the translation process. Moreover, the Communicative Translation Approach seeks to address the social problems of reproducing a text which intends to address the readers’ thought process and cultural differences.
A very minute observation is that “A hesitant person is never expected to make a good interpreter, since ‘decisions’ are taken within a fraction of a second regarding appropriate diction (choice of words) and syntax (arrangement of phrases) in terms of the “speech” or the “spoken material” in question. The book clearly lists the examples of the various types of Multimedia Translation and briefly describes each of them. The book also chooses to explain very clearly the key differences between a translator and an interpreter as it is often confused by a beginner or a trainee. The discussion of common errors in the translation process makes it easy for the novice translator to avoid them.
There are valid tips on how to become a good translator. The ten tips are very comprehensive and guide the learner translator. These points are asserted by Kiraly (1995). Sample General Translation Terms & Expressions have also been discussed in English as well as their Arabic equivalents. The discussion on Journalistic style will also help the media students. The equivalents in both the languages of vocabulary words from the telecom industry, IT, Automobile, Scientific Texts, Medical Industry, Legal, Accounting and Finance, Economics, Politics, Geography, History, etc. have been discussed. The list is extensive and the pictorial images explain the not so easy words. Although coloured depictions would have been more instructive, informative and motivating.
The book becomes interesting for the learner as the depictions of pictures like the various types of trees, leaves, fasteners design types, car parts, tyre parts, etc in the appendices also aids translation for skilled workers and for product brochures.
The listing of samples of useless or incorrect words in various occupations helps the new translator to avoid errors while translating. The 23 appendices are really very helpful to the innovative translator as these are important guidelines given by the author. The extensive Bibliography further strengthens the learning process as it can be reviewed by the learner if need be for further guidance. All in all this comprehensive text book is a simple guide for a novel beginner but it is definitely far-reaching.
The author shows a deep knowledge of the translation process and has been able to explain the terminologies with various examples in order to make the process of learning simple and easy.