Kinds of Translation

According to Larson (1984: 15) translation is classified into two main types, namely form-based translation and meaning-based translation. Forms-based translation attempts to follow the form of the source language (SL) and it is known as literal translation, while meaning-based translation makes every effort to communicate the meaning of the SL text in the natural forms of the receptor language. Such translation is called idiomatic translation. A literal translation sounds like nonsense and has little communication value (Larson, 1984: 15). The literal translation can be understood if the general grammatical form of the two languages is similar. Larson (1984: 16) says that idiomatic translations use the natural forms of the receptor language both in the grammatical constructions and in the choices of lexical items. A truly idiomatic translation does not sound like translation. It sounds like it was written originally in the receptor language. Therefore, a good translator will try to translate idiomatically. This is his/her goal.

Catford (1978: 21) divides the three aspects of translation differently, those are: extent, level, and ranks.

Based on the extent, the types of translation are:

1)      Full translation, it is a type of translation in which the entire SL text is reproduced by the TL text materials.

2)      Partial translation, there are only some parts of the SL text to be translated into the TL text.

In terms of level, the types of translation are:

1)      Total translation, the TL material replaces all levels of the SL text.

2)      Restricted translation, it is the replacement of SL textual material with equivalent TL material at only one level; whether at the phonological level, graphological level, or at the level of grammar and lexis.

In terms of rank, translation is divided into:

1)      Rank-bound translation, it means that the selection of TL text equivalent is limited at only one rank, such as word-for-word equivalence, morpheme-for-morpheme equivalence, etc.

2)      Unbounded translation, it can move freely up and down the rank-scale.

Based on the purposes of translation, Brislin in Choliludin (2007: 26-30) categorizes translation into four types, namely:

1)      Pragmatic translation: it refers to the translation of a message with an interest in accuracy of the information that was meant to be conveyed in the SL form and it is not conveyed with other aspects of the original language version. Example: the translation of the information about repairing a machine.

2)      Aesthetic-poetic translation: it refers to translation in which the translator takes into account the affect, emotion, and feeling of an original version, the aesthetic form used by the original author, as well as any information in the message. Example: the translation of sonnet, rhyme, heroic couplet, dramatic dialogue, and novel.

3)      Ethnographic translation: its purpose is to explicate the cultural context of the SL and TL versions. Translators have to be sensitive to the way words are used and must know how the word fits into cultures. Example: the use of the word ‘yes’ versus ‘yeah’ in America.

4)      Linguistic translation: is concerned with equivalent meanings of the constituent morphemes of the SL and grammatical form. Example: language in a computer program and translation machine.

In his famous essay, On Linguistic Aspect of Translation, Jacobson in Leonardi (2000) identifies three kinds of translation: intralingual translation (monolingual translation), interlingual translation (bilingual or multilingual translation), and intersemiotic translation (verbal sign into non-verbal sign). Intralingual translation refers to a translation in which verbal signs are interpreted by means of other signs of the same language. It happens within the same language (monolingual). Interlingual translation is the one which refers to different languages whether it is bilingual or multilingual. Intersemiotic translation refers to an interpretation of verbal signs by means of other signs of non-verbal sign systems.