Notions of Translation

Catford in Choliludin (2007: 4) states that translation may be defined as follows: the replacement of textual material in one language (Source Language) by equivalent textual material in another language (Target Language). Nida and Taber in Choliludin (2007: 3) say that translating consists of reproducing the closest natural equivalence of the source language message in the receptor language, firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. 

Massoud in Abdellah (2002: 2) gives criteria for a good translation: 1) A good translation is easily understood. 2) A good translation is fluent and smooth. 3) A good translation is idiomatic. 4) A good translation conveys, to some extent, the literary subtleties of the original. 5) A good translation distinguishes between the metaphorical and the literal. 6) A good translation reconstructs the cultural or historical context of the original. 7) A good translation makes explicit what is implicit in abbreviations and in allusions to sayings, songs, and nursery rhymes. 8) A good translation will convey, as much as possible, the meaning of the original text.

El Shafey in Abdellah (2002: 2) proposes criteria for a good translation based on three main principles: 1) The knowledge of the grammar of the source language plus the knowledge of the vocabulary, as well as good understanding of the text to be translated. 2) The ability of the translator to reconstitute the given text (SL text) into the TL. 3) The translation should capture the style or atmosphere of the original text; it should have all the ease of an original composition.