Translation Process

Wikipedia defines translation process as an activity during which a person (the translator) establishes equivalences between a text, or segments of a text, and another language.

Simple description of the translation process states that it is a process described simply as:

1. Decoding the meaning (i.e. understanding) of the source text (in source language), and
2. Re-encoding this meaning (i.e. translating) in the target language

Even though it sounds simple, there is a complex cognitive operation behind the entire process.

Wikipedia states that in order to decode the meaning of the source text in its entirety, the translator, more or less consciously and methodically, interprets and analyses all the features of the text, a process which requires in-depth knowledge of the grammar, semantics, syntax, idioms and the like of the source language, as well as the culture of its speakers. The translator needs the same in-depth knowledge to re-encode the meaning in the target language. In fact, many sources maintain that the translator's knowledge of the target language is more important, and needs to be deeper, than his knowledge of the source language. For this reason, most translators translate into a language of which they are native speakers (Wikipedia 2007).

Nancy C Lavallee suggests using the following steps for the translation process:
• Establish requirements
• Consult a supplier
• Secure funding
• Establish a plan
• Schedule resources
• Supply detailed information
• Inspect and deliver

The most references to the translation process can be found in relation to Bible translation. Bible as one of the oldest books has widely spread around the world in last centuries. Therefore, the translation of the bible was inevitable in order spread the God's word.

You can learn more about Bible in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.