Translation Process,

Strategies, Methods
and Competences
Translation is the process or result of
converting the information from one
language or language variety into
another.
The aim is to produce as accurately as
possible all grammatical and lexical
features of the SL original by finding
equivalents in the TL.
Competence
Competence is the implicit system of rules that
constitutes a person’s knowledge of a
language.
Translation competence is the knowledge and
skills the translator must have in order to carry
out a translation.
Communicative competence includes elements
of linguistic, cultural and sociolinguistic
knowledge as well as cognitive, physical and
environmental constraints on communication
The basic purpose of translation is to
reproduce various types of texts,
comprising literary, religious, scientific,
philosophical texts etc. in another
language and thus making them available
to wider readers, to a greater number of
target audience and to bring the world
closer.
Translation procedures are
methods applied by translators when
they formulate an equivalence for the
purpose of transferring elements of
meaning from the Source Text (ST)
to the Target Text (TT).
The translating procedures can be divided
into two groups:

Technical procedure: This implies an

analysis of the source and target languages
and a complete study of the SL text before
translating it.
Organizational procedure: This implies a
constant re-evaluation of the translation made.
It also includes the comparison of the existing
translation with the translations of the same
text by other translators.
Strategies in translation:
1. Equivalence
2. Paraphrase
 Approximation
Word coinage
Circumlocution

3. Conscious transfer
 Literal translation

4. Code switching
5. Foreignizing
Strategies of translation
6. Nonlinguistic signals
7. Use of all-purpose words
8. Prefabricated patterns
9. Appeal for assistance
10. Avoidance
Topic avoidance
Message abandonment
Paraphrase

Approximation: using an alternative term

which expresses the meaning of the target
lexical item as closely as possible (e.g. ship
for sailboat)
Word coinage: creating a nonexisting word
based on a supposed rule
Circumlocution: describing or exemplifying
the target object of action (e.g. the thing you
open bottles with for corkscrew).
Conscious transfer

Literal translation: translating

literally a lexical item, idiom,
compound word, or structure from L1
to L2.
Code switching: using a L1 word
with L1 pronunciation or a L3 word
with L3 pronunciation while
speaking in L2.
 Foreignizing: Using a L1 word by
adjusting it to L2 phonology (i.e.,
with a L2 pronunciation) and/or
morphology (e.g., adding to it a L2
suffix).
Nonlinguistic signals: mime,
gesture, facial expression, or sound
imitation
Use of all-purpose words: extending a
general, empty lexical item to contexts
where specific words are lacking (e.g., the
overuse of thing, stuff, what-do-you call–
it, thingie).
Prefabricated patterns: using
memorized stock phrases, usually for
“survival” purposes (e.g., Where is
the ___ or Comment allez–vous?,
where the morphological components
are not known to the learner).
Appeal for assistance: asking for
aid from the interlocutor either
directly (e.g., What do you call…?)
or indirectly (e.g.rising intonation,
pause, eye contact, puzzled
expression).
Avoidance

Topic: avoiding topic areas or concepts

that pose language difficulties.
Message abandonment: leaving a
message unfinished because of language
difficulties.
Methods of Translation

Word-for-word translation
Literal Translation
Faithful Translation
Semantic Translation
Adaptation
Free Translation
Idiomatic Translation
Communicative Translation
Translation processes

Decoding the meaning of the source text

Re-encoding or translating this meaning
in the target language