What is Translation?

Translation could be defined via metaphors. The most known is "Translation is like a bridge". According to Google Dictionary, a bridge is:

"a. a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle. 

b. something that is intended to reconcile or form a connection between two things."

Therefore, in this case, the two things that are connected are languages and cultures.

 

Research has revealed that translation could be defined as a process and as a product through 36 metaphors (Words without Borders, 2021). The aim of this blogpost is to discuss the worth of these metaphors and their success in describing the task. 

• What do you think of these metaphors? 
• What is the closest metaphor to the reality of the task? 
• What is the metaphor that takes into account all the aspects of translation?

History of Translation and Interpreting

     The History of Translation and Interpreting dates back to the first use of language. Every act of communication is an act of translation.

      Indeed, the history of translation can be approached from different perspectives. One way of looking at it is through considering its development as a human activity in each region of the world and comparing it to the other regions. Thus, each civilization will have its own history. This kind of research can be narrowed down by studying the history of translation in every country of the world to see its contribution in the development of the overall translation movement which is bridging the gap between the different cultures and peoples.

     Therefore, we may have to explore the history of translation by looking at its development in:

• The Western World
• The Eastern World
• The Arab World

    

What is Documentary Research?

This post highlights one of the main skills required in the industry of translation and interpreting. Indeed, Documentary Research is now a crucial component of any educational or training curriculum in translation and interpreting.

Both professional and would-be translators and interpeters need to attain high-level Documentary Research skills in order to ascertain their final products are accurate, efficient and consistent. They will have to dig out all the available databases and resources by using advanced techniques of research.

Here is a list of videos which deals with the topic of Documentary Research, its benefits and its techniques. This list will of course be updated, you could save it by adding it to your favourite links in order to access it later easily: Documentary Research

Audio-Narration & Audio-Description Projects

Follow the external links below to watch on youtube the videos audio-narrated and audiodescribed by my students as part of their courses' assignments in the Master's programme at the UB2. The source videos for these projects are mainly 2D and 3D cartoon.

AUDIO-NARRATION

Audio-Narration Projects (M2 Translation 2020-2021 - UB2)

Audio-Narration Projects (M2 Translation 2019-2020 - UB2): (Arabic)

AUDIO-DESCRIPTION

Audio-Description Projects (M2 Translation 2020-2021 - UB2)

Audio-Description Projects (M2 Translation 2018-2019 - UB2): (Arabic)

Audio-Description Projects (M2 Translation 2017-2018 - UB2): (English)

These video playlists will be updated. Check them out later. 

Your comments and feedback are most welcomed and greatly appreciated.

NADIR, A. (2017 September). Introduction to Communication Sciences. [S1 Syllabus for Master 1 Translation]. Algeria: Univesity of Blida 2.

Audiovisual Translation (Studies & Industry)

                       
               The world of Audiovisual Translation is vast.


                           

          If you are keen to learn more, check our previous posts via the label: Audiovisual Translation or watch the playlists curated for you. The first is entitled Audiovisual Translation Worlds. You will find a set of videos which have been selected and organized to introduce you to the wide range of areas in this field. The second playlist is focused on Audiovisual Translation Challenges.

          If you have any questions or you need more explanation, do not hesitate to get in touch or leave your comments below

Subtitling Software: EZTitles

          

        EZTitles is a subtitling software developed by EZtitles Development Studio. Other subtitling solutions are provided alongside EZTitles such as EZConvert, 3DTitles and EZTitles Plug-ins. However, these solutions are not free, only a 30-day free trial is offered. The cost starts from 50 euros/month. 

          With a good mastery of this kind of software, one stands a better chance of having a rewarding and better fulfilling career as a freelance subtitler. It is apposite to stress that professional subtitlers must have excellent mastery of the software, because it is hard for them to increase their personal productivity to ensure they are available to accept the work when it comes in. Learning how professional subtitlers and subbers use technology to increase their productivity can be facilitated by watching Video Tutorials which explain the basics and advanced features of cueing subtitles in EZTitles. If interested in such career, this can be the first step for you to do. The Video Tutorials can be accessed here: Video Playlist.

What is Subtitling?

     Subtitling is the most common mode in Audiovisual Translation. Subtitling is used not only in cinema and TV programmes such as films, series and TV shows but also in debates,  documentaries and video games. Besides, it is also used even in cartoons, eventhough its use is controversial. This interest in subtitling and widespread use is due to two factors: (1) It is more economical than dubbing; (2) It can be achieved in shorter periods of time.

        Technically speaking, subtitles can have many forms: 

1/ According to number of languages: (a) Interlingual subtitles; (b) Intralingual subtitles
2/ According to quality: (a) Professional Subtitling; (b) Fansubbing
3/ According to format: (a) Subtitles; (b) Captions (Open or Closed)
4/ According to position on screen: (a) Subtitles; (b) Surtitles

     The creation of subtitles consists in producing a written translation that is adapted to fit the screen size. It is not a word-for-word translation. Thus, subtitles are the text (sentences, chunks, utterences, etc) derived from the spoken discourse (dialogue, commentary, etc) that accompany the picture/image displayed on screen. Subtites are ususally displayed at the bottom of the screen. However, in opera, the "titles" are displayed on a screen above the main stage; therefore, they are called "Surtitles". Closed Captioning is an alternative term for subtitling.

     Sometimes, when subtitling for the deaf and hard-of-hearing people, subtitlers add other signs and symbols (e.g. music) to depict the non-verbal process of communication, as shown in the picture below.

      In some of our previous posts, we dealt with the software used to produce subtitles. We will step-by-step deal with the problems that subtitlers face and their solutions soon. All these posts can be accessed via the label "Subtitling" (Labels are on the left side of the blog). In addition, a lot of Video Tutorials have been curated and organized in the form of Playlists on Youtube to help you learn at your own pace.

     From a reserach perspective, many research problems have been investigated in subtitling; namely, reduction, linguistic variation and expletives (Cintas, 2004). If you are interested in such kind of content, please  let us know.

Translation and Interpreting for Newbies

This post attempts, through the supportive videos, to answer the question many newbies ask regarding the difference between translation and interpreting. It also introduces them to many sub-fields which are acquiring interest and are being recognized as independant areas because of their distinct skills in terms of training. The mastery of these skills will enable the trainees to obtain the qualifications needed to practice at a professional level.

Basically, translation is written and interpreting is oral. However, this is not the only difference and these are not the only forms taught to satisfy the needs of the industry. The videos which I am curating in this playlist provide a general introduction to the fields of translation and interpreting.

You may want to take a look at another playlist where I curated promotional videos of universities worldwide providing different types of programmes and trainings.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. So, keep asking questions! Check this post later for more info or subscribe to get the newsletter of this blog in your inbox.

Free Methodology Resources

Below are listed some links to free methodology resources:

Research Methodology - Process (in English)

Research Methodology - Philosophies (in English)

Méthodologie de la Recherche - B.A. BA (in French)

Research Methodology - Basics (in Arabic)

Research Methodology - Review of Literature

Documentary Research

Research Methodology - Academic Reading (in English)

Research Methodology - Academic Writing (in English)

Research Methodology - Design, Methods and Procedure

Data Collection Methods

          Survey Method 

Research Methodology - Analysis of Data, Interpretation of Results & Discussion of Findings

          Statistical Method:

                   Statistical Method (in English)

                   Statistical Method (in French)

                   Statistical Method (in Arabic)

                               Data Analysis - SPSS Tutorials (in English) 

         

                     Data Analysis - SPSS Tutorials (in French)

                               Data Analysis - SPSS Tutorials (in Arabic)

                               Data Analysis - Stata Tutorials (in English)

                               Data Analysis - DATAtab Tutorials

                               Data Analysis - TABLEAU Tutorials

                               Data Analysis - JASP Tutorials

                               Data Analysis - AMOS Tutorials

                               Data Analysis - R Tutorials

                               Data Analysis - Python

                               Data Analysis - SQL Tutorials

                               Data Analysis - Excel Tutorials (in English)

                               Data Analysis - Google Sheet

          Content Analysis

          Thematic Analysis

          Grounded Theory

                      MAXQDA Tutorials 

                      QDA MINER Tutorials

                      Nvivo Tutorials

Research Methodology - Writing Styles (in English)

Research Methodology - Writing Styles (in Arabic)


The above-curated playlists will be updated. Check them out later or subscribe to this blog to get info in your inbox. Do not hesitate do get in touch, if you have any questions.

NADIR, A. (2017). [Translation Syllabus]. Course: Computing & Translation. Master in Translation. Algeria: Blida 2 University.

Free Subtitle-Editing Tools

Below is a non-exhaustive list of the best free subtitle editing software:

• Aegisub
• SubtitleEdit
• Subtitle Workshop
• Open Subtitle Editor
• Gnome Subtitles
• Pitivi
• SubtitleCreator
• Submagic
• SubViewer4
• Gaupol
• VisualSubSync
• WinSubMux

Online/Web application do not require any downloading, if you do not want to install more software:

• http://www.sync-subtitles.com/
• http://www.subsedit.com/
• https://amara.org/en/
• http://subtitle-horse.com/
• https://www.captionsmaker.com/
• FiveLoadSub/

This list will be updated. Descriptions of these software will be added later.
See more here: Wikipedia
If you want to learn more, check out the label: Subtitling

Translation Project Management Software for Newbies

Below are listed some Translation Project Management Software:

1. Free Software:

• http://www.clockingit.com/
• 
  

2. Paid Software:

• http://www.projetex.com/
• https://www.xtrf.eu/
• http://www.quahill.com/en/index.html
• http://www.smartsheet.com/task-management?u=QJ6862404&bdg=3
• http://www.translationprojex.com/translation-project-management-software/
• https://tranwise.com/
• https://webtranslateit.com/en
• http://www.gespoint.com/index_EN.aspx
• https://www.pairaphrase.com/
• http://www.wordbee.com/

3. Comparison:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_project_management_software
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ERP_software_packages
• http://www.capterra.com/translation-management-software/

You may find more articles on Translation Software here: CAT Tools, Localization, 

NADIR, A. (2017). Simultaneous Interpreting Quality Assessment at the HAIT. [Magister Dissertation]. Algiers: University of Algiers 2.

NADIR. A. (2015). [Translation Syllabus. Course: Translation for Newbies. Level: L2/S4. Algeria/Blida: Blida 2 University.

Research Areas & Supervision

NADIR. A. (2015). [Translation Syllabus]. Course: Translation for Newbies. Level: L2/S3. Algeria/Blida: Blida 2 University.

Translation Theory for Newbies

   

This post deals with the question of Translation Theory's relevance to the professional practice of translation. Most of the practicing translators would think that it is not very important, especially the ad hoc translators and interpreters. Yet, I disagree with them on this point. It is true that practice makes perfect, however I believe that the new translators won't have time to make all the errors of their predecessors and colleagues or just of the fellow translators and interpreters in order to learn. Knowledge of translation theories is a must, it saves time and helps in achieving high-quality translations which fit for the purpose of the projects. 

        Here is a thread which might be enlightening to newbies. Professor As-Safi from Petra University surveyed most of the theories and provided an interesting account which might guide your search in this area. He pointed out that they were developed in four periods. The main theories are as follows:

- Philological Theories

- Philosophical Theories

- Linguistic Theories

- Functional Theories

- Text-type Theory

- Translational Action Theory

- Skopos Theory

- Socio-linguistic Theories

- Interpretative Theory

- Systems Theories

- Polysystem Theory

- Manipulation Theory

- Aesthetic Communication Theory

- Relevance Theory

              He also calls for a Comprehensive, Applicable Theory.
              What do you think?

What are the advantages of CAT tools?

       The term Computer-assisted Translation (CAT) does not refer to Machine translation (MT) of texts which is provided for free by many engines and websites such as Google translate, Reverso and Bing. CAT refers rather to the human translation which is facilitated by desktop computers and the software installed on them. These software are called CAT tools. They have many features which cannot be ensured by a human being, so the translator uses them as tools to improve his performance and to increase his daily output. Indeed, CAT tools have many advantages when working on big projects, especially technical ones, because they will not help much in literary or creative translation.

 

               

         So, one may cite that:

1. CAT tools help the translator keep track of his previous work by creating Translation Memories "TMs" which enable him to save time when translating recurrent expressions or similar ones.

2. CAT tools enable him to keep Term Bases "TBs" which enable him to be consistent in all the translated documents, i.e. using the same terminology along the project.

3. The translator can even use the client's TMs and TBs when required, consequently this will save him a great deal of research.

4. CAT tools enable the translator to have a machine translation from his workbench. All he has to do is to set his preferences when creating the translation project.
5. The translator can align his previously translated documents

6. They enable the translator to work on all types of formats and to save the translated documents in multiple formats.

7. Some CAT tools have servers which allow the translators to work on projects in teams.

8. Wordfast anywhere, for example, allows the translators to access the user-friendly environment wherever they might be and to share their TMs free of charge.

N.B: You can download free trial versions of these software and some of them are open-source.

More posts on CAT can be found here.

Visual Localization tools for newbies

   

 

The most common localization tools are:

• Alchemy Catalyst

http://www.alchemysoftware.com/

• SDL Passolo:

http://www.sdl.com/products/sdl-passolo/

• Lingobit Localizer Standard: 

http://www.lingobit.com/products/compare.html

• Sisulizer Translator:

http://www.sisulizer.com/localization/steps/localization-step-2-translate-text.shtml

• Multilizer Pro for Translators: 

http://www2.multilizer.com/