Are Translators Traitors? A Philosophical Perspective of Loss and Gain in Translation

Magugu V. Njeru

Are Translators Traitors? A Philosophical Perspective of Loss and Gain in Translation

Magugu V. Njeru * §

Contact

§ Moi University, Kenya

Are Translators Traitors? A Philosophical Perspective of Loss and Gain in Translation

Article Fingerprint

ReserarchID

5MKW6

Are Translators Traitors? A Philosophical Perspective of Loss and Gain in Translation Banner

Key Research Insights

Synthesized scholarly intelligence & interactive research assistant

Abstract

Translators act as a key bridge that enables cross-cultural communication more so in multilingual contexts as is the case in Kenya. Among the challenges facing the process of translation is the rendering of meanings conceived in the source text as closely as possible in the translated text. This process is complex and has made some scholars to regard translation as an impossible exploit since it can never be totally equivalent to the original. Translators have been labeled “traitors” since even the best of their efforts can never bring out the intended meaning in the original text as was conceptualized by the author. This paper seeks to provide a philosophical understanding on the aspect of loss and gain in translation. It seeks to underpin the complexity of the “word” and hence the meaning rendered by these words. Using Nord’s conceptualization of translation as a purposeful activity, we seek to analyze functionally the translation of “The Beasts of England” in Animal Farm from English to Kiswahili -Shamba la Wanyama.

References

16 Cites in Article

Reference Format

A As-Safi (2006). Loss and Gain & Translation Strategies with reference to the Translation of the Glorious Qur.
Susan Bassnett (2014). Variations on Translation.
A Companion to Translation Studies.
B Hatim,J Mason (1990). Discourse and the Translator.
B Hatim,J Munday (2004). Translation: An advanced Resourse Book.
Andre Lefevere (1992). Translation, Rewriting, and the Manipulation of Literary Fame.
K Malmkjaer (2012). Language, philosophy and Translation.
J Munday (2008). Introducing Translation Studies: Theories and Applications.
P Newmark (1988). A Textbook of Translation.
Eugene Nida,Charles Taber (1969). The Theory and Practice of Translation.
C Nord (1997). Translation as a Purposeful Activity.
D Nozizwe,B Ncube (2014). Loss and Gain in Translation: A case of Court Translations.
K Reiss,H Vermeer (1994). Towards a General Theory of Translational Action.
T Van Djik (1977). Text &Context: Explorations in the Semantics &Pragmatics of Discourse.
J Young (2014). Philosophy in Translation.
Gregary Racz (2016). <i>A Companion to Translation Studies</i>. Edited by Sandra Bermann and Catherine Porter.

Download References

Funding

No external funding was declared for this work.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

No ethics committee approval was required for this article type.

Data Availability

Not applicable for this article.

How to Cite This Article

Magugu V. Njeru. 2015. "Are Translators Traitors? A Philosophical Perspective of Loss and Gain in Translation". Global Journal of Human-Social Science - G: Linguistics & Education GJHSS-G Volume 15 (GJHSS Volume 15 Issue G8).

More Citation Formats

Select Citation Style:

Download Citation

GJHSS Volume 15 Issue G8

Explore Journals Explore Volume Read This Issue

Journal Specifications

Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJHSS

Print ISSN 0975-587X

e-ISSN 2249-460X

Keywords

Not Found

Classification

GJHSS-G Classification FOR Code: 380299

Submission ReceivedJune 13, 2015
Peer Review Double Blind
Handling Editor
Accepted July 3, 2015
Published July 15, 2015

Version of record

v1.2

Issue date

September 2, 2015

Language

English

Experiance in AR

Explore published articles in an immersive Augmented Reality environment. Our platform converts research papers into interactive 3D books, allowing readers to view and interact with content using AR and VR compatible devices.

View in VR

Read in 3D

Your published article is automatically converted into a realistic 3D book. Flip through pages and read research papers in a more engaging and interactive format.

View in 3D

Article Matrices

Total Score: 101

Country: Kenya

Subject: Global Journal of Human-Social Science

Authors: Magugu V. Njeru (PhD/Dr. count: 0)

View Count (all-time): 330

Total Views (Real + Logic): 1180

Total Downloads (simulated): 101

Publish Date: 2015 07, Wed

Monthly Totals (Real + Logic):

Month 1: 39 views
Month 2: 67 views
Month 3: 67 views
Month 4: 41 views
Month 5: 30 views
Month 6: 18 views
Month 7: 50 views
Month 8: 26 views
Month 9: 30 views
Month 10: 22 views
Month 11: 37 views
Month 12: 41 views
Month 13: 34 views
Month 14: 44 views
Month 15: 25 views
Month 16: 30 views
Month 17: 35 views
Month 18: 26 views
Month 19: 17 views
Month 20: 34 views
Month 21: 28 views
Month 22: 31 views
Month 23: 23 views
Month 24: 15 views
Month 25: 23 views
Month 26: 39 views
Month 27: 39 views
Month 28: 39 views
Month 29: 41 views
Month 30: 23 views
Month 31: 21 views
Month 32: 28 views
Month 33: 36 views
Month 34: 25 views
Month 35: 40 views
Month 36: 19 views
Month 37: 35 views
Month 38: 12 views
Month 39: 26 views
Month 40: 21 views
Month 41: 23 views
Month 42: 22 views
Month 43: 42 views
Month 44: 19 views
Month 45: 33 views
Month 46: 29 views
Month 47: 40 views
Month 48: 47 views
Month 49: 25 views
Month 50: 32 views
Month 51: 33 views
Month 52: 36 views
Month 53: 35 views
Month 54: 26 views
Month 55: 32 views
Month 56: 21 views
Month 57: 25 views
Month 58: 44 views
Month 59: 29 views
Month 60: 30 views
Month 61: 35 views
Month 62: 19 views
Month 63: 35 views
Month 64: 28 views
Month 65: 27 views
Month 66: 22 views
Month 67: 22 views
Month 68: 14 views
Month 69: 27 views
Month 70: 30 views
Month 71: 11 views
Month 72: 13 views
Month 73: 46 views
Month 74: 38 views
Month 75: 18 views
Month 76: 42 views
Month 77: 21 views
Month 78: 32 views
Month 79: 25 views
Month 80: 11 views
Month 81: 48 views
Month 82: 40 views
Month 83: 43 views
Month 84: 34 views
Month 85: 36 views
Month 86: 17 views
Month 87: 27 views
Month 88: 33 views
Month 89: 33 views
Month 90: 34 views
Month 91: 36 views
Month 92: 33 views
Month 93: 28 views
Month 94: 20 views
Month 95: 37 views
Month 96: 38 views
Month 97: 30 views
Month 98: 44 views
Month 99: 37 views
Month 100: 21 views
Month 101: 23 views
Month 102: 29 views
Month 103: 41 views
Month 104: 39 views
Month 105: 40 views
Month 106: 28 views
Month 107: 26 views
Month 108: 30 views
Month 109: 33 views
Month 110: 30 views
Month 111: 42 views
Month 112: 21 views
Month 113: 32 views
Month 114: 15 views
Month 115: 25 views
Month 116: 31 views
Month 117: 37 views
Month 118: 26 views
Month 119: 20 views
Month 120: 31 views
Month 121: 40 views
Month 122: 20 views
Month 123: 32 views
Month 124: 32 views
Month 125: 38 views
Month 126: 62 views
Month 127: 40 views
Month 128: 24 views
Month 129: 26 views
Month 130: 48 views
Month 131: 28 views
Month 132: 29 views
Month 133: 48 views
Month 134: 42 views
Month 135: 31 views

Total Views: 1.2K

Total Downloads: 101

All Trends