DRAFT – Contents of the Translator’s Manual (for Sinhala/English Translators)
From Known to Unknown
TRANSLATOR’S MANUAL
CONTENTS
Preface
Acknowledgment
Messages
List of Abbreviations
CHAPTER 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Background to the Government Translators Service
Role of the Official Languages Department as the Official Translator to the Government
Scope of the Translator’s Manual
Limitations
o Much emphasis is on the non-literary translations
o Priority is given to Sinhala to English Translation
o Time constraints to conduct a larger corpus based analysis over a considerable period of
time
CHAPTER 2
2.1 What is Translation
2.2 Role of a translator
2.3 Types of Translation
2.3.1 Literary Translation
Introduction
The difference between Literary and Non-Literary Translation
Unique characteristics of Literary Language
Model and the related terminology
2.3.2 Non-Literary Translation
[Link] Technical Translation
Introduction
Characteristics of Technical Language
Challenges in Technical Translation
Strategies to Overcome Challenges in Translation
Model and the related terminology
[Link] Scientific Translation
Introduction
Interface Between Scientific and Technical Translation
Challenges in Scientific Translation
Strategies to Overcome Challenges in Translation
Model and the related terminology
[Link] Institutional Translation
Introduction
Types of Institutional Translations
Challenges in Institutional Translation
Strategies to Overcome Challenges in Translation
Model and the related terminology
[Link] Legal Translation
Introduction
Legal Jargon ( Borrowed legal terms with examples)
Challenges in Legal Translation
Strategies to Overcome Challenges in Translation
Model and the related terminology
CHAPTER 3
3.0 Discussion of Issues (based on authentic examples)
3.1 Method of Analysis
3.2 Discussion of Issues based on Authentic Examples
3.2.1 Word Level (Lexical)
[Link] Defining words and morphemes
Lexical meaning
Propositional and expressive meaning, etc.
Evoked meaning
[Link] The problem of non-equivalence and strategies to deal with it
[Link] Discussion of issues in translation
3.2.2 Above Word Level
[Link] Collocations
Introduction to Collocations
Discussion of Collocation-related problems
How to improve collocations
Fine examples and Exercises
[Link] Idioms as means of Non-literal Language
How to differentiate idioms from other figures of language
Characteristics of idioms
The translation of Idioms: difficulties
Strategies to translate idioms
3.2.3 Grammatical Equivalence
[Link]. A brief contrastive study of the two languages concerned with a
special emphasis to word order
[Link]. The use of passive version
[Link]. Prepositions, phrasal verbs etc.
[Link]. Discussion of common mistakes in grammar
3.2.4 Syntactic Equivalence
[Link]. Introduction to Syntax
[Link]. Difficulty of dealing with complex sentences
[Link]. Misplacement of constituents/dislocation (specially adverbials)
[Link]. Syntactic variations for better standard
[Link]. Discussion of issues and strategies for dealing with them
3.2.5 Textual equivalence and Pragmatic equivalence
[Link]. Boundary between Semantics and Pragmatics
[Link]. Cohesion: Reference, Substitution, ellipsis, etc.
[Link]. Coherence, implicature and translation strategies
3.2.6 Miscellaneous
CHAPTER 4
4.0 TIPS FOR CLEAR WRITING
4.1 Grammar, Usages and Mechanics
4.2 Elements of Style
o Word Choice
o Sentence Fluency
o Voice
4.3 Examples of lucid writing
ANNEXTURES
Models (sufficient material for each category)
Formats (sufficient material for each category)
Bibliography
Prepared by:
H.A.N.D. Hettiarachchi
J.A.M. Hansani
W.K.S. Weerakkody