Naturalness in Translation

Nida (1964, p.167) has outlined that a natural translation involves two principal areas of adaptation, namely, grammar and lexicon. In terms of grammar, the grammatical modifications can be made more readily adjusted since many grammatical changes are dictated by the obligatory structures of the receptor language. On the other hand, the lexical structure of the source message is less readily adjusted to the semantic requirements of the receptor language. 

The naturalness in target language should be achieved in order to make the readers of the translated version do not realize that they are reading a translation product. Nida and Taber (cited in Choliludin, 2005, p.3) say that translating consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalence of a source language message, firstly in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. To be able to produce the closest natural equivalence, a translator has to master the message in the original text up to the details, then find the equivalence of that message in the target language, and then he has to restructure it.

From the explanation of naturalness in translation above, the writer can conclude that translation should be natural in the forms of meaning and structure (grammar). So, the translators should make the translation be equivalent and natural in the forms of meaning and structure (grammar). They should do it in order to make the readers of the translated version do not realize that they are reading a translation product. They can do it on many kinds of translation.

Sources:

1. Nida, Eugene A. (1964). Toward a science of translating. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

2. Choliludin. (2005). The techniques of making idiomatic translation. Bekasi Timur: Kesaint Blanc. 

Kategori: linguistics,translation