(1) Explain unfaithful translation
•Introduction
Translation is the process of carrying a text from one language into another. Traditionally, it was seen as a faithful transfer of meaning from the source language to the target language. However, modern translation theory shows that translation is not mechanical or neutral. It is a creative, interpretative, and culturally embedded act. Thinkers like Walter Benjamin challenge the idea that translation must always be faithful or literal.
•Meaning of Unfaithful Translation
Unfaithful translation does not mean careless or wrong translation. Instead, it refers to a translation that does not strictly follow the original words or structure, but tries to convey deeper meaning, emotion, or cultural sense.
➤Unfaithful translation accepts that:
-Exact equivalence is impossible
-Languages function differently
-Meaning changes across cultures
Thus, some level of “unfaithfulness” is necessary and productive.
•Literal Translation versus Deeper Meaning
Literal translation focuses on word-for-word accuracy. While it may preserve form, it often fails to communicate meaning properly. Deeper or unfaithful translation focuses on sense, intention, and effect.
#Example:
English: “Don’t spill the beans.”
Unfaithful but meaningful translation: “Raaz mat batao”
Here, unfaithfulness to words ensures faithfulness to meaning.
•Cultural and Linguistic Differences
Languages are shaped by culture, history, and social practices. Many expressions, customs, and emotions do not have direct equivalents in other languages.
Because of this:
-Cultural references must be adapted
-Idioms must be transformed
-Social meanings must be interpreted
#Example:
English: “He touched his hat as a sign of respect.”
Indian cultural translation: “Usne samman mein haath jod liye.”
The translation changes the image but preserves the cultural meaning of respect.
•Translation as Interpretation
Translation is never neutral. Every translator interprets the text based on:
-Context
-Ideology
-Audience
-Time period
This makes translation an interpretative act, not a mechanical one. Even choosing one word over another is an act of interpretation.
Different translators can produce different translations of the same text, and all can be valid
•Afterlife of a Text (According to Walter Benjamin
Walter Benjamin argues that translation gives a text an “afterlife.” A literary work does not remain fixed in its original language. Through translation, it continues to live and gain new meanings in different times and cultures.
Translation does not replace the original. Instead, it extends its life, allowing it to evolve. For Benjamin, translation is not about serving the reader but about revealing the relationship between languages.
•Criticism of Unfaithful Translation
Unfaithful translation has been criticized on several grounds:
-It may distort the author’s original meaning
-It risks cultural erasure through excessive domestication
-It gives excessive power to the translator
-It can misrepresent historical and literary context
Critics argue that translation should balance freedom with responsibility.
•Unfaithful Translation in Practice
In practice, unfaithful translation is common and necessary, especially in:
-Poetry
-Drama
-Literary prose
#Example:
Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be” has many Hindi translations.
Some focus on philosophy, others on emotion.
None are literal, yet all communicate the existential dilemma.
This shows that unfaithful translation keeps the spirit alive, even if the form changes.
•Conclusion
Unfaithful translation is not a failure of translation but its true strength. Literal translation alone cannot handle cultural differences, emotional depth, or philosophical meaning. Translation is an act of interpretation that gives texts an afterlife and allows them to travel across languages and cultures. In this sense, unfaithfulness becomes a necessary loyalty to meaning rather than words.
(2) Key issue in Translation: Translation as a secondary act
•Introduction: Translation as a Key Issue
One of the most debated issues in translation studies is whether translation is a secondary act when compared to original writing. Traditionally, translation was viewed as inferior, mechanical, and dependent on the original text. However, modern theorists such as Walter Benjamin have challenged this belief and redefined the role and importance of translation.
•Meaning of Translation and the Idea of Secondary Act
Translation is the process of transferring a text from one language into another. The term “secondary act” suggests that translation comes after the original and therefore lacks originality, creativity, and authority.
In this view:
The original text is considered primary and authentic
The translation is seen as a copy or imitation
The translator is treated as a servant to the author
This understanding dominated translation theory for a long time.
•Traditional View of Translation
In the traditional approach, translation was judged mainly by how faithfully it followed the original. Creativity was discouraged, and literal accuracy was valued more than interpretation.
Translation was expected to:
1.Preserve the author’s words
2.Avoid deviation from the original
3.Remain invisible
Example:
A translator was praised if the reader forgot that they were reading a translation.
•Why Translation Was Considered Secondary
Translation was considered secondary for several reasons:
-The original was seen as the source of meaning and authority
-Translation depended entirely on the original text
-Translators were viewed as imitators rather than creators
Because translation comes after the original, it was believed to lack originality.
Example:
A translated poem was often judged as weaker simply because it was not written in the original language.
•Tytler’s View on Translation
Alexander Fraser Tytler, an 18th-century theorist, supported the traditional view of translation. In Essay on the Principles of Translation (1791), he laid down three main principles:
-The translation should give a complete idea of the original
-The style and manner of writing should be preserved
-The translation should read as easily as the original
Tytler still treated translation as derivative, aiming to imitate the original as closely as possible.
Example:
If the original text is formal, the translation must remain formal, even if the target language prefers simplicity.
•Walter Benjamin’s View: A New Perspective
Walter Benjamin radically changed the idea of translation as a secondary act. In “The Task of the Translator,” he argues that translation is not inferior to the original.
According to Benjamin:
-Translation gives the text an afterlife
-Translation does not serve the reader
-Translation reveals the relationship between languages
He believes that translation is not a copy but a complement to the original. The original itself is incomplete, and translation helps it grow.
Example:
A literary text gains new meanings when translated into multiple languages over time.
•Modern Understanding of Translation
-A creative and interpretative act
-A cultural and ideological process
-An activity that shapes literature and history
The translator is now viewed as a co-creator, not a shadow of the author.
Example:
Postcolonial translations reinterpret texts to challenge dominant cultural narratives.
•Conclusion
The belief that translation is a secondary act reflects an outdated understanding of language and literature. While traditional theories treated translation as inferior and derivative, modern thinkers—especially Walter Benjamin—have shown that translation plays a vital role in extending, transforming, and enriching texts. Translation is no longer seen as secondary but as a necessary and meaningful literary act.
#citation:
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