A Translation into English of “ Flaboration D'un Panel De Lignes Du Reseau De La Sotra”

Abstract

If I was asked to mention one thing that has existed for as long as humanity has, I would without hesitation mention communication. All through life, man expresses the need to communicate with others in both verbal and non-verbal ways. However, differences in languages and in culture hinder communication. Linguists refer to such differences as cultural, linguistic and intellectual barriers. As a solution to this hindrance to communication, people began to practice translation. Translation, like many other disciplines has gone through many phases. In the second half of the twentieth century however, translation studies became an important discipline in the teaching of language in many educational institutions. Adding to its value are the variety of methods and models of translation which include the grammatical rules and structures of foreign languages as well as the cultural model which has also contributed immensely to the development of the discipline. One would ask therefore, what does translation entail and what are the important elements of translation? Translation involves various elements among which are cultural and linguistic issues. However at the heart of every translation is the issue of fidelity - fidelity to the meaning or fidelity to the form or style. Theorists have different opinions concerning this issue. Some believe in staying faithful to the style of the original writer (Mme. Dacier, 1669) while others are of the opinion that the meaning of the message being conveyed to the target reader is more important than the style of the text (Etienne Dolet, 1540). Thus, they believe in fidelity to the meaning while allowing modifications to be made to the style of the text, which has become largely accepted in modern translation.