Definition of Translation: Translation is a mental

activity in which a meaning of given linguistic discourse is rendered from

one language to another. It is the act of transferring the linguistic entities
from one language in to their equivalents in to another language.
Translation is an act through which the content of a text is transferred
from the source language in to the target language.

Types of Translation:
1) Intralingual translation: translation within the same language,
which can involve rewording or paraphrase,

2) Interlingual translation: translation from one language to

another

3)Intersemiotic translation: translation of the verbal sign by non

verbal sign for example music or image.

How do we translate from one

language to another?
Linguistics plays an important role in the translation of a document from
one language to another. Translating information includes more than just
changing each word from the original language to another. One must also
decode and decipher all the facets and functions of the original language
into the new language. This is where the study and understanding of
linguistics comes into play in translation.

The study of linguistics is essentially the study of human language. It can

be broken down into several sub-categories.

 Grammar: the study of language structure and the system of rules it

uses. It includes several fields as follows.
 Morphology: the study of the formation of words.
 Syntax: the study of the formation and composition of these words into
phrases and sentences.
 Phonology: the study of sound systems. (Phonetics is a related field
concerned with the properties, production, and perception of speech and
non-speech sounds.)

Semantics: the study of word meaning.

 Historical linguistics: the study of language evolution over time.

 Sociolinguistics: the study of how language is used in society.
 Psycholinguistics: the study of language is processed within the mind.
 Neurolinguistics: the study of the actual encoding of language in the
brain.
 Computational linguistics: the study of natural linguistics by using the
techniques of computer science.
Accurate translation of one language to another requires addressing all
the functions of linguistics. One must determine the grammar being
used, the meaning of the words as individual components, as well as the
phrases and sentences they create, how those phrases are placed in time
and history, and so forth.

Each language differs in its linguistic functions but there are

commonalities among languages as well. An accurate translation must
determine where the similarities and differences lie. Relying on only one
area, grammar for example, will not produce an optimal translation. It
may, in fact, be lacking in vital information if the other functions are not
fully realized.

A careful use of the tools provided by linguistic study will improve the
quality and accuracy of a translated document.