Which types of translation?
There are various types of translation depending on mode (visual, written, oral, mixed) and subject matter.
Under mode, we can distinguish the following types:
- Written interlingual translation: this involves the activity of translation as we know it, ie translating written texts.
- Gist translation: this type of translation involves reading a document and producing a summary or abstract of a limited length.
- Sight translation: this type of translation usually occurs in the context of business meetings involving documents to be discussed and signed. The translator produces an oral version of a written document.
- Simultaneous/Consecutive interpreting: simultaneous interpreting means that the speaker and the interpreter speak simultaneously. Consecutive, or liaison interpreting, on the other hand, means that the interpreter starts speaking once the speaker has finished.
- Subtitling/Dubbing/Voice-over: this is usually related to screen translation. Subtitling involves the use of subtitles on a screen (TV, cinema, video, DVD) while retaining the original voices. Dubbing involves substituting voices in the target language for the original voices. Voice-over, in contrast, means that an oral translation is superimposed over the original text, which can still be heard.
Translating activities can also involve a change in mode (from written to oral, for example). Have a look at Activity 4: can you identify which mode corresponds to each of the types of translation mentioned above?
Activity 4
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Which translation activities are written only? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Which translation activities are oral only? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Which translation activities involve a change of mode? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
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Click on 'Commentary' for feedback. As regards the field or subject matter covered, we have, broadly speaking, the following types of translation:
- legal translation (bills, contracts, wills etc);
- literary translation (drama, narrative, poetry etc);
- scientific translation (essays, articles, etc);
- technical translation (instruction manuals, patents, brochures, etc);
- commercial translation (request letters, annual reports, etc).
Activity 5
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Can you think of any other types of translation or interpreting according to subject matter? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
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Click here for commentary.
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