Types and Methods of Translation

 
3)
 
Faithful translation 
This method maintains a balance between the literal meaning of the SL word and the TL 
syntactic structures. 
A 
faithful translation attempts to reproduce the precise contextual 
meaning of the original within the constraints of the target language grammatical structures. It 
'transfers' cultural words and preserves the degree of grammatical and lexical 'abnormality' 
(deviation from the source language norms) in the translation. It attempts to be completely 
faithful to the intentions and the text realization of the source language writer. It sounds more 

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reasonable as it takes the context into consideration, aiming at producing more precise 
meaning of the SL texts.
‘You see things; and you say, “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say, 
“Why not?”’ It can be faithfully translated as: 
تنأ
ىرت
ءايشلأا
لوقتو
؟اذامل
ينكلو
ملحأ
ءايشأب
مل
دجوت
ادبأ
لوقأو
مل
؟لا
 
4)
 
Communicative translation 
This type of translation attempts to render the exact contextual meaning of the original text in such a 
way that both content and language are readily acceptable and comprehensible to the reader. It is 
particularly suitable when translating conventional formulae or proverbs and it involves some levels of 
cultural approximation. Communicative translation aspires to create the same effect created by the SL 
text on the TL reader. Though it is not as accurate as semantic translation which sticks to the original 
text, it communicates the meaning at the expense of accuracy. However, it is preferred by many 
translators because it resorts to concepts that are more familiar to the TL reader on cultural and social 
levels. It is usually used for culturally specific idioms, proverbs or clichés where the translator replaces 
a SL word or concept with one that already exists in the TL.
Communicative translation concentrates on the message and the main force of the text, tends to be 
simple, clear and brief, and is always written in a natural and resourceful style (Newmark (1988: 48). 
For some linguists, communicative translation ‘is produced, when, in a given situation, the ST uses a 
SL expression standard for that situation, and the TT uses a TL expression standard for an equivalent 
target culture situation’ (Dickins et al. 2005: 17). Study the following examples: 
Charity begins at home. 
نوبرقلأا
ىلوأ
فورعملاب
.
Diamonds cut diamonds. 
لا
لفي
ديدحلا
لاإ
ديدحلا
.
Therefore, Communicative translation attempts to produce on its readers an effect as close as 
possible to that obtained on the readers of the original.
5)