Class Discussion 1

Meryem LuleciTurkish-English TranslationDr. Isil Gunseli Kacar

Topic: The problems of translation and translators inTurkey

Cevirmen Makine mi? Is Translator a Machine?

What do you think first when you read this title?

The role of the translator in Turkey

• What can you say about the translators in Turkey?

• Do you have a chance to observe a translator?• Do you have any experience with a translator?• What are the translation studies? Do you have

any idea about them?• Do these translation studies reflect the

theories of translation?

In this article;Ulker Ince (she is writer of the article) discussesthe using of “translation” word means. She doesnot want to be discussed the problems under the the approaches of translation, the problems of translation, poetry translation etc. According to her when this word is used a lot, translators will be unimportant position.

• She interrogates the perception of translator in Turkey.

• She says, “translation” word makes translator a machine.

• This word makes translator just a worker who serves for the sake of others.

• Turkish society try to deactivate the translators’ position on issues.

She points out an interesting topic;She says, translators their own perception oftheir job is important since how they evaluate themselves, how

society evaluate them.Before the establishing of Turkish Republic, translators were the parts of writing world. They had active

roles on writing. They were like writers. They could express their thoughts and people respected them. They were sophisticated person.

However, Recently, they are perceived as a machine.

• Translators did their best • They wrote very clear translation• They wrote consciously, they shaped the

society’s culture.But now,• Translator produce unreadable production.• They translate the exact equivalence because

they are worried to translate all words in their meanings.

She asks,How do recent translators deserve regard, prestige if they do their job like that?That’s why;Teaching the theory of translation science is a key role. This is not enough to produce goodwork. They need to work a lot to take an Important role in society.

• Translation is not just translate a text by using exact words meaning.

• Translation reflects the feelings of the textThus;Knowing the language is not enough to translate • Translator needs knowledge in terms of the

text, linguistic, strong language, culture, history, and geography.

• In conclusion; A person who knows writing and the language

does not mean that s/he translate something.

Translation is an intellectual work which needs efforts and knowledge

Turkiye’de Cevirmen OlmakBeing a translator in Turkey

• When you buy a book, if it translates into Turkish, do you look at the translator of the book?

• Do you care about the translator of the book that you read?

• When you buy a book, is the translator’s name important for you?

In this article;

Writer Mehmet Morali discusses the translator name is as important as the writer of the book.

He says that even the writer is very good if the translation is bad you do not like the book. You do not want to read it.

He asks who is the translator?He says: a translator knows foreign language perfectly.s/he knows the culture of foreign language.s/he knows daily life of society who speak in the

language.s/he should know his/her own language very

well.s/he has an idea about the topic that s/he

translates.

He points out the financial problems of trasnlatorsHe uses funny language while explaining the

problems “karni fazla acikmayan biri olmalidir” he says.

Translators’ income about 600 TL monthly This income is determined according to the

rate of edition.There is social security for translators.

There are many reasons for getting low salary of translators. It is related to mostly the economy.There are a few press in the market.They do not compete with each other so the prices

are always the same in themThere are lots of people who know foreign

language.Although they do not have the quality of

professional translator they work as a translator so the price, salary and extra charge are the same.

In Turkey, So few people read book.Many of books are sold in Ankara, Istanbul

and Izmir.Pirate books (korsan), when legal sales

decrease….Press companies make manipulation because

of the pirate sales

Due to the financial problems,Press companies do not want to work with experienced translators,They work with unprofessional ones.After they translate the text, if it is not good enough to publish experienced ones revise and correct their work.It is time consuming and revising does not provide a good work it is already bad translation.

Other problems; translators are not careful while signing

contract. they do not follow their works’ publishing

right. (promotion of newspaper, film scenario) translators cannot protect their rights since

there is no legal committee translator do not know under what conditions

their work is acceptable or unacceptable

While a translator is struggling many hardship, according to his/her work s/he has to know; forexample, an idiom used by street people in France, the techniques of Italian renaissancedrawing picture. S/he has to research about them to be able to translate his/her work. If s/he translates literature or history, s/he should have knowledge about them.

His/her first work may be about history, his/hersecond work may be about sociology, so s/he tries to learn terms and topics about sociology before starts his/her work. ( It takes time, s/heneeds money)

• Publishing companies should change their perspective toward translators. This job is perceived as professional job. To be able to it you need to be qualified on this field.

• To make much more money, companies should not manipulate the translators’ rights.

• The most important one is that translators should aware of their rights.

• Legal regulations should be followed by the companies and translators.

Thanks for your listening

What is your own ideas according to your readings?