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Proposal for National TranslationMission

1st September 2006

           The National Translation Mission (hereafter NTM) would urgently take up the task of identifying gaps, promoting good quality translation, training, disseminating information about translation and translators, and co-ordinating ongoing work by public and private organisations. As an activity, translation has been going on between different pairs of languages in the Indian subcontinent for a long time. Translation, as a passion, has seen many great minds in action in different speech communities in India and elsewhere. As a profession, translation is challenging and becoming more lucrative, particularly in recent decades. As a field of research, Translation Studies seem to have emerged as a field with numerous ideas emanating from linguistics, philosophy, literary studies, semiotics, lexicology, anthropology, computer science, and a host of other fields. But considering its spread across a large number of languages, cultures and nations, the field still seems to be lacking in efforts at coordinating its activities.

           As a multilingual and multicultural country, and as one of the oldest knowledge bases, India has been in the forefront of translation for many centuries. With many languages and cultures, this country also provides a rich testing ground for all major theoretical initiatives in both literary and machine translation. It is expected that the proposed NTM will fulfil a long-felt need that would satisfy different segments: teachers, learners, language technologists, business groups, newspaper establishments and other media groups, creative writers, readers, those engaged in comparative studies and translation theoreticians.

 The NTM will have the following objectives:

  1.   To act as a store-house of information on translation involving Indian languages, and to make information regarding all aspects of translation available – by creating, maintaining and constantly updating information on translations published, training programmes scheduled, translation tools and instruments available and new initiatives, and facilities such as a ‘National Register for Translators’.

  1.   To work as a clearing house for all translation activities, both theoretical and practical, in as many Indian languages as possible;

  1. To provide links between users of translated material at different levels and in different activities  to the public and private agencies and organisations and individuals involved in translation and translation-related  activities involving Indian languages;

  1.   To prioritise the translation of pedagogic materials at all levels (including primary onwards to tertiary education) specifically in natural and social sciences;

  1.   To project Indian languages and literatures in this region and abroad through high-quality translation;

  1.   To create and maintain various tools for translation, and to especially encourage the preparation of bilingual and multilingual bi-directional general as well as special-purpose translational dictionaries, word-finders, and thesauri; and

  1.   To promote printed as well as virtual publication of works on Translation Studies jointly or independently for the benefit of all institutions and individuals interested in the field

  1.   To provide a forum for dialogue by creating a bulletin board for people to post questions and answers.

  1.   To provide guidance in the methodology of translation and undertake activities to enrich teaching and training activities in translation studies.

Key activities of the proposed National Translation Mission

  1. Translator education

               This reflects the fact that while translation requires bilingualism as a necessary condition, it is a specialised function that cannot be assumed and some features of which must be learnt. In addition, different types of translation work require different skills – for example, translation of scientific or technical works requires very different skills and orientation from literary translation. Also, interpretation skills are relatively undeveloped and also need specialised training, with reference to the relevant media (e.g. radio or TV) and context.

    The activities of the NTM in this area would include:

    • Running short-term training programmes
    • Creating course packages for translators that could become part of language teaching programmes across the country.
    • Encouraging, supporting and assisting in the development of specialised courses in translation technology and related areas in universities and other institutions
    • Fellowship programmes that would also allow exchange of scholars between institutions. Here, a special emphasis could be laid on translation between Indian languages, rather than only to/from English.
    • Encouraging research projects, including student research, specifically for making available good translations of identified texts as examples and generating resources that could also serve pedagogic aims.

    1. Information dissemination.

               Since translation is currently not a very prominent or highly rewarded activity, there is also inadequate knowledge about the translation capabilities that exist in the country, even among potential users. For example, there are many good translators in particular regional languages, who are unknown to publishers or those who would otherwise use their services. The Centre for Indian Languages, Mysore, trains around 400 teachers fluent in one Indian language in another Indian language every year. This is increasingly recognised as a necessary but scarce skill, but these trained people (around 8000 currently) are not widely known to potential users. In many languages, translations have already been created and printed by small publishers in a range of areas, but this output is not known to a wider group.

    Therefore important activities of the NTM in this area would be:

    • Creating a data repository of translators in different areas and with different skills and qualifications. This repository would be available online and also through contacting the NTM with specific requirements.

    • Creating a data repository and annotated catalogue of existing translations of different works, classified by area, with new lists to be sent regularly to educational institutions, library networks, etc.

    1. Promotion and dissemination of good quality translation material.

                 It is important to note that translation should not be a one-way street from English to Indian languages; rather, there is a wealth of material available in Indian languages which also requires greater dissemination both in English and in other Indian languages. In particular, the tradition of viewing translation as a parallel avenue of creativity should be encouraged. There is need for a horizontal paradigm which does not create a vertical distinction between donor and receiving languages, and promotes the multilinguality and cultural diversity of India. There is already a proliferation of some translation in certain areas (such as the works of Dr. Ambedkar which are being translated into many different languages) which reflects a wider social churning as well as the requirements and aspirations of newly literate groups.

                 In science and technical translation, unlike for literary translation, there is need for greater standardisation of terms and concepts so as to ensure both better comprehension and ease of moving across languages. However, not all terms should necessarily be translated, as there is growing acceptance of some scientific terms to be used in all languages. Further, translation today is an under-rewarded activity both in terms of social recognition and monetary remuneration, and this needs to be changed. It is also important to note that translation is an individual activity but also a social enterprise, in which success which may require the involvement of a range of different people at different stages and team work.

               The issue of quality of translation is extremely important although difficult to ensure and maintain. The NTM could promote quality control by encouraging more teamwork in the translation process, organising or facilitating small workshops, creating a process of vetting during the process of translation, and drawing up a large list of evaluators who would be involved also in the post-revision checking of the translated work.

    In this context the following specific activities of the NTM could be considered:

    • Active promotion of good quality translations though book launches, festivals, fellowships and prizes.

    • Encouraging collaborative translation work, as well as long-term multi-translator projects, and organising workshops for translators to interact and exchange views and experiences.

                

     

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