To begin with, we often come across statements such as follows from translation theorists, namely (i) that translation is a semantic endeavor rather than an attempt to preserve transmit mere forms or structures from SL to TL, and (ii) that its accomplishment and agility depending upon the individual translator's competence in both TL and SL, or on one's motivation, experience and availability of required tools, etc. one can, then, easily speculate that translation is an effort to cross the bridge of SL and TL and this 'effort' is conditioned certain factors. Translation is characterized by specific activated circumstances and preconditions.

     The efforts toward finding factors embedded in the translation process find justification in the fact that, if like a other type of language usages, translation is a goal - directed action then it must be controlled by certain factors which may be internal and (may be) caused by, or restricted to the translator 'himself', and by certain others that are external, such as where he works and what is expected of him there, etc. This confirms the fact that the translators make an attempt for an integrated series of attempts, within the framework of his or her potentialities and limitations to translate into the target language (in a functionally adequate way and for a specified addressee) a text that has been written by a source language 'sender' who may have a particular communication intention. Causative factors encompass everything and are of paramount importance in determining the quality of translation, success of translation and speed of translation, etc. Though factors are many, they can be incorporated into two broad sections, i.e. macro and micro. Macro factors encompass individual motivation, competence, socio-cultural sensitivity, cognitive style and experience which are all internal and the micro factors are concerned with the translator's own disposal of problems of a less abstract and more practical in nature.

     As a part of the attempt to try one's hand at a text or work, the translator makes a venture, or an unsegregated series of attempts, within the limitation of his or her abilities and working with the manuals of transfer - within a frame work of written or unwritten rules of transference - of translating into a target language in a functionally adequate way and for a specified addressee. He or she must also appreciate the text that has been written by a source language 'sender' with a particular intention. This statement reiterates the firmness to restate unhesitatingly that in an endeavor to find a cognitive explanation for a text before embarking on a translation one must explain in brief or at length about the ability required to decode a particular cognitive style that may have been used.

423.5.3  : THE COGNITIVE ABILITY - REQUIREMENTS

     The ability referred to earlier could be well understood if one tries to answer the question: why is it that some translators with similar qualifications, experience, age and having the same or similar aids do better and are faster or even more accurate than the others? The most adequate answer could be to say that there is such a thing as a special talent, intelligence, knowledge which some persons (or translators) possess while others do not.

     Though the broad area of competence, knowledge, and ability has been in the center of a lot of debate and discussion, from this it cannot be obviously concluded that an individual uses or can use his or her ability for successful accomplishment of a specific productive activity merely by accident. If this position is taken, one has to abandon all training programmes for translators, because that would mean that there is no scope for improvement in an individual's translative cognition. The fact that some translators become highly competent whereas others aren't can perhaps only be accounted for in terms of acquisition of a special knowledge in both SL and TL by some translators while there are others who are unable to do so also proves this point. The accomplishment of translation is obviously contigent upon individual's stored range of proficiency which may range from zero to native-like proficiency and also upon his or her previous experience in handling texts of a certain kind. This overview suggests that translator's proficiency is a determinant factor to decide the success and speed of translation. The question then is: What are the requirements for an able, sensitive and conscientious translator?