How to soar high as a translator

Robert Frost is best known for his lines:

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

These lines from his famous poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening are not the only reason why Robert Frost is so well known. His comments on translation are equally memorable, and even today bring a wry smile to the faces of the most seasoned of translators. And why not. Frost touched a raw nerve when he said: “Poetry is what is lost in translation.”

To make sure that you are not accused of the same you need to observe the following eight principles of translation:

One, you must have good knowledge of the language in which the source text is written.

Two, the language in which the text is to be translated should be your mother tongue.

Three, you should understand the content and intention of the author whose work is to be translated. You should never translate a text that you don’t understand.

Four, you should avoid a word to word translation. This is the best way to kill the free flow of thought and strangle expression.

Five, you should use only those words and forms of speech that are commonly known.

Six, your goal should be to create a tone and tenor that is similar to the original work.

Seven, you should ensure that the accuracy and meaning of the source text is kept; the writing style is similar to the one used by the author; and the translated text can be understood by the layman.

Eight, and the most important, you must remember what the legendary English essayist Samuel Johnson said: “A translator is to be like his author; it is not his business to excel him.”