Surface Translation Errors in Literary and Scientific Texts: A Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26436/hjuoz.2021.9.3.715Keywords:
Bahdini Kurdish (BK), Literary texts, Scientific texts, Surface translation errorsAbstract
This study aims at investigating the most frequently occurred surface translation errors made by Bahdini EFL university students in literary and scientific texts. This is conducted via applying the error analysis technique, which is considered a vital part of EFL research. By using a quantitative and qualitative method, the researchers limited their literature review and data analysis to only the translation errors that are related to the surface structure of sentences by Dulay et al. (1982), excluding other types of translation errors (i.e., linguistic, comparative, and communicative). The data have been extracted from literary and scientific texts that have been translated by 50 EFL juniors and seniors from the English Department, University of Zakho. The researchers implemented a process of coding for finding out translation errors, and tabulated their frequencies and percentages on Excel bar charts. The results show that out of the total of 307 surface translation errors, misformation in scientific texts recorded the highest percentage. In contrast, misordering had the lowest percentage in literary texts. Further, addition and omission manifested variability in percentages. This study will be valuable for teachers to design better syllabi for teaching translation, and for learners to develop their linguistic skills when learning a second language.
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- Agustina, V. & Junining, E. (2019). “Error Analysis in the Travel Writing Made by the Students of English Study Program” [Online]. In JEELS, 2 (1), pp. 1-28. Available at: https://jurnal.iainkediri.ac.id/index.php/jeels/article/view/41/43. (Accessed: 12 January 2021).
- Ahmadvand, M. (2008). “Analyzing Errors of Iranian EFL Learners in their Written Productions” [Online]. Available at: http://moslem17.googlepapers.com/AnalysingerrorsofIranianEFLlearners.pdf (Accessed: 27 May 2021).
- Banville, S. (2019). “Smartphone use could be changing shape of our skulls” [Online]. Available at: https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1906/190618-skull-shape-m.pdf. (Accessed: 15 April 2021).
- Bassnett, S. (1980). Translation Studies. London and New York: Routledge.
- Belhaj, A. M. (1997). Contrastive Textual Analysis: An Arabic-English, English-Arabic Translation Corpus: Occasional Papers, 24 (25). 103-150.
- Boubidi, A. (2010). The Misunderstanding of Word Meaning within a Context in English – Arabic Translation Polysemous Words: A Case Study. Unpublished Thesis.
- Brinton, L. J. & Brinton, donna M. (2010). The Linguistic Structure of Modern English. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
- Brown, H. D. (1980). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.
- Catalán, R. M. J. (1996). “Frequency and Variability in Errors in the Use of English Prepositions” [Online]. In Miscelánea: A Journal of English and American Studies, 17, pp. 171-187. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/2560677/Frequency_and_variability_in_errors_in_the_use_of_English_prepositions/ (Accessed: 5 June 2021).
- Catford, J. C. (1965). A Linguistic Theory of Translation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Corder, S. P. (1975). Error Analysis. In J. L. P. Allen & S. P. Corder (Eds.), Techniques in Applied Linguistics, pp. 201-218. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Crystal, D. (1987). A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. New York: Basil Blackwell Inc.
- Dulay, H., Burt M. & Krashern, S. (1982). Language Two. New York: Oxford University.
- Falk, J. (1978). Linguistics and Language: A Survey of Basic Concepts and Implications (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley and Sons.
- Hatim, B. & Munday, J. (2004). Translation: An Advanced Resource Book. London: Rutledge.
- Jakobson, R. (1959). “On Linguistic Aspects of Translation”. Achilles Fang et al. On Translation, pp. 232–239. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press [Online]. Available at: https://web.stanford.edu/~eckert/PDF/jakobson.pdf/ (Accessed: 1 June 2021).
- James, C. (1998). Errors in language Learning and Use: Exploring Error Analysis. London: Longman.
- Khodabandeh, F. (2007). “Analysis of students' errors: The case of headlines” [Online]. In The Asian ESP Journal, 3(1), pp. 6-21. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333948775_Analysis_of_students'_errors_The_case_of_headlines/ (Accessed: 4 June 2021).
- Kim, Sh. (2001). “An Error Analysis of college students' writing: Is that really Konglish?” [Online]. In Studies in Modern Grammar, 25, pp. 159-174. Available at: http://scholar.dkyobobook.co.kr/searchDetail.laf?barcode=4010025967259/ (Accessed: 4 June 2021).
- Larson, M. (1998). Meaning-based Translation: A Guide to Cross Equivalents. Lanham: University Press of America.
- Lawendowski, B. P. (1978). On Semiotic Aspects of Translation. In Thomas A. S. (Ed.), Sight, Sound and Sense, pp. 264-82. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
- Michaelides, N. N. (1990). Error Analysis: An Aid to Teaching. English Teaching Forum, 28 (4), pp. 28-30.
- Mohammed, F. O. (2014). “The Effect of Dissect Strategy on First Year EFL University Students’ Word Awareness” [Online]. In European Scientific Journal (ESJ), 10 (14), pp. 399-419. Available at: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/236417997.pdf (Accessed: 5 June 2021).
- Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall Inc.
- Nida, E. A. & Taber. C. R. (1982). The Theory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: E. J. Brill.
- Nida, E. A. (2000). Principles of Correspondence. The Translation Studies Reader, ed. Lawrence Venuti, London and New York: Routledge.
- Nord, C. (1997). Text Analysis in Translation: Theory, Methodology and Didactic Application of a Model for Translation-Oriented Text Analysis. Amsterdam: Rodopi.
- Rahmatillah, K. (2016). “Translation Errors in the Process of Translation” [Online]. In JEE (Journal of English and Education), 7 (1), pp. 14-24. Available at: https://journal.uii.ac.id/index.php/JEE/article/view/4466/ (Accessed: 10 April 2021).
- Richards, J. C. & Renandya, W. A. (2002). Methodology in Language Teaching: An Anthology of Current Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Richards. J. C., Plott, J. & Platt, H. (1996). Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics. Longman, London.
- Sattayatham, A., & Honsa, S. (2007). “Medical students' most frequent errors at Mahidol University, Thailand” [Online]. In The Asian EFL Journal, 9 (2), pp. 170-194. Available at: https://www.asian-efl-journal.com/main-editions-new/medical-students-most-frequent-errors-at-mahidol-university-thailand/ (Accessed: 5 June 2021).
- Tabatabai, M. (1985). Error analysis: The types and the causes of the major structural errors made by Iranian university students when writing expository and imaginative prose (Report No. AAT-8528232). New York, NY: State University of New York.
- Vieira, R. J. (1997). “The Translation of Technical-Scientific Texts: A Brief Analysis” [Online]. In UFSC, 1 (2), pp. 435-455. Available at: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/traducao/article/viewFile/5242/4629/ (Accessed: 2 June 2021).
- Wee, R., Sim, J. & Jusoff, K. (2010). “Verb-form errors in EAP writing” [Online]. In Educational Research and Review, 5 (1), pp. 016-023. Available at: https://academicjournals.org/article/article1379602472_Wee%20et%20al..pdf/ (Accessed: 4 June 2021).
- Wetzorke, R. (2005). An Introduction to the Concept of Error Analysis [Online]. Munich, GRIN Verlag. Available at: https://www.grin.com/document/140390/ (Accessed: 30 May 2021).
- Zheng, W. (2017). “Translation Strategies for Texts of Science and Technology” [Online]. In Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 96, pp. 32-36. Available at: https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/25872720.pdf (Accessed: 1 June 2021).
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Published
2021-09-26
How to Cite
Mohammed, F. ., & Jamel, H. . (2021). Surface Translation Errors in Literary and Scientific Texts: A Case Study. Humanities Journal of University of Zakho, 9(3), 680–688. https://doi.org/10.26436/hjuoz.2021.9.3.715
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Humanities Journal of University of Zakho
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