I am writing a paper in another language where most of the terminology is not readily translated. If I self-translate most readers won't figure out what I am talking about. Should I just transfer the English terminology as is?
Generally speaking, always there is a way to render a terminology from a (source ) language a (target) language. However, there is a risk of deviating from the original meaning. For example, the Arabic 'meaning' in the works of Avicenna was translated as 'intentio' in Latin which is then transferred into English as 'Intention'.
A footnote, as somebody mentioned, is necessary even if the terminology is satisfactorily rendered.
If the issue is relevant to Arabic, a paper the scribe translated from Spanish into Arabic (أندريه فيدوروف ونظريته في الترجمة) is attached; it has some meaningful insights regarding the question raised.
Most definitely if it's a technical term where the English term is in common use. Have you checked a bilingual dictionary to see if there are standard translations?
@Ronnie Silber
No standard translations. In the humanities it is harder to transfer concepts through translation. So it is probably best to use the English term with a definition?
My advice is that you also check if there are established or acceptable equivalents for the terminology in question by looking at relevant online or print publications in the field. Otherwise, if you offer your own translation, you should gloss the term and/or its definition.
It is better to keep the terminalogy as it is , but give explanation of the terminalogy in foot notes.
Its better to keep the terminalogy as it is, but give explanation of the terminalogy in foot notes.
If the term has an equivalent in the target language and has the same meaning as what is used, either if the term is not available, then use it with an explanation.
Its better to keep the terminalogy as it is, but give explanation of the terminalogy in foot notes @Ahlam Mustafa .
Generally speaking, always there is a way to render a terminology from a (source ) language a (target) language. However, there is a risk of deviating from the original meaning. For example, the Arabic 'meaning' in the works of Avicenna was translated as 'intentio' in Latin which is then transferred into English as 'Intention'.
A footnote, as somebody mentioned, is necessary even if the terminology is satisfactorily rendered.
If the issue is relevant to Arabic, a paper the scribe translated from Spanish into Arabic (أندريه فيدوروف ونظريته في الترجمة) is attached; it has some meaningful insights regarding the question raised.
In addition to all that has been said above, translation depends on the subject matter. One has to be very careful of the concepts that cannot be captured by single words of another language. As a translator of works in my mother tongue to English, I have found myself many years later making revision on words I thought could be easily interchanged with the English language. So a lot of research and careful reflection is absolutely necessary.
These are all such great answers! Sometimes, what you find especially in scientific writing if the English term becomes a technical term, is a foreign language rendering/pronunciation of the English terms e.g. English "hemisphere" becomes [h3misf3ratzia] (hope you read IPAish) in Hebrew.
Ronnie Silber yes we call this "ta3reeb" in Arabic, which basically transferring the foreign word to Arabic and altering the pronunciation to accommodate Arabic phonetics.
It is called Transliteration. The Muʿrab, generally speaking, is not favored, and hence is not abundant in Arabic , in particular the traditional. In the contemporary Standard Modern Arabic , however, it gained the status of 'poetic license' , so to speak. It is one symptom, among others, indicating the poverty of native Arabic speakers, and their lack of linguistic awareness, in particular, those working in the Academia.
There are certain kinds of translations: textual translation, literal translation, and idiomatic translation. Literal translation is good because doing idiomatic translation original meanings and text gets aside.
There are certain kinds of translations : textual translation, literal translation,and idiomatic translation. Literal Translation is good because doing idiomatic translation original meanings and text gets aside. Translation is a tricky affair if it is idiomatic it is not true to the text and if it is idiomatic it is not true to the text. Moreover, one should have command on both the languages, the language which is being translated and language in which translation is done. The problem regarding translation of terminalogy is this that , if it is given in the text which is being translated,it becomes vague. So it should be explained in the text in which it is translated@Ahlam Mustafa
It is better to leave the technical terms in English because it is already known to the academic community, especially those that fall within your specialty.
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