Page 15 - Translation Journal July 2015
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The three internal circles in figs. 1, 2 and 3 are not equal in circumference and area.
v. The three internal circles in figs. 1, 2 and 3 represent the three different translations (versions) submitted by the three

different translators respectively.
vi. The area between the external circle and the internal circle, in each case, is called the annulus.
vii. The annulus represents fidelity erosion in each of the translations.

3.4 Quasi-mathematical Demonstration of the Theory of Fidelity Erosion in Translation

Now, let me take a step further in trying to demonstrate this theory mathematically by giving hypothetical scores to the translations
as shown in the table below.

Table showing hypothetical percentage of fidelity erosion level in translation

Text Score Circle Area of circle Area of % of Fidelity Erosion

SLT 100% outer circles 1, 2 or 3 1002 units Annulus Level
Version1 80% inner circle 1 802 units
Nil Nil%
Version 2 60% inner circle 2 602 units 202 units 20%
Version 3 50% inner circle 3 502 units 402 units 40%
502 units 50%

Analysis
In the above table, the same source language text (SLT), represented by the outer circles 1, 2 and 3, was given to three different
translators, who translated it into the same target language (TL). At the end of the exercise, the three translators submitted their respective
target language texts (versions) represented by the inner circles one, two and three. It is assumed that the three versions of the translation
have been corrected as objectively as possible, using the same marking guide, and marks duly awarded in percentage as follows: 80%,
60% and 50% for versions 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Hypothetically, it is assumed that the three scores equal to the areas of the three
internal circles, representing the three different versions respectively as shown in the table above.

3.5 Inferences/Deductions
Based on the premises as well as the analysis above, one can draw the following inferences or deductions:

i. The annulus or the area between the external circle and the internal circle in each fig. represents the level of fidelity
erosion in the translation.

ii. The external circle and the internal circle can never be equal. In other words, it is impossible to attain 100% exactitude
in translation, that is, absolute translation, especially for relatively large texts.

iii. Hence, all translations are susceptible to improvement.
iv. There is an inverse relationship between erosion and fidelity in the translation.
v. The wider the annulus (area between the two circles), the more the erosion of fidelity is evident in the translation.
vi. The more the erosion becomes evident in a translation the less faithful the translation becomes.

4.0 AGENTS OF FIDELITY EROSION IN TRANSLATION
Many agents and factors, which tend to erode fidelity in translation, have been identified. Some of them include the translator
himself, his working tools and conditions, linguistic and cultural factors, etc. A few examples are shown below.

4.1 The Translator as a Fidelity Erosion Agent (FEA)
So far, Ajunwa (2014:5) has identified four categories of translators as follows: translation practitioner, translation theorist, apprentice
translator and quack translator. According to him, a translation practitioner is one who is not only competent in both the SL and TL, but
also has acquired the relevant translation skills through a professional training in a recognized school of translation. Besides, he is licensed
by relevant competent authorities to practice translation.
A translation theorist or academic translator is a university teacher of translation studies, who carries out large-scale researches in
the discipline and postulates most of the theories of translation. Presumably, he is competent in both the SL and TL.
An apprentice translator is someone who is still undergoing a professional training in translation. He is not yet very competent in
either the SL or the TL or both of them.
A quack translator is a self-improvised person, who fumbles with translation. He has a shallow knowledge of either the source language
or the target language or both of them. Worse still, a quack translator has little or no professional training at all in translation.

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