Page 12 - Translation Journal July 2015
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Advancing the Theory of Fidelity Erosion in Translation
By: Enoch Ajunwa (Ph.D.)
ABSTRACT
Although absolute fidelity is generally believed to be unattainable in translation operations, fidelity has stood the test of time as
a worthwhile ideal for all translation efforts. It is also regarded as a hallmark of good translation. Hence, one can state without fear of
contradiction that the professional worth of any translator hinges intrinsically on or is measured by the level of fidelity, which they can attain
in translation operations. However, the poor quality of many translations has always been attributed to different linguistic and cultural
factors as well as the translator’s shallow knowledge of either one or both the source and target languages. It is against this background
that this article, using hypothetical concentric circles, sought to advance the theory of fidelity erosion in translation. It equally examined
some of the human, linguistic and cultural agents and factors that lead to fidelity erosion in translation.
KEY WORDS
Translation, fidelity, fidelity erosion, concentric circle, ambiguity, faux-amis, language interference.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Compared with other academic disciplines, translation studies could be said to be relatively young, although its practice could
have started quite earlier, after the emergence of writing. Translation studies deals with theoretical reflections on as well as methodological
approaches to translating, from both analytical and critical perspectives. It equally highlights the important and indispensable role, which
translation plays in the contemporary multilingual world, especially, as a language barrier breaker, which ultimately brings about mutual
intelligibility among peoples from different speech communities of the world. Thus, one can say, without fear of contradiction, that
translation contributes immensely to human development at various levels, including scientific, technological, political, ideological, literary,
linguistic, commercial, economic and other levels. However, it has been observed that it is impossible to attain absolute exactitude in
translation because there is always some degree of “gain or loss of information” (Nida) in translations.
In this paper, we intend to advance the theory fidelity erosion in translation by examining some of the human, linguistic and cultural
agents and factors, which tend to erode the level of fidelity in translation operations.
12 | Translation Journal - July 2015
By: Enoch Ajunwa (Ph.D.)
ABSTRACT
Although absolute fidelity is generally believed to be unattainable in translation operations, fidelity has stood the test of time as
a worthwhile ideal for all translation efforts. It is also regarded as a hallmark of good translation. Hence, one can state without fear of
contradiction that the professional worth of any translator hinges intrinsically on or is measured by the level of fidelity, which they can attain
in translation operations. However, the poor quality of many translations has always been attributed to different linguistic and cultural
factors as well as the translator’s shallow knowledge of either one or both the source and target languages. It is against this background
that this article, using hypothetical concentric circles, sought to advance the theory of fidelity erosion in translation. It equally examined
some of the human, linguistic and cultural agents and factors that lead to fidelity erosion in translation.
KEY WORDS
Translation, fidelity, fidelity erosion, concentric circle, ambiguity, faux-amis, language interference.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Compared with other academic disciplines, translation studies could be said to be relatively young, although its practice could
have started quite earlier, after the emergence of writing. Translation studies deals with theoretical reflections on as well as methodological
approaches to translating, from both analytical and critical perspectives. It equally highlights the important and indispensable role, which
translation plays in the contemporary multilingual world, especially, as a language barrier breaker, which ultimately brings about mutual
intelligibility among peoples from different speech communities of the world. Thus, one can say, without fear of contradiction, that
translation contributes immensely to human development at various levels, including scientific, technological, political, ideological, literary,
linguistic, commercial, economic and other levels. However, it has been observed that it is impossible to attain absolute exactitude in
translation because there is always some degree of “gain or loss of information” (Nida) in translations.
In this paper, we intend to advance the theory fidelity erosion in translation by examining some of the human, linguistic and cultural
agents and factors, which tend to erode the level of fidelity in translation operations.
12 | Translation Journal - July 2015
