Translation and Editing of Texts 1

TRANSLATION AND EDITING OF TEXTS

LESSON 1:
V. Principles in Translation
In translation, inevitably there will be difference in word used, forms of expressing the ideas,
structure of the lines. Probably there will be words added, omitted, changed and even another idea.
According to Savory (Almario, V. et al, 2003) it is impossible to give a principle in translation that will
not contradict to another principle.

Here are some important principles in translation:

1. Every language is rooted from the culture of the people who owns it.

Example: English - 'as white as snow’

Filipino - 'simputi ng bulak’

2. Every language has its own property and characteristics which explains its own language
behavior. This refers to the structure of the sentence.

English: Subject + Predicate

Filipino: Paksa + panaguri/Panaguri + Paksa

Examples: English: The students participated in the class discussion.

Filipino: Predicate + Subject/Subject + Predicate
Sumali ang mga mag-aaral sa talakayan ng klase.
Ang mga mag-aaral ay sumali sa talakayan ng klase.

3. Translation should be accepted by the target receiver. Is the translation appropriate to the
level of the audience?

Examples: science – syensya, agham

Psychology – sikolohiya

Translation and Editing of Texts 2

 Mathematics – matimatika

4. Abbreviations and Acronyms including formulas that are considered established or

universal in use need not be changed to conform with spelling and equivalence.

Examples: DENR - Department of Environment and Natural Resources

PTA-Parents Teachers Association
PNU - Philippine Normal University
DOJ- Department of Justice

5. In instances when more than one equivalence are acceptable, use any of the equivalences,
but provide a footnote for the rest of the meaning.

Examples: terminology – terminolohiya, katawagan

testimony – patotoo patibay, salaysay. patunay. pahayag, paliwanag
framework – balangkas

6. Brief, concise, condensed expressions should always be ob served in translation process.

This principle refers to 'thriftiness' o katipiran in Filipino.

Examples: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Marapat na siya'y pasalamatan.

7. A word may have a definite meaning once it becomes a part of a sentence. The meaning
may depend upon the topic, the speaker and the intention of the message.

Examples: May bukas pa. - Hindi pa ito ang katapusan ng lahat

Bukas ay kaarawan ko. Tomorrow is my birthday.
Ano ang magiging bukas mo? What will be your future?

8. There are instances when direct expressions best said euphemistically to avoid
awkwardness.

Examples: Namatay na siya.

Sumakabilang buhay na siya. Nauna na siya. Wala na siya, Kinuha na siya ni
Lord

9. The believe that Filipino language is inadequate, hence, trans lators resort to imitation or
borrowing not only the word, but also the idioms, way of expression, and the structure of
the sentences of English.

Examples: green thumb – green thumb/malamig ang kamay

mouse – mouse
keyboard – keyboard

10. Consider differences in written expression from spoken expression. It requires formality of
words in translation.

Examples: mayroon – meron

Huwag – wag

Translation and Editing of Texts 3

 11. Consider unity of related words borrowed from
English. Examples: Solid at liquid - solido at likido
Linguistics and Literature – linggwistika at literatura

12. The property or characteristics of a certain language should not be transferred to the
receptor language.

Examples:
magandang babae/babaeng maganda – beautiful girl

Loanwords in English/English Loanwords

salitang hiram sa Ingles/hiram na salita sa lngles

13. Dictionary is an auxiliary tool in translation. A translator should not be totally dependent
to dictionaries. Not all words could be defined by the dictionary, especially when the word
is used in a different context.

Examples:
Comedia – moro-moro
Comedy – a type of drama
upload – mag-iinput ng data sa web/computer
download – manguha ng datos sa web/computer

KEEP IN MIND
In translation, inevitably there will be difference in word used, forms of expressing the ideas, structure
of the lines. Probably there will be words added, omitted, changed and even another idea. Hence a
better understanding of the SL and TL is required to fully grasp the true intention of translation.

COMPREHENSION CHECK
Why should the translator use only equivalence in translating a text from the source language to the
target language?
Can translation be ever possible to languages with wide cultural gap? Why?

To validate your answer, feel free to contact your course facilitator through any of the following:
Facebook: Romer Vergara
Contact No.: 09552797407
Email address: baunillo1997@gmail.com

References:

Lasconia, R. B. Translation and Editing. Retrieved from http://sksutranslation.com/. Accessed on

August 20, 2020.
Marquez, F.F.(n.y). Translation and Editing of Text. PNU LET Reviewer
SCRIBD. Translation and Editing Text. “Translation: Language Interpretation”. Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/document/379380944/Translation-Editing-Text. Accessed on August
20, 2020

Translation and Editing of Texts 4

Name: Date:
Course & Year: Rating:
Activity 7 – Principles of Translation in Action

Instruction: Using the table below, provide your own examples of translation using English as your
source language and Filipino as your target language following the implications of the different
principles of translation. You may refer back to the examples provide for every principle.

Sample Translation
Principles in Translation Source Language: English Target Language: Filipino
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Translation and Editing of Texts 5

VI. Techniques in Translation

Transposition SL (Source Language) – TL (Target Language)

shift in sentence construction

Examples: I will visit my friend.

Bibisitahin ko ang aking kaibigan.

shift in order of words

Examples:
The President decreed that Quezon's birthday would be a holiday.
Ipinag-utos ng Pangulo na maging pista opisyal ang kapanganakan ni Quezon.

2. Cultural equivalence, the use of vocabulary words, expressions that has specific cultural
meaning.
Examples:
a. vocabulary
Inday Nene (Cebuano)
Dodong Totoy (Cebuano)
babaknang mayayaman (llokano)
po;opo no exact equivalence in any other language
a sign of respect

b. expressions
bitaw uy! Oo nga eh!
aw lagi! yon naman pala
Really! Talaga!
Ok! Ayos! Mabuti!
Bueno! Good!
Muy bien! Very good!
3. Functional equivalence idioms or figurative language in translation based on function and meaning
depending on the context.
Examples:
Kami'y yayao na!We will go now! We'l go ahead!
The dye is cast.Napagdisisyunan na. Nagawa na ang desisyon, Buo na ang
desisyon

4. Reduction or contraction, the shortening of form but ensuring the same context.
Examples:
To make a delicious turkey requires the following simple steps.
Mga simpleng hakbang kailangan para sa masarap na pabo.

The left side of the outfit is light blue and the right side is red.
Ang kaliwa ng suot ay mapusyaw na asul at pula ang kanan.

Translation and Editing of Texts 6

5. Modulation, changing some words from SL to TL depending on the meaning or context.
Examples:
His father is greedy of money.Ang kanyang ama ay matakaw sa pera.
graft and corruption practicespanganguwalta at korupsyon na gawain

6. Addition or expansion of more words to ensure comprehension.

Examples:
Language is an important tool to socialization.
Ang wika ay isang mahalagang kagamitan para sa pakikisalamuha, pakikipag-ugnayan
ng tao sa kapwa.

7. Lexical synonymy, translating the lexicon in terms of meaning and context

Examples:
grapple-magbuno, magsunggaban,suungin

light - magaan,maalwan
- mapusyaw, mura
- liwanag, tanglaw
- binunyag, isiniwalat

8. One-to-one correspondence, word for word transfer of one language to another.

Example: "Loyalty to the country always,
Loyalty to the government when it deserves" (Mark Twain)
"Katapatan sa bansa lagi,
Katapatan sa pamahalaan kailangan karapat-dapat"

He brought to light graft in the government.

Ibinunyag nya ang katiwalian ng pamahalaan.”

9. Componential analysis, dividing a sentence by segments.

Examples: My hometown/ and/ my college/ have several/ in common.
Maraming/ pagkakatulad/ ang aking lupang tinubuan/ at / ang aking kolehiyo.

10. Translation collocation, choosing word that goes in harmony with other word as
appropriate pairing.

Examples:
soaring eagle - pumailanlang na agila
the roar of a lion - ang atungal ng leon

11. Recognized translation, using the officially accepted translation.

Examples:
Liturgy of the Eucharist-Liturhiya ng ukaristiya
economy-ekonomiya
international-internasyunal/pandaigdigan

Translation and Editing of Texts 7

 12. Borrowing with spelling alteration to conform to ABAKADA
Examples:
education – edukasyon
theoretical – teoretikal
Conceptual – konseptwal

KEEP IN MIND
In translation, there will be words added, omitted, changed and even another idea; the following
techniques may be used in translating texts:

Transposition SL – TL
Cultural Equivalence
Functional Equivalence
Reduction or Contraction
Modulation
Addition or expansion
Lexical synonymy, translating the lexicon in terms of meaning and context.
One-to-one correspondence, word for word transfer of one language to another
Componential Analysis
Translation collocation, choosing word that goes in harmony with other word as appropriate pairing
Recognized translation, using officially accepted translation.
Borrowing with spelling alteration to conform to ABAKADA

COMPREHENSION CHECK
What the role of equivalence in translation?
Why do you think the translator should have sufficient knowledge of the two languages in translation?
Should the translator consider the culture of the two languages involved in the translation? Why?

To validate your answer, feel free to contact your course facilitator through any of the following:
Facebook: Romer Vergara
Contact No.: 09552797407
Email address: baunillo1997@gmail.com

Reference:
Lasconia, R. B. Translation and Editing. Retrieved from http://sksutranslation.com/. Accessed on
August 20, 2020.

Marquez, F.F.(n.y). Translation and Editing of Text. PNU LET Reviewer

SCRIBD. Translation and Editing Text. “Translation: Language Interpretation”. Retrieved from
https://www.scribd.com/document/379380944/Translation-Editing-Text. Accessed on August 20,
2020

Translation and Editing of Texts 8

Name: Date:
Course & Year: Rating:
Activity 8 – Translation in Action!

A. Instruction: Below is an essay authored by a Filipino writer Carmen Guerrero Nakpil entitled
“Where’s the Patis?”. Read the essay with understanding to get its gist. After doing so, translate the
essay to Filipino following the Principles and Techniques of Translation. Write the translated
version in the second column and the Principles and Techniques you applied in the third column.

Source Language: English Target Language: Filipino Principles and Techniques

Applied
Where’s the Patis?

Travel has become the

great Filipino dream. In the
same way, that American
dreams of becoming a
millionaire or an English boy
dreams of going to one of the
great universities, the Filipino
dreams of going abroad. His
most constant vision is that of
himself as a tourist.
To visit Hong Kong,
Tokyo and other cities of Asia,
perchance, to catch a glimpse of
Rome, Paris or London and to
go to America (even if only for
a week in a fly-specked motel
in California) is the sum of all
delights.
Yet having left the
Manila International Airport in
a pink cloud of despedidas and
sampaguita garlands and
pabilin, the dream turns into a
nightmare very quickly. But
why? Because the first bastion
of the Filipino spirit is the
palate. And in all the palaces
and fleshpots and skyscrapers
of that magic world called
"abroad," there is no patis to be
had.
Consider the Pinoy

Translation and Editing of Texts 9

abroad. He has discarded
barong tagalong or "polo" for a
sleek, dark Western suit. He
takes to the habiliments from
Hong Kong, Brooks Brothers or
Savile Row with the greatest of
ease. He has also shed the
casual informality of manner
that is characteristically
Filipino. He gives himself the
airs of a cosmopolite to the
credit-card born. He is
extravagantly courteous
(especially in a borrowed
language) and has taken to
hand-kissing and to plenty of
American "D'you minds?"

He hardly misses the

heat, the native accents of
Tagalog or Ilongo or the
company of his
brown-skinned cheerful
compatriots.

He takes, like a duck to

water, to the skyscrapers, the
temperate climate, the strange
landscape and the fabled
refinements of another world.
How nice, after all, to be away
from good old R.P. for a
change!
But as he sits down to
meal, no matter how
sumptuous, his heart stinks. His
stomach juices, he discovers,
are much less neither as apahap
nor lapu-lapu. Tournedos is
meat done in a barbarian way,
thick and barely cooked with
red juices still oozing out. The
safest choice is a steak. If the
pinoy can get it well done
enough and sliced thinly
enough, it might remind him of
tapa.

If the waiter only knew

enough about Philippine
cuisine, he might suggest on
Philippine venison which is
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Translation and Editing of Texts 11
really something like tapang
usa, or escargots which the
unstylish poor on Philippine
beaches know as snails. Or even
frog legs which are Pampango
delight. But this is the crux of
the problem where is the rice?
A silver tray offers varieties of
bread: slices of crusty French
bread, soft yellow rolls, rye
bread, crescents studded with
sesame seeds. There are also
potatoes in every conceivable
manner, fried, smashed, boiled,
buttered. But no rice.
The Pinoy learns that
rice is considered a vegetable in
Europe and America. The staff
of life a vegetable!

And when it comes to a

special order which takes at
least half an hour the grains are
large, oval and foreign-looking
and what's more, yellow with
butter. And oh horrors! - one
must shove it with a fork or pile
it with one's knife on the back
of another fork.

After a few days of

these debacles, the Pinoy, sick
with longing, decides to comb
the strange city for a Chinese
restaurant, the closest thing to
the beloved gastronomic
county. There, in the company
of other Asian exiles, he will
put his nose finally in a bowl of
rice and find it more fragrant
than an English rose garden,
more exciting than a castle on
the Rhine and more delicious
than pink champagne.

To go with the rice there

is siopao (not so rich as at
Salazar) pancit guisado reeking
with garlic (but never so good
as any that can be had on the
sidewalks of Quiapo) fried
lumpia with the incorrect sauce,
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Translation and Editing of Texts 13
 and even mami (but nothing
like the down-town wanton).
Better than a Chinese restaurant
is the kitchen of a kababayan.
When in a foreign city, a Pinoy
searches every busy sidewalk,
theater, restaurant for the well-
remembered golden features of
a fellow-Pinoy. But make it no
mistake.

B. Instruction: Below is a poem written by Ildefonso Santos entitled “Ang Guryon”. Read the poem
with understanding to get its meaning. After doing so, translate the poem into English following the
Principles and Techniques of Translation. Write the translated version in the second column and the
Principles and Techniques you applied in the third column.

Source Language: Filipino Target Language: English Principles and

Techniques
Applied
Ang Guryon

Tanggapin mo, anak, itong munting guryon

na yari sa patpat at papel de Hapon;
magandang laruang pula, puti, asul,
na may pangalan mong sa gitna naroon.
Ang hiling ko lamang, bago paliparin
ang guryon mong ito ay pakatimbangin;
ang solo’t paulo’y sukating magaling
nang hindi mag-ikit o kaya’y
magkiling.
Saka pag sumimoy ang hangin, ilabas
at sa papawiri’y bayaang lumipad;
datapwa’t ang pisi’y tibayan mo, anak,
at baka lagutin ng hanging malakas.
Ibigin mo’t hindi, balang araw ikaw
ay mapapabuyong makipagdagitan;
makipaglaban ka, subali’t tandaan
na ang nagwawagi’y ang pusong marangal.
At kung ang guryon mo’y sakaling
madaig, matangay ng iba o kaya’y
mapatid;
kung saka-sakaling di na mapabalik,
maawaing kamay nawa ang magkamit!
Ang buhay ay guryon: marupok, malikot,
dagiti’t dumagit, saanman sumuot…
O, paliparin mo’t ihalik sa Diyos,
bago pa tuluyang sa lupa’y
sumubsob!

Translation and Editing of Texts 14

C. Instruction: Read the text below with understanding to get its gist. After doing so, translate the text
below from its source language English to Visayan language following the Principles and
Techniques of Translation. Write the translated version in the second column and the Principles and
Techniques you applied in the third column.

Source Language: English Target Language: Principles and Techniques

Visayan/Cebuano Applied
The Creation Story

When the world first

began there was no land, but only
the sea and the sky, and between
them was a kite (a bird something
like a hawk). One day the bird
which had nowhere to light grew
tired of flying about, so she
stirred up the sea until it threw its
waters against the sky. The sky in
order to restrain the sea, showered
upon it many islands until it could
no longer rise, but ran back and
forth. Then the sky ordered the
kite to light on one of the islands
to build her nest, and to leave the
sea and the sky in peace.
Now at this time, the land
breeze and the sea breeze were
married, and they had a child
which was a bamboo. One day
when this bamboo was floating
about on the water, it struck the
feet of the kite which was on the
beach. The bird, angry that
anything should strike it, pecked
at the bamboo, and out of one
section came a man and from the
other a woman.
Then the earthquake
called on all the birds and fish to
see what should be done with
these two, and it was decided that
they should marry. Many children
were born to the couple, and from
them came all the different races
of people.
After a while, the parents
grew very tired of having so
many idle and useless children
around, and they wished to be rid
of them, but they knew of no
place to send them to. Time went
on and the children became so
Translation and Editing of Texts 15
numerous that the parents enjoyed
no peace. One day, in
desperation, the father seized a
stick and began beating them on
all sides.
This so frightened the
children that they fled in different
directions, seeking hidden rooms
in the house -- some concealed
themselves in the walls, some ran
outside while others hid in the
fireplace, and several fled to the
sea.
Now It happened that
those who went into the hidden
rooms of the house later became
the lets of the islands and those
who concealed themselves in the
walls became slaves. Those an
outside were free men and those
who hid in the fireplace became
negroes; while those to the sea
were gone many years, and when
their children came back they
were the white people.

Translation and Editing of Texts 16