Who Says You Can't Translate

Closure / Penamatan

2011-11-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

Hello & Salamz to all,

I kept feeling that there's one more item i missed after my official retirement from full-time freelance translations and it just dawned on me that i should also go about posting the final entry for this blog.

It's been a lucky 13 years from 1998 to April 2011 - i won't count the few part-time translation jobs i did from 1978-1998 albeit those were my initial years of 'soft' training - and for that i owe much to many people whom i've actually thanked personally.

It has always been my pleasure to work with a team of helpers whom i'm so happy to see that they've grown to be much better translators than moi. At the same time my quick, unthinking responses with my acerbic tongue may have caused distress or unhappiness to some.

Therefore it's only right that i truly and sincerely ask forgiveness for any bad experiences my helpers & workmates may have had while working with me AND really, really thank you for your willingness to work with me in all those projects.

Now to end this, i'd like to say two things and they are:

1. my most satisfying assignment was translating Luise von Flotow's "Translation and Gender: Translating in the era of Feminism" and not Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha" because for the latter i wasn't able to do my best editing for the final work due to the 45 days deadline...

2. my biggest disappointment is that i was unable to finish the manuscript of my second book "Penterjemah Mesti Kaya" - it's almost 85% done but i've neither the energy nor the interest any more. If there are any of my translator friends who'd like to complete it and co-author it with me, kindly contact me and i'll email you the manuscript as it is when i stopped.

That's it.

Allah bless you with lots of good jobs and good tidings.

Bye.

ALB

2 Chinese Sayings

2011-04-12T00:19:00.000-07:00

Should i'm called to meet my Creator cum Author any time soon, one of my regrets is not being able to complete my book "Periverb" providing equivalents for some Malay peribahasa in English and those of English proverbs in Malay. Sigh...

On that note, let me tell you what just happened an hour ago.

A friend just visited me to present me with some health supplements that have previously helped some folks with the same conditions that are now causing deleterious events in the arteries servicing my heart.

In our conversation my Chinese friend, MC, mentioned two things that were so attractive to my ears. One was:

So and so was able to cover the sky with the palm of his hand ..... and then MC added that the person's partner must have covered the other parts of the sky with one of her palms too... and the result was that both of them were not able to see Heaven and they think Heaven also cannot see them.

Then MC asked me if i could think of a BM equivalent for that saying. Yes, one BM equivalent came to mind but it's sort of missing in the "Heavenly connection. The BM version has the corpse of an elephant that was being hidden - or attempted to be hidden - with a leaf of lalang...

Next, MC mentioned " filling someone's mouth with dollar notes..." as a way of saying giving someone money to stop her/him from being able to squeal.

Wow, so graphic. To my mind, that's really calling a spade a spade. So, how could that be a saying, simile or whatever. In BM there is "tutup mulut" which means not to talk about it; and a better version:
Buka mata pasang telinga, tutup mulut simpan di hati

which conveys the meaning "One may see and hear something that has nothing to do with her/him, so long as one doesn't join in or add something to the noise/discussion...."

That's a good policy, so long as one realizes that "non-involvement" may or may not contain an element known in BM as "keprihatinan".

My mind's so clouded that i'm not sure what i meant to really write about.

Till my thoughts are clearer, carry on translating. Just been told about an online forum on translation at http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/interact/online-forum

Am going there now so
cheers

alb
(ada lagi buatsementara)

Some Interesting/Strange Assignments

2011-04-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

As promised, here are a number of assignments and incidents that i consider very challenging, interesting and/or somewhat out of the ordinary, pertaining to my life as a translator, listed in no particular order of preference:

1. Translating an instrument before Viagra was introduced into Malaysia;

2. Translating the white paper on Anwar's "black eye" to be given away as a free supplement by a bookseller who bought many copies but could only sell a few of them...;

3. Going with two New York Times correspondents to interview Nirmala Bonat at the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur;

4. Working with SMZ as interpreters when AFP interviewed two of Ayah Pin's followers regarding their court case;

5. Being sequestered at an apartment in Genting to complete an assignment for an agency i'm not at liberty to mention here;

6. Invited by the Government of Turkmenistan and Petronas for the launching and handing over of the Malay translation of Ruhnama Volume II in 2007 (I wasn't able to make it for the same event involving Ruhnama Volume I the year before).

7. Being at BNM office till the wee hours waiting to finalize the translation of the Governor's report.

8. Appearing on RTM 2's morning talk show, Hello On (Channel) Two to talk about and answer questions on translation

9. Talking about translation at BATI USM, UKM and UPM

All or most of the above may mean nothing to most translators, who are generally very highly qualified. Yours truly is surely very blessed to achieve this small measure of success on the strength of an Overseas School certificate (Cambridge) - now known as MCE/SPM, and my attendance in the school of hard knocks.

(Next: Most difficult translation assignments)

Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful Friday and weekend.

alb

Memories from "Translation Days" - 01

2011-04-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

Hello, after close to two years. Yes, it's been almost two years since my last blog post, but from now on the actual posting of my writing will be done by my dear wife, Nancy, as i cannot stay too long in front of the 'puter without getting tired.

Well, i actually started part-time translating in 1978 after one of my employers' suppliers asked my boss then, if they could get me to translate some of their brochures for them. With the company's blessings (with the proviso that such activities should never be done during office hours or in the office), i started some thing that would later become a 'rice bowl' 19 years later when the company and i agreed to a voluntary severance scheme due to my ill health.

I learned that one needed a translation qualification to really move ahead so i signed up for and successfully obtained a diploma in translation (technical subjects) from Dewan Bahasa/Persatuan Penterjemah Malaysia. Through one DBP source i heard that a company, Center of Languages needed a few translators for a huge project. I applied and was plucky and lucky enough to be selected as one of the 6-member team for the Volvo translation project.

Now one of my very first projects before the half-year attachment with Mrs F. Vaz's Centre of Languages (COL), was a private commission to translate the report on the investigation of Mr Anwar Ibrahim's 'black eye' during detention, for a bookseller friend. That was a wonderful experience.

Work with COL was interesting and really varied that i was able to expand my reach and subject matter. Most challenging was translating engineering reports etc from bahasa Indonesia into English. Fleur (Mrs. Vaz) was really a good teacher, manager, sister (i lost my only (elder) sister, Hadijah Bidin in the late 70's so Fleur was sort of a replacement) and mentor.

A bonus from working for COL was the opportunity to translate Petronas' Twin Towers and to work with MSD (Merck, Sharpe & D...) that lead to many other projects, including the start of a working relationship with Mr. Karim Raslan & Marshall Cavendish.

Truly, work means relationships with many people and groups. Though i was blessed with God-provided connections, because of my rather coarse nature, i made friends but at times i cause them to want to have nothing to do with me. If i'm asked what am i proud of during my commercial translation days, i'd say i always pay my helpers on time and/or at times even before i have been paid by the client.

Next: Some interesting/strange assignments.

Keep on translating. salam terjemahan

alb

Final Chapter of a Novel

2009-07-12T23:14:00.000-07:00

Salamz to all!

I was at one time involved in program (as in computer systems)designs where we must know what is the deliverable whole ie must see the end(-product) first. So in writing my only novel (or is it novella?), i used that approach.

So here's the last chapter (Gita has the whole 'thang') - Warning - a bit long for a blog entry:

Dear Misha (Manaf’s Farewell)

Joshua addressed the three of them. “Children, I’m indebted to the memory of your Papa, who’s actually a dear brother to me, not just for the selfish reason that he gave me his kidneys so that I have this new lease of life but because after having read his journal, which I now personally hand over to you both, I sincerely believe that he was a really unique character.”

Izad and Tini together received the two quarto sized notebooks from Joshua. Tini was crying or mewling unashamedly while Izad tried to control his tears, straining his lips, and chest. The heaving that convulsed in them was clearly visible. Alyssa just looked on. Her non-response belied the chaos in her mind.

“Now allow me to, as your Papa instructed, read the contents of this note that was actually addressed to your Mama, Misha, but she never turned up after Manaf wrote and passed this to me.” Izad accepted the post it note with his Papa’s scrawl. He nodded after reading it and passed it to Tini.

“Uncle Joshua, could you kindly read Papa’s note to Mama which now by proxy is to us, thanks.” Izad looked beseechingly towards Joshua.

“OK.” In a soft but audible voice, Joshua began reading.

Dear Misha,

If you are reading this missive, it means I’m no more. This will be your last remembrance of me. Read it to both our kids, as you see fit. You may not love me, but do not hate me. Please! Do not hate my god-daughter because she’s of the flesh of your rival. Mei could have been Izad’s elder sister. Read this to her too. This will explain many things to you and her .........

I’m pretty sure of it now. It’s most unwise to love. Anyone, anybody. Another human being. A pet even. Except God – His love is constant, everlasting, unconditional, all encompassing and bestrides all.

The mortal ones you love would ultimately pass on and leave you in their wake. Even if they don’t leave you in their cortege, they’d eventually up and go. They’d disappear even and like it was written in a song, particularly at the time when you need them most. And you? Oh well, you’re left moping. Yes, and coping, with copious tears or wretched, baleful emptiness. Or both. Maybe like hotel service charges even: plus, plus.

So, my dear Misha, having always been the “abandonee”, for just this once in my life, no doubt with a great deal of reluctance, like the sailor’s wife asking, “why don’t we try the other way?” I want to learn how it feels to be on the other side too. Too bad you happen to be “it”.

But never fear! And don’t you dare categorise me together with people who just inexplicably flee. For I hereby intimate to you the reasons for my decision and action. I can guess. Either of two things would happen. You’d hate me or thank and commiserate with me.

Let me show you the following lines in which I have encapsulated the essence of our seesaw love:

It starts when you translate
the uncertainty in my eyes
as the propensity for lies;
it grows when I withdraw
from continuing the hurt,
the engaging and bruising;
it dies when we both cry,
you tell me stay
feeling cramped, I run away
huffing, puffing,
in a rush to leave
scenes of our verbal brawl
and internal wounding;
I retreat chastising
my cranium for daring
to dream dreams
I shouldn't entertain.
Now I flee
from my tormenting,
emotional penitence.
Cloudy castles float by
my window seat
but my heart's still in retreat,
veering down a side street
in its pensive transit
to lie bleeding
at your feet –
I run
but still have not met
the price of absence....

Yes, Misha, restitution is due of course. I’ll never run away from paying the price, many times over – even as I’m breaking down and will be leaving you. I’ll continue to pay the price – even from the comforts, or is it the rut, of denial. Pray for the peace of my soul, please.

It’s my failing that before you, I have never been able to sustain my love for or my being loved by someone. My system had been breached and wrecked too often by those whom I loved, who came unbidden and left without my consent so that when you unhinged my composure and came into my life, I was damaged goods personified, an almost empty shell, a messed up, discarded, old water colour soaking the rain.

Remember you once asked, ”Manaf, who’re you really? “Unfathomable” doesn’t fully describe you. How come at times you’re so overflowing with love and care, but almost a short instant later, you’re so distant, so frigid? Daren’t you show me your real face?”

The only true answer, Misha, is that after all that has happened to me, I’ve turned into a very pale copy of the real person I used to be. I did tell you that. That at the time of your coming into my love life, there aren’t any more vestiges of vitality or vicissitude still straggling in my body, mind and soul. The Manaf before your eyes and in the surprising welcome warmth of your embrace is but a generic, Xerox parody and a weary, pasty copy of the formerly earnest, unvarnished me.

Guilty! Yes despite my having told you to accept me as I am, I still admit I’m guilty. For, immediately upon your acquiescence in the terms so laid down before you, I cajoled you to come along on the roller coaster ride that’s our relationship thus far.

We’d climb to the apogee of joy then sink to the perigee of gloom. Though we, or precisely, you, putatively thought them as no different from the red-tinged darkness you see behind your closed eyelids, the constant ups-and-downs we went through should have been sufficient signal, warning, no advising you, to get off the carousel. Now you’ve missed the chance. Now it’s I who’ll go.

As I write this in my semi-final resting place, a hospital bed, with a lay pastor for my friend and spirit guide, I can fast-forward to picture you reading once and then carefully going through this note of mine again and again as you re-run the scenes of our relationship in your mind’s eye, toting up the excused or forgiven “small sins of omission and commission”. You should have drawn the conclusion by now – the wrongs were actually just the tip of the long, rich node of guilt. That seam would eventually snake its way, mutating and deranging the strength of affiliations that normally would have stood the test of time.

You’d feel the pain, Misha. I won’t gloat at or find perverse joy in your pain. But I’ll give thanks and praises to the Lord. For where there’s pain, feelings are still in abundance, which means there’s still hope. It’s only when you’re perpetually numbed like me that you have to worry. Soon your pain will diminish and then disappear. Then hopefully you’ll ........

Let me bring up a scene from our live together. This happened some weekends back.

A knock on the door of the study. Yes, you’ve always been respectful and considerate, Misha. Thanks. Age before beauty, isn’t that our credo, sort of? Something we joked about often and later became a line we toed.

The door opened and you walked in, in your sheer, see-through nightie, with a full, steaming mug of mocha. Twenty years ago, the scene would have been played out differently. More aggressively. In no time we’d have been lost in frenzied highs and writhing jumble of clothes and souls struggling to peak together on the ultimate plane, even if the mocha was spilt and scalded our naked skins.

But twenty years ago you were still an innocent teenage girl in simple horsetail and pumps, still afraid of fireflies in the night. And I was a gullible, young man, barely in his twenties, who’s already told and been told his quota of lies. That Sunday, I was more attracted to the aroma and pull of the beverage. Your physical beauty that surely must be at its peak now, I hardly noticed. I may have heard your voice though, from a great distance asking, “Still at it?”

Stony silence and irreverence was all you got from me. I thought that by ignoring you, I’d soon forget you. I forgot that forgetting happens naturally and in due course to one. Forgetting isn’t something one does. Consciously.

I’ve securely locked my inner sanctum and shut you out so many times over the couple of years we’ve been together. The first time was after Dr. Low made his prognosis. You observed how sickly pale I looked and wanted to know where I had been. You ran your delicate fingers through my sparse-and-getting-thinner-by-the-day hair to assuage my suffering.

Snappy, algid retorts were my responses, if any. I was reticent too. I wanted you to abandon ship. It was a pinhole leak then but would, given time, become like the age rings on tree trunks.

I could not make myself tell you that I would be sinking – soon the leak would grow bigger and bigger. I wanted you to stop loving me and abandon me just like everyone else I’ve ever loved before you.

You should have been like Lily, my first fiancee. She swore with all her heart that I was her only first and last love (how prophetically true) and that she’d never ever leave me. And the next moment she’d walk smack into the path of the tipper truck. Oh Lily, you left me when our love was in its full bloom – took away the sun, leaving me to oblivion and gloom.

And Joanna, my God-sent angel of mercy. She was there for me. She nursed me back to life and coaxed me to get over the agony of my loss, bit by festering bit. And then, just when I seemed to be getting everything under control and wasn’t floundering anymore, just as I was learning to hope once again, hoping that we would be a permanent item – she accused me of being a clinging vine. To stop me from suffocating her and cramping her life, she migrated to find the love of a real Mat Salleh. The pseudo one is left behind, shattered once more. And his mind a-clutter. Again.

Well, you knew about Suan. How you were never happy again after I told you about her. I wanted to be straight with you but you wanted me to purge all memories of her. You said her ghost and later her proxy, Mei, has always been between us. Even when we were making love. All because you were not happy about getting me on the rebound, even though she had married someone else and then died delivering Mei. Why, your animosity towards her memory and her proxy after her death is too strong!

“Now that she’s dead, it’s tougher for me,” you said. “I could not compete with her in the flesh even, how can I fight with her ghost, her spirit and your memories...”

I couldn’t tell you, Misha. Couldn’t make myself tell you – tell it straight that is. Why couldn’t you take the hint, dear? It was good while it lasted. While I was still strong and healthier. There’s enough time for you to carry it off. Yet you didn’t. It would have been good if you’d left me then and found yourself someone else. Someone you could grow old with – who’d gladly grow old with you. Not someone who’s old and withering before you, one who’s damaged goods, who’d soon be dying on you!

It might be fun to witness, feel and experience my sickly body literally creeping on you, devouring, smothering you and slurping every golden drop of the nectar of your love while probably passing millions of germs to you. Like there’s not going to be a tomorrow. But it wouldn’t be any joy having me actually gasping my last breath, or having a stroke and dying on you!

That’s why I had to go. I wish to face my angel of death without anyone distracting him from carrying out his noble task. I just want to go and sit beside Him. Alone. No one watching me. Or holding my hand.

But I did tell you in my own way. I told it in my writing, in my poem. But you rubbished me saying, “That’s just your overly morbid imagination.” Then you stroked my ego saying how you wished you could paint words like me; and what you would give to be able to make people believe that every word you write is the truth and actually experienced, when they were really products of your fertile imagination. Yes, when I showed you and read aloud:

Making the decision to go on fighting
To live – your physician’s predicting
Your demise and telling you the number
Of days you still have, you’ll remember
And regret all you’ve been procrastinating.

Time rolls on. You keep on counting
Slowly playing back your life’s proceeding
At the end being dolefully much wiser
Making the decision.

To kinfolk and friends you’ll be leaving
Behind, nothing much you are bequeathing
Save advising them not to squander
The time they have in aimless meander:
Must be underlying reasons and meaning
Making the decision.

Still you refused to take the hint. You still did not countenance my goodbye in my penning of the poem above.

So since you have such an appetite for misery and torment and vexation and gall, as much as I truly wanted to spare you the ordeal, I finally had no options left. I shall have to say it to you in plain words, Misha.

And to avoid the weakening of my resolve should we be seeing eyeball to eyeball as I tell you., I must do this deed from afar. Away from the limpid pool of your eyes, my tongue would not suddenly go mute on me. Or distract me from my real intentions and true objective.

OK, enough meander. No need for more palaver.

Misha I love you too much to want to see you suffer at the end. I’d rather you writhe and lament in pain now and hate me for forsaking you. As I’d said earlier, the sooner you convulse in your travails, the sooner you’d get over it and over me.

Even as I turn my back on the laws and dictates of medicine and medical men and prefer God’s grace, I know that consummation will most certainly be at hand, pretty soon. So when my sands of time ultimately run out, I could joyously say my adieus, knowing that the last loose end in my life has been spruced up and nicely set in order.

Only then would the “good” in “goodbye” be licit and exigent. Not maudlin as this person named Manaf.

- The End -

The Unsuccessful Writer & "So-so" Translator

2009-07-07T23:42:00.000-07:00

As a small boy, an English-speaking Malay boy, whose command of his own mother tongue was quite bad, i had ambitions of being an established writer (writing in English) one day.

That dream was only about 10-15% realized and i wrote more poetry than prose. In my early 20s, i met and moved with a group of fledgling Malay writers who were being mentored by the poet, ‘Cikgu’ Suhaimi Haji Muhammad. I then began honing my skills writing in Malay. Small breakthroughs came in the form of a few poems in Dewan Sastra (under the nom de plume of Domus Mori Diem), one in Al-Islam and one article in Dewan Masyarakat. Managed to get one BM article, on Tiger Woods, to be published in MAS in-flight mag, Going places too.

But real success always eluded me in both the English and Malay print media albeit i did get a few poems and short articles published in the NST, Malay Mail, the Star and Clove and of course in the in-house magazine of the company where i worked.

Fate brought an end to my career in that multinational concern and launched me into the translation business. I must give praises and glorify Almighty Allah, for it is in this field that i think i finally achieved a small measure of success. How i wished there could be more – yes, we humans tend to be greedy where success is concerned – but my feeling is that time is running out on me.

If that be it, than i’m thankful for the opportunity to have worked with so many translator friends, some of whom have rightfully become very well-respected and successful entrepreneurs in the field;

with publishers like Times Publications now Marshall Cavendish; writers like Karim Raslan, who entrusted me with all three of his Ceritalah collections – just delivered C3 - and Bernice Narayanan, a dear friend; and people like Razin Ong, Amir Muhammad, Bernice Chauly, Fleur Vaz, Raman Krishnan, just to name a few.

I’ve not always been a good person to work with and i made my share of mistakes, so do see it in your heart to forgive any wrongs i may have done you, whether directly or indirectly either knowingly or otherwise.

Should what i fear doesn’t come to pass (yet), just take this as one of my sick jokes, ok?

all best
latiff bidin

Just submitted the completed translation of Ceritalah3

2009-07-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well, all praises to the Almighty Allah, I've finished translating the parts that i had to for Karim Raslan's Ceritalah3. Did the self-editing twice till i may be hitting blind spots.

I've emailed the mss to Howe Leng of Marshall Cavendish and probably tomorrow, by the time she opens her email and receives it, i'll be with my physician to get him to look at this niggling condition that's been making me uncomfortable.

For this project, my helpers - all have been paid - were Idayu, Norziati and Umi (OSR). Well, OSR did just one - how i wish she'd agree to do more...

i don't quite know how long more i'll be able to do translations, rushed like this (20 days given) but this field of work is what i really like to do and has given me some of my 'best moments in life' memories.

If i am able to go on, i hope to be able to tackle another bestseller like 'Geisha' one more time.... but to quote a haiku or another form, "if hopes and wishes were leaves, what a bonfire mine would make"

for those reading this, thank you for doing so. It's night now, the question is how many of us shall see the new day....

Allah's bountiful blessings and my gratitude and love to all.

alb

It's getting to a stage when...

2009-06-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

things are getting more difficult, merely because i lack the will. But i'm such a lucky person. When i feel down that way, work comes in and that forces me to pickup myself out of the dark moods and launch myself into a frenzy of activity.

Yes, at the behest of the great Karim Raslan, i accepted the task of translating his latest collection, Ceritalah 3, for Marshall Cavendish. This will be my 7th book translating assignment (including the 4-volume set Great Islamic Stories)for them over the period 2002 - 2009.

Thank you o God Almighty for this 'lifesaver'.

Well for this one, i'm working with the help of Ms Idayu Joe, a new friend and helper. NR is also helping me with one of the items at the moment.

Hey, OSR, if you are reading this and you want a piece of the action, email me quickly - not many parts left - but i can keep one for you, for old times sake...

See how my "ayunan ragam rasa" (thats Malay for 'mood swing') has shifted into the high positives...

It shows that in somethings, there's no such a thing as total retirement

best regargds

alb

A look at the word "Prejudice"

2009-05-09T03:43:00.000-07:00

I'm quoting from KIMD, which has the following:-

prejudice n preconceived often unreasonable opinion, discrimination,
Example: this experience left him with a prejudice against academics = pengalaman ini menyebabkan dia mempunyai prasangka terhadap para akademik

So prejudice arises from pre-judging someone or someone's action or capability etc

The recommended Malay equivalent is prasangka, a word which is made up of "pra" (which is the equivalent of the English prefix "pre" and "sangka", for which Winstedt gave the meaning/equivalent of "opinion, expectation, suspicion, distrust...")

When we prejudge, we normally base our judgement not on actual conditions but on preconception or preconceived notions.

Say i'm looking for another helper. I may have a prejudice against self-taught translators so I may consider only holders of a Diploma in Translation as the minimum qualification. What i may not know is that there is this translator who never had the chance to pursue any recognised course in translation but has been translating for umpteen years and his/her work is reported to be very good.

So prejudice actually made me close my door to someone who could turn out to be my best helper.

In school, the late Raja Mahtra binti Raja Kamarulzaman, my English teacher who also taught me Literature in English, let us in on the finer points of conceit and prejudice.

She said they are very complementary... or words to that effect. Conceit is when you think only you can do something, only you are best suited for something, i.e. the unholy triumvirate of I, ME, and MYSELF.

Prejudice is when you take your best qualities and measure them against the worst qualities of the subject of your opinionated 'study'.

So, i'm looking for a few helpers for my next project. All who are interested can 'apply' and selection will be based on how they translate not on what degree/diploma from which organisation/university.

No, i'm not prejudiced against very highly qualified folks just because I'm a mere diploma holder. It's how close your style of translating sociopolitical articles is to mine that will swing it....

When your best matches mine, it will be great. For me GUIDANCE means Great, U & I, can now DANCE, i.e. move in step.

Let's dance, soon after KR is ready for us...

Till then, hasta la proxime....

alb

As Seed is to the Soil

2009-04-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hello again! Yes, it's been a long hiatus. My speaking engagements now make it difficult to spend time to post anew here.

There's some time today so here we go....

The title actually means that seeds must be planted. Normally it's in good soil but these days, technology makes it possible to plant seeds in another recipient, i.e. other than soil.

We'll not go into the recipients here but we'll see how the title applies to many people, including us translators.

The complete line should be: As seed is to the soil, so is read(ing) to the mind.

We've been told by many that we should keep updating our knowledge, continue widening our field of knowledge so that we remain current, well-informed and good translators.

The books that one should read depend on the fields that you usually translate. Of course you may and should read even books that have no links to the fields that you usually translate.

In my case, though I now translate for a few 'select clients' only, I still love to translate socio-political articles. Thus at the bookshops, I'll usually gravitate towards those type of books. There is one area that I'm very interested in, namely Israel and the Jewish people. So last night's fare on Astro, Goya's Ghosts, which touched on the Spanish Inquisition, particularly on the action directed at Judaism, was of interest to me.

Right now, my teeth is into Joel C Rosenberg's Epicenter, which has the following sub-title:
Why the current rumblings in the middle east will change your future.

What are the books you are currently reading? Any particular reasons you decided to read them? You may email me at labidin.matisa@gmail.com at your convenience, if there's anything on this or on translation-related stuff.

All the best, the rest of this week, month and year.

Cheers
alb

Khazanah Mutiara Petua Nabi Sulaiman a.s.

2009-03-04T17:01:00.000-08:00

Salam mesra kepada semua (Hello y'all)!

Maaf sebab lama sudah tiada masukan baru sebab saya sibuk dengan tugas lain yakni berceramah dan menghadiri kursus demi usaha mengemas kini serta meluaskan ilmu pengetahuan. (My apologies for not posting anew as I've been busy giving talks and also attending courses in order to update and try to widen my sphere of knowledge).

Kali ini saya ingin mengutarakan iaitu bagi saya memodenkan teks Bahasa Melayu lama harus dikira sebagai terjemahan juga yakni terjemahan ekabahasa memodenkan teks lama agar mudah difahami. (This time i wish to suggest that, for me, modernizing old texts should also be considered as translation i.e. unilingual translating to modernize old texts so that they are more easily understood.)

Beberapa tahun yang lalu, mungkin 2005, saya menemui naskhah lama dalam cetakan Jawi tahun 1912. Saya meminta jasa baik Norziati Rosman, seorang bekas anak didik saya, untuk menaipkannya semula ke dalam huruf Rumi BM. Selepas itu saya mula memodenkan teks itu. Walaupun penterjemahan fasa pertama telah siap pada penghujung tahun tersebut, saya masih cuba memperelok terjemahan saya itu sehingga kini. Di bawah ialah Bab 1 daripada 31 bab khazanah itu.(A few years ago, perhaps in 2005) i came across and old, printed Jawi manuscript dated 1912. I got the services of Norziati Rosman, one of my former mentees to type the text into Romanized Malay. Thereon i began to modernize it. Although the first phase of the translation was completed at the end of that year, i’m still trying to beautify the translation until now. Below, i humbly present to you Chapter 1 of 31 chapters.)

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Khazanah Petua Nabi Sulaiman a.s – Bab 1

Inilah khazanah mutiara petua daripada Sulaiman, putera Daud, raja Israel, demi menolong umat manusia menjadi bijaksana, dan memahami ungkapan-ungkapan yang mengandung pengertian yang dalam, agar manusia belajar serta memperoleh tata tertib hidup supaya dapat hidup dengan bijaksana, jujur, adil dan benar, agar yang tidak berpengalaman dipupuk sehingga mampu berfikir dengan baik, dan orang muda diajar menjadi orang berpengetahuan dan berfikir dengan matang - malah yang bijaksana pun dapat menambah ilmunya manakala yang telah berpendidikan dibimbing untuk memantapkan jalan dan hala tujunya - serta mengerti rahsia pada amsal dan pengucapan para cendekiawan dan mainan kata dan teka-teki mereka.

Adapun, takut dan taat kepada TUHAN ialah langkah pertama menjurus kepada pengetahuan yang sejati. Si bodoh yang degil tidak menghargai malah membenci ilmu dan pengajaran.

Anakku, ingatlah dan patuhi pengajaran tatatertib ayahmu serta didikan ibumu, sebab segala ajaran mereka menambah budi pekertimu yang menjadi seperti hiasan kepala dan kalung emas yang mencantikkan rupamu.

Andai kamu dipujuk oleh mereka yang berdosa, anakku, usah turuti mereka. Jika mereka menyeru “Marilah sertai kami. Ayuh kita menyerang hendap dan menumpahkan darah seseorang. Untuk suka-suka, mari kita serang hendap orang yang tidak bersalah. Mereka yang senang dan sihat sekarang ini, mari kita jadikan ahli kubur.

Kita akan dapat segala harta benda berharga mereka dan memenuhi rumah kita dengan barang curian itu. Marilah ikut kami. \ Nanti hasil curiannya kita bagi sama rata!"

Wahai anakku, jauhilah mereka. Janganlah engkau bersama-sama mereka. Jauhkan dirimu daripada mengikuti mereka ini, yang tidak berasa senang jika tidak berbuat kejahatan dan tidak bersegera menumpahkan darah.
Terbukti sia-sia membentangkan jaring di hadapan mata burung sebab burung tidak akan memasukinya. Walhal orang jahat itu memasang jerat yang menjebak dan mencelakakan diri mereka sendiri. Mereka bersembunyi hanya untuk menemui maut mereka.

Orang tamak yang mencari nafkah menggunakan kekerasan pasti membayar hutangnya dengan nyawanya sendiri.

Dengarlah betapa hikmah dan budi berseru-seru di jalan-jalan raya dan suaranya dinyaringkannya di khalayak ramai, dan di sudut-sudut jalan yang sibuk dan di pintu-pintu gerbang dalam negeri. Seruannya berbunyi:

“Wahai orang bodoh, berapa lamakah lagi kamu mahu kekal sebegini? Sampai bila akan kamu meremehkan dan menolak hikmah dan pelajaran? Sampai bila baru kamu berhenti membenci ilmu pengetahuan?

"Dengar dengan teliti teguran aku, bahawa aku hendak mencurahkan isi hatiku dan mengajar pengetahuan aku kepadamu.

"Aku memanggil namun engkau enggan menghiraukan. Tangan yang aku hulurkan tidak diendahkan, malah engkau menolak segala teguran dan nasihatku dan tidak mahu aku memperingatkanmu.
Maka, atas sebab itu, aku akan tertawa tatkala celaka menimpamu dan aku akan mengejek apabila engkau dalam ketakutan. Bahkan akan aku mengejekmu tatkala ketakutan menimpamu bak ribut dan bencana mendatangi seumpama badai.
Ketika itu barulah mereka akan memanggilku tetapi aku tidak akan menjawab. Mereka akan mencari aku ke merata tempat tetapi tidak akan dapat menemuiku sebab mereka orang yang membenci ilmu pengetahuan dan enggan taat kepada TUHAN. Malah mereka tidak pernah mahu menerima nasihatku, mahupun mempedulikan teguranku, dan setiap peringatanku.

Maka mereka akan merasakan akibat daripada mengambil jalan yang mereka pilih sendiri dan terjebak oleh perbuatan sendiri.

"Orang yang mudah terpedaya akan membinasakan diri sendiri kerana berpaling daripadaku, Orang yang bodoh akan mati akibat kemungkaran dan pengabaiannya.

Tetapi sesiapa yang mendengar teguran dan nasihatku akan terpelihara. Sentosalah mereka tanpa perlu takut atau menerima kecelakaan"

Sehingga bertemu lagi, salam sayang daripada
alb

Actually translating "Religion"

2009-01-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

Setelah agak lama membicarakan fasal menterjemah teks agama, ayuh kita cuba menterjemah ke dalam Bahasa Melayu, beberapa pandangan tentang agama yang terkumpul seperti di bawah [After discussing translating religious texts for some time, come let's try to translate into Malay, a compiled summary of a few views on religion as follows]:

"Religion is defined as the adherence to a set of beliefs that regulate the moral, social, and ritualistic behavior of the individual. This definition includes belief systems of all kinds, even if it is the belief that there is no providential component in creation or life as we know it, or a belief that the human has the power to be the supreme measure of truth and right."

Cubaan saya adalah seperti berikut:
Agama ditakrifkan sebagai pematuhan kepada set kepercayaan yang mengawal selia perilaku moral, sosial dan ritual individu. Takrif ini meliputi pelbagai jenis sistem kepercayaan, sekalipun kepercayaan itu tiada komponen mengenai penciptaan kehidupan seperti yang kita fahami, atau kepercayaan akan kekuasaan insaniah sebagai mistar bagi yang benar (hak) dan yang betul (wajar).

Seterusnya, ada dinyatakan seperti berikut [Next, it is also states as follows]:

"All religions claim to have the truth and all claim superiority over each other. They all demand adherence to their particular belief system while denying the others – that contention motivates them. Religions thrive best in an isolated culture that excludes other segments of humanity, that is, all religions seem to glory in a spirit of segregation and separatism. Thus , instead of uniting humanity with common power and knowledge of purpose, religion has been proven to be the great divider of mankind."

Ini agak lebih sukar sedikit tetapi biar saya cuba menterjemah maknanya secara bebas [This is a bit more difficult nevertheless I'll try my hand to freely translate its meaning}:

Semua agama mendakwa sebagai agen yang menampilkan kebenaran dan kesemuanya mendakwa lebih unggul berbanding agama lain. Kesemuanya mewajibkan pematuhan terhadap sistem kepercayaan tersebut dan menyangkal (kesahihan) yang lain – perbalahan sedemikian menjadi motivasi masing-masing. Agama paling subur dan berkembang dalam budaya yang terasing yang mengetepikan segmen insaniah lain, yakni semua agama beroleh rasa mulia atas semangat segregasi dan faham pemisahan. Maka, bukan sahaja agama tidak menyatukan manusia dengan kuasa dan ilmu pengetahuan sepunya mengenai tujuan agama malahan agama terbukti sebagai penyekat terhebat dan pembahagi umat manusia.

Jika sudi membetulkan/membiaki atau memberi padanan terbaik yang lain silakan dengan ucapan terima kasih daripada saya.

Ingat, sebagai penterjemah, tujuan kita hanyalah mengasah bakat dan kemampuan kita dalam penterjemahan dan bukan mengetengahkan pendapat kita sendiri dalam terjemahan kita.

Salam dan selamat sejahtera.
alb

Looking Back: Translation was my 'saviour'

2009-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

Wishing all my Chinese friends a "Happy New Year of the Ox". Let's have bull runs and talk less bull.

I thought I would end up as a writer of some renown. Well, I aspired to become one but Fate led me on another route, albeit I did publish the occasional minor pieces in some publications and once, even achieved my highest honorarium rate of RM1.00 per word in a flash-in-the-pan sort of success.

Recently, a friend pointed out to me that my involvement in writing and writers associations was mentioned in "Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Profile: Suhaimi Haji Muhammad by Loo Jia Wen" of July 12, 2007, where it was noted that "Together with Baharuddin Kahar, Abdul Latif Bidin and other friends, he (Suhaimi) founded GATRA II, a writer’s association...".

To tell you the truth, if one is of just average talent and does not have the luck and right contacts (as in the OBN kind) in the publication biz, heartaches (one doesn't even get rejection slips here) will be rather plentiful, if you know what I mean. And I consider myself a wee bit below average and another strikeout was that I had zero OBN contacts in the right places. Well, except God!

Fortunately, the field of translation gave me some hope that I could still receive the modicum of attention that I, a shameless attention seeker, was always after. Indeed I dare say that translation saved me from abject despair at my non-success as a writer.

In the previous post I mentioned a few of the translated books I was involved in. This time, I like to just mention two rather strange (I know such labels are relative) 'translation' assignments.

Due to the help of some clients, somehow I was actively involved at the scene when:

i) a NYT correspondent went to interview Nirmala Bonat at the Indonesian embassy in KL;
ii) AFP's rep interviewed Kamariah and Daud of Ayah Pin's group with reference to their apostasy case

There was a time when I was sequestered in a location to finish a certain translation assignment but I'm not at liberty to give any details.

There was also a US client who just needed me to provide two current news item of my choice from the local Malay newspapers and then record them. I neither knew nor ask the client what were those items for but that was one of my highest remuneration received in that year.

Well, the foregoing made my short (or is it short lived) career in translation something not so mundane and provided me something I could share on this forum.

I'll end here with two quotes from Fernando de Rojas:

"When one door closes, fortune will usually open another" and
"When God wounds from on high he will follow with the remedy."

On doors that open ad then closes, there is a funny short pome that goes:

God brings the wind
lifting skirts up high
He also brings the dust
to blind the bad man's eye..

cheers.

alb

Looking Back: Books I Translated

2009-01-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

My daughter, the youngest of four children, requested that i post this for posterity.

Well, i always loved to read and also to write. My greatest dream was to be a famous author or rather be able to see my handiwork in print, never mind if it's just a short poem or prose. Sad to say, other than a small book on the translation business and an unpublished novel, the dream has remained just that. The One who's the author of my fate had other, albeit somewhat related, plans for me.

So, after a 24-year career in Shell Co. and less than two years after i plunged myself into full-time translation, i.e. while I was still a freelance translator who was attached mainly to Ms Fleur Vaz's Centre of Languages Sdn Bhd (COL), ie when I have not yet fully honed my linguistic and translation skills, COL's quote for the Malay translation of "PETRONAS Twin Towers - A Vision Realized" was given the 'aye' by those in charge.

Strange is the way God blesses us. Yes, though i was in my late 40's then, i was still considered 'setahun jagung' in the field of translation, then. In fact I was still attending weekly classes at DBP as I worked hard to obtain my translation diploma.

I made up for my deficiencies by doing serious research into translations of architectural and engineering matters and used my penchant for word play and word association to help me over those 'impasse for equivalents'. All thanks to Allah, I made it.

Every translator (and authors too, methinks) need such boosts. After that, one book seller/dealer who had ordered too many copies of the book, "Report: The Royal Commission of Enquiry's Investigations Into the Injuries of Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim Whilst In Police Custody" approached me to provide an unofficial translation of parts of the book/report, pertinently the detailed courtroom sessions. It was a strange and most fruitful experience.

During my studying-for-diploma period, as one who was already earning from freelance translations, i was active in class and ever ready to share my experiences. Thus i made many friends and got noticed by some DBP folks that not long after that I was asked to translate a booklet and be part of the Malay-into-English team translating DBP's CITRA.

Next,the late Hajjah Liza Abdullah (formerly Angela Milo) commissioned me to translate her popular book "The Qur'an in our everyday life" into Malay.

Among my new friends and acquaintances was the multi-talented Amir Muhammad. In his "Minding their own Biz" column of October 8, 2001 in The Edge, i was featured. That led me to be approached by the Times Publishing (now Marshall Cavendish Malaysia or "MCM") folks to translate Karim Raslan's Ceritalah books and also led me to be the translator for KR's articles until 2006.

At the launch of KR's Ceritalah, i made contact with MCM's Christiine Chong and that association birthed four more books. They were the English translations of Chamil Wariya's "Naik, Jatuh dan Bangun Semula – Perjalanan Politik Abdullah Ahmad Badawi" (The Survivor Meets The Challenge) and Azlan Mohamad Ali's four volumes of "Kisah-Kisah Islam" (Great Islamic Stories).

The other two MCM books translated into Malay were Kishore Mahbubani’s "Can Asians Think?" and Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha".

Other book translations include an encyclopaedia - from Bahasa Indonesia to BM for Utusan Publications, Dato Mohamed Hashim’s "Achieving Success in Tough Times" into Malay and Bahasa Indonesia.

Another strange and unexpected commission was from Petronas for the late H.E. Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy’s philosophical and spiritual treatise in his "Ruhnama, Books I and II".

There have been other books since then and the last one was Bernice Narayanan’s collection of 6 short-stories, "Tangled Emotions" (Simpulan Emosi).

It is very important to mention that on many of the above-quoted books I collaborated with many translator friends who made some of the first draft, first-cut translations that i later edited and converted to my writing and linguistic style. All of them - most of whom were colleagues who attended my 'translation business talks' and/or have been in my unofficial short-term mentoring program - have been duly remunerated as agreed, and have been acknowledged in TERAJU, the local translators forum or in my other blogs.

In summary, getting the maiden assignment i.e. the breakthrough, is very important and along the way make we have to make as many friends and acquaintances as possible. Translators must continue to help one another and believe in doing 'good turns'. i surely benefited from so many such 'good turns'.

My gratitude to all friends and acquaintances and of course to the Almighty.

cheers,
alb

Religion and Translation

2009-01-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

Greetings / Salam / Shalom !!!

The previous entry and the short Q & A session, if we can call it that, i had with Gita led to this.

It is recognized that religion and translation are mutually dependent. Translation helped the spread of religion and conversely, religion is instrumental in the developments in the field of translation. The two are like like Siamese twins, conjoined and mutually dependent.

To be able to discuss this, we need to define what religion is - albeit this is fraught with danger and controversy - and also have a general sense of what translation is.

Let's look at the supposedly easier one, namely, the definition of "translation". If you google for "translation definition", among many, you'll get the following url
http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=lang_en|lang_id&newwindow=1&rlz=1B3DVFC_enMY232MY233&defl=en&q=define:translation&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

Don't be surprised that, among other definitions, translating also means removing and not just "the act or process of translating, especially from one language into another"

Removing? no wonder we have many polemics relating to religion. In translation, things are added (usually the translators' attempts to clarify something that she/he believes she/he wasn't able to translate well enough - this is usually parenthesized just like this) and removed.

Thus, for your own health, if you want to really delve into any written religion, it is best learning, understanding and mastering it in the original language it was in. So i reiterate that to really understand Islam, go and master Arabic, for Hinduism, Sanskrit, for Christianity Hebrew and Greek.....

Wikipedia defines religion as: "... a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals associated with such belief or system of thought."

I'm making this entry short and am going to ask a question:
Is religion or are religions from God? Ok, I hear you, "define God!", right? "God" or "god"? See, it depends whether you belive that religion is the "belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe" or otherwise.

Or do you think that RELIGION is the inane attempts by human beings to find something they lost? It could be lost in translation or lost as in something they had before and have now lost through their own weaknesses.

See? This topic is really heavy stuff. So before it weighs on us, let's end it here.

Peace and Joy to all (let's not bother having to define "peace" and "joy" too).

alb

Translating Religious Materials into Malay - 2

2009-01-06T18:11:00.000-08:00

Hello again,

When we talk about translating religious materials into Malay, we may exclude a few of the main faiths, like Hinduism (unless it is into Indonesian language, say in Bali) and Buddhism. I can't say if Malay translations may be needed for Baha'i literature but mainly it would be materials on Christianity (all denominations, sects, cults, perhaps including New Age, if the latter can be included under this group) and Islam.

There are many good articles on Islam in English (I do not read other languages so I don't pretend to know whether there are or not in other languages) that would be good to have in Malay. Of course, certain quarters would like to have Malay translation of Christian materials either to reach to the Malay-speaking Christians - according to common knowledge, most of them are from Sabah and Sarawak - or to equip the non-English speaking Muslim clerics with more knowledge of the other religion(s).

Of course, as I only read English and Malay materials, what I see is rather limited. But from my perspective, I see scholars having polemics in English when arguing the case for Islam (base language: Arabic) or Christianity (base language Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT). Thus there'll never be clear winners as there's always a case for things being "LOST IN TRANSLATION".

On my part, I confess I have been approached and have done translations of Islamic materials from Malay into English and vice versa AND was once commissioned to do the linguistic editing of a Malay translation of a Christian article. I was asked to see that the language flows well. i took that opportunity as a way to, in a limited way, see the Christian thought pattern.

From that experience I learned some of the Malay equivalents of Christian/Jewish terms like those for synagogue (saumaah), grace (kasih kurnia), baptism (pembaptisan or pengimadan) etc.

There's another possible/potential problem to be considered, namely, how does the translator/editor involved feel having completed the commission. In my case, my conscience is clear. We are mere humans so we'll let the Almighty Creator to be the one to pass judgement.

Peace to all.

alb

Translating Proverbs/Sayings ......

2009-01-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

Hello again.

An email contact in the States whose hobby is studying proverbs from different parts of the world recently asked me a question that I have pondered over for a long time. I have a very rough answer but some part of it may appear controversial to my own ethnic group.

Anyway, though the truth hurts, as the English proverb goes, “Truth makes the devil blush” (if it is true but if it’s not then the devil will be giggling).

Well, my friend’s question was:
Why is there so many peribahasa on LIDAH? Or Why is there so many Malay sayings on the subject of the tongue?

The p.c. answer would be that the wise folks of old are telling their descendants to always be careful to “guard your tongue and your ears…” or “guard your tongue from repeating offenses and guard your heart from accepting someone else’s offense”.

The controversial answer is the propensity for the tongue to lie. So if there are many warnings or sayings against lying in a certain people group, that means there are may liars among them. I dare say that in English and in many other languages as well, there surely are many sayings about truth and lies, the tongue and the heart etc etc.

Now lets look at just three Malay sayings with the word “lidah” in them (for now – next time we’ll look at more):

1. Batu yang keras air pelekuknya; hati yang keras lidah pelembutnya. This translates to “water will carve through the hard rock as the tongue will soften the hard-hearted…”

In other words, “With patience you can persuade a ruler, and a soft tongue can break bones…” or “A soft tongue turns away wrath…”. A Bolivian proverb says “Words can’t break bones, but they can break hearts” whilst an Irish proverb says “Soft words are hard arguments”.

2. Lidah biawak ie (like) the tongue of the monitor lizard ie speaking with a forked tongue (one whose words keep changing and can’t be trusted) ie folks who speak the double talk ie saying one thing but meaning another thing.

There are many animal metaphors in Malay sayings as there are in other languages too.

3. Hati orang yang bodoh itu di mulutnya, dan lidah orang yang cerdik itu di belakang hatinya. Literally translated, the saying goes like this "The heart of the fool is in his mouth but the tongue of the wise is behind his heart". Here the heart in the mouth does not mean being fearful but that the fool just blurts out what is in his heart.

This means that unlike the wise, the fool speaks without thinking. Said in another way "Fools like to teach whilst the wise likes to learn.

Well, I hope from your comments I can learn how to improve this blog. I still have much to learn.

Till the next time, like what Solomon asked God, let's pray that God grant us an understanding heart that we may discern between good and evil, truth and lies and that our tongue is behind our heart.

alb

Translating Religious Materials into Malay - I

2008-12-31T17:27:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a most amazing and blessed 2009. May all freelance translators out there get more jobs at their deserved rates. May translators, through their translations, help spread knowledge and information to foster better understanding among mankind!

At the moment, TERAJU, An eGroup on Malay Language and Translation, for translators and interpreters, scholars and language buffs, has the above caption as a discussion item. It began when one Terajuan asked whether it is wrong for a Muslim to translate non-Islamic religious text - not just Christian but others like new age philosophy-religion eg Scientology, etc. - into Malay?

Well, I'm of the view that one has to be aware of the sociopolitical situation in the country one is domiciled in. For a Malay Muslim - constitutionally, a Malay is defined as one who professes Islam - translating non-Islamic materials into Malay, COULD be seen as helping to proselytize and doubts MAY be cast on the translator's religious standing and belief.

Conversely, one who translates Islamic materials into Malay would be seen as doing a useful service for the edification of the Malay-speaking Ummah.

For the moment, let's put that aside and consider some of the difficulties a translator may face when translating religious materials into Malay.

The main problem, as I see it, is religious vocabulary in Malay albeit there is a fallback, namely, using what equivalent terms our saudara serumpun across the Straits of Malacca use. There is another option, that is, to use/adopt words from the Arabic language, specifically words that have already been widely used and accepted into Malay religious vocabulary.

However, the translator MAY face heavy opposition from certain sectors who like to claim that such words can only be applied in Islamic literature. I was reading my friend's translation of a Christian material he was commissioned when I came across certain terms that jarred me.

He used "gunung munajat" instead of the widely used "gunung doa" for the term "prayer mountain". I said to him, "Hey, you can't use that Arabic word - Islam is already using it!"

He retorted, "Why not? Munajat means 'secret communication with God in prayer'. Why must the Muslims monopolize the use of that word?"

His answer as to why he does not like "gunung doa" was that it (the term) was janggal ie awkward and does not feel right. "Why not 'gunung berdoa' then?" I asked.

He quipped, "It is not the mountain that's berdoa (praying) but the people who go there! They go there to be at peace with nature and pray in secret to God."

He quoted from Matthew, "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

"Father?" I asked.

I won't go into detail about what transpired after that but my friend expanded on praying in secret and that fits nicely into "munajat".

I do not wish to tread on dangerous ground here so, when I continue this, we'll be touching on other problems with translating religious materials into Malay.

Till then, have a really wonderful and prosperous year.

alb

Translation Memories Aren't Just About TMX

2008-11-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

I'm truly blessed! God gave me the heart for applying myself to the tasks at hand no matter how small or big they are.

I was told that translation is a 'lonely' job - meaning one sits at one's workspace to work on assignments - perhaps as lonely as the monument below:

All praises to Him, even though I'm not an interpreter, I still got not only to meet people I never expected to meet but got up close and personal with some of them...

and be in places I never expected to visit.

Of course, in the course of my work I met with and worked with many local big-name translators, veteran ones and also newbies.

Well, there were also assignments that I thought would be out of my reach as one of the least schooled translators in Malaysia - more of that, perhaps, in another post - but Allah's grace and provisions enabled me and favoured me with a number of choice assignments.

There were many opportunities to work with new and not-so-new translators who were unlucky not to be given their maiden assignments. Thus in some small way, some bits and pieces of what blessings I received from God, were also shared with a few others.

That and many other translation memories - not just the TMX - made my short 'translation journey' worthwhile.

Will post in this tenor again sometime.... till then

May all your journeys be good learning points and memorable.

Cheers

alb

Translating Proverbs (2)

2008-11-04T04:29:00.000-08:00

Lain Lubuk Lain Ikan-nya

The above Malay proverb (peribahasa) literally means "different holes have different fish" i.e. different men have different ways or as some say "different folks, different strokes".

Well, the man in the picture must be the ultimate optimist. Or he believes in the Malay proverb: Ada Air Adalah Ikan i.e. if there's water there's fish which has the second level meaning of "if there's a country, there must be people or population...

Or perhaps to him "All is fish that comes to the net" as also "All is grist that comes to the mill" yakni "Asal Berinsang, Ikanlah"... jadi tak payah nak memilih sangat i.e. why be choosy

Or to the table....

All I know is that perhaps his credo is "Don't cry stinking fish" since what is the use for him "crying bad fish"... sebab itu bererti "Meraih pekung ke dada" sebab sengaja mencari malu atau bencana...

If he is a Malay or speaks Malay, bagi dia "laksana ikan di paya, datang kemarau, keringlah ia".... for he knows like the fishes in the swamp, so is the fish in the pothole - when comes the drought, the water dries up and the fish will be revealed.

Semoga bukan sekadar "Rendah gunung tinggi harapan".... i.e.hopefully it's not the case of hope being higher than the mountains...

For all you know, he's a madly in love with the Roxette's "Spending my time"....

Cheers

If I take some time before posting again, remember: Absence makes the heart grow fonder....

alb

Translating Proverbs (1)

2008-11-04T02:42:00.001-08:00

Hello again! It has been over 60 days since I last posted here. I task a combination of not so good health and my trying very hard to complete a special project for a certain group of people as the reasons for the prolonged hiatus.

Well, to the matter at hand, shall we?

For some black humor, lets make a new saying in two parts:

If you don't spray the herbicide....

How else do you pollute the water

Oh yes, let's get back to real proverbs/sayings/peribahasa....

Proverbs are crystallized summaries of popular (folk) wisdom. The previous sentence means that proverbs or sayings have been in existence before the advent of the written word. In other words, these wise sayings have had longer currency in popular speech than in literature.

Another point to note about proverbs is how cultural differences MAY make it almost impossible to translate many of them.

I dare say that the closest one can get to sort of equate sayings in different languages is to look at equivalent proverbs from different languages. As my field is English < > Malay, let's look at a few examples.

"You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs" say the English speaking folks when they mean to say "Nothing can be achieved without sacrifices or losses along the way."

For us Malay speaking people, kami berkata "jika tidak dipecah ruyung di mana boleh mendapat sagu" yang bermaksud tidak akan tercapai cita-cita dengan tidak berusaha kuat.

The above Peribahasa literally means "to get to the sago, you need to break the thick outer bark of the sago palm..." i.e you must expend some energy and effort.

See, it's easy, right? Of course, just a little effort is needed to google or do some research...

Till the next time, let me leave you with what Moses Ibn Ezra said in SHIRAT YISRAEL (1924):

A proverb has three characteristics: few words, good sense, and a fine image.

Cheers.

alb

When you have to use Trados

2008-08-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been quite a while since I posted here. I was travelling quite a bit over the last month.

I do not translate commercially these days but friends and former mentees do sometimes call or text to ask on translation related items.

A recent question was on how I managed when I used Trados and had some helpers who do not have that CAT tool.

Well, let me begin with file management, before I answer that question.

1. Even if you just have very few clients, it is advisable to open a separate folder by client. In each folder you should at least have the following sub-folders:

a) 1ORI (where you store the files in the exact form you received from the client - if client send different versions/amended files with the same name, it is advisable to append the date of receipt as for example Filename_22Aug2008_v1. the v(ersion) number may be needed if more than one amendment of the same file is sent to you in a day);

b) 2BIL (you should rename the fail received and add "_bil" to its name and store it here. This is the file you should work on, NOT the ORI file);

c) 3CLN (here you store the cleaned files (rename the BIL file and store here) - do make a copy of the file and store it in 4EDT for the next step);

d) 4EDT (after cleaning you may wish to fine-tune to ensure good linguistic flow stc. This is optional but in order to be the client's 1st choice translator, quality-wise, in my books, it is mandatory)

e) 5SUBMIT (after you've finalized the file in 4EDT, store a copy here. When you send the file to the client, you MUST source it from this sub-folder)

You do know that the digit is placed to prefix the subfolder name so that the sub-folders are arranged in the proper sequence of workflow. If you do not need this conscious reminder, you can do away with it.

The above was and still is my way of doing it. I do it to minimize worry of not being able to find any particular file and to prevent the error of submitting the wrong file to the client - HINT you mustn't appear to be the forgetful translator, ever.

Now, back to the question.

In my experience, I know a few very good translators who do not use CAT tools in their work for their own reasons. I've used their services at times, particularly if the project is a long one AND I think that particular translator(s) will be the best for the relevant sub-part(s).

Upon receiving their finished work, I'll perform alignment [and ensure the segments are of the proper lengths before committing the pairs] and export the pairs into the relevant TM.

Next I'd run Trados on the BIL file (and edit as I go from segment to segment - actually here's where I do 1st cut editing of the translator's work albeit I may have done some editing even when doing the alignment) and work through to CLN, Final edit and SUBMIT

Nevertheless, all the above is not a must if you have a very sound and well-ordered mindset. Mine is a real mess sometimes but through these self-enforced steps, I get the work done to the client's and my own satisfaction.

I even use Trados when I translate literary stuff knowing that the resultant TMX will not be useful for other projects. It's just that I'm so used to editing on a bilingual file instead of opening the two files side by side...

I believe that that should do for now, till the next post...

Good tidings to all.

alb

Analyzing & Translating Difficult Phrases/Captions

2008-07-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

Hello again,

I mentioned previously that in my humble opinion those crisp, short tags in English are the most difficult to translate..

The main reason behind this is that those tags actually represent the whole book, chapter, incident etc. I really admire those cleaver people who think up those gems.

Let's look at one example: "Providential Consolidation"

Nowadays, life is easier since we have search engines like google, yahoo etc. So, if say we google for "providential consolidation" with and without the quotation marks. From your search, you can deduce that this is related to a non-secular concept.

Let's look at "providential"
This word points one to PROVIDENCE, ie divine intervention as in "occurring by an intervention of Providence"

"Consolidation" in isolation, is mostly an accounting term which points one towards the process of uniting or state of being united; specifically accounting-wise "the unification of two or more corporations by dissolution of existing ones and creation of a single new corporation". Besides the accounting angle, there is a link to medicine/medical terms, something to do with lung tissues.

IMHO, one should forget the medical and accounting aspects and concentrate on the spiritual/religious aspect only because of the element of "Providence".

Now for the BM translation.

The KIMD gives PROVIDENCE n 1. the care and protection of unseen forces, takdir, nasib: ~ must have prevented me from joining them, takdir pastinya telah menentukan bahawa saya tdk bersama-sama dgn mereka; 2. quality of having foresight, being prudent, kehematan, sifat hemat: his hard-won success can be attributed to his ~ and good planning, kejayaan yg sangat sukar dicapai itu boleh dikaitkan dgn sifat hemahnya dan perancangan yg baik;

and PROVIDENTIAL adj 1. ordained by God, takdir: nature operates according to some ~ plan, alam semula jadi berjalan menurut suratan takdir; 2. happening at the right time, lucky, /mujur, nasib baik/ betul: my arrival at the precise moment was ~, mujur betul saya sampai tepat pd waktunya;

and CONSOLIDATION n 1. act of combining, amalgamating, penggabungan, penyatuan; (of debt, fund, etc) penyatuan: the ~ of several small businesses, penggabungan beberapa perniagaan kecil; 2. act of strengthening, pengukuhan.

Let me henceforth carry on the explanation in Malay.

Jadi bagi tajuk "Providential Consolidation", kita perlu memasukkan aspek kewajaran dan ketepatan suratan takdir. Aspek pengukuhan (daripada penyatuan) bertujuan untuk memastikan kewajaran yakni menghasilkan penjituan.

Maka pilihan padanan mungkin dalam ruang lingkup: Ketepatan Suratan Takdir

Setiap penterjemah ada kecenderungan sendiri. Saya juga begitu. Bagi saya untung nasib, qadak & qadar atau takdir adalah anugerah Tuhan kepada kita manusia, sebagaimana kebebasan kita memilih jalan/rumusan mana mengikut kehendak hati.

Padanan pilihan saya sendiri ialah Kejituan Anugerah Tuhan. Namun pilihan ini berlandaskan kefahaman sendiri yang pastinya berbeza dengan tanggapan dan pemahaman orang lain.

Ok back into English now. If you read this and wish to comment, please do so.

Have a productive day and balance of the week.

Salam terjemahan & selamat maju jaya

alb

Work Alone or Work In a Team

2008-07-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

In one of her emails, Sarah, a newbie, asked if it was better to work alone or as part of a team.

Well, I'm known for my propensity for working in a team so I may be biased when I answer this. Nevertheless, in my book, the best way to make a decision on matters like this is to list the pros and cons of both options.

Truthfully, other than not having to share the payment for the work and having the satisfaction of having done the work yourself (without any help from anyone - if that's really possible) - I see working alone as limiting your capacity and opportunities for learning from and leveraging on the expertise and knowledge of others.

It is important to note that before one can lead such a team, one needs to experience being a team member in a relatively large translation project. Should you get such an opportunity, do make full use of it to learn as much as possible, particularly on the tools used and how your translation looks after the final edit.

Knowing what the editor expects helps you to give her/him your best. Such an attitude will surely put you in good stead with your clients.

Before I go on to the second part of this post, for your information, the last project I helmed was teaming up with seven (7) other translators to come up with Simpulan Emosi, the Malay translation of award-winning writer, Bernice Narayanan's collection of 6 short stories, Tangle Emotions.

The seven are Aniza Borhan, Atikah M. Tahir, Hasnah Daud, Norziati Rosman, Puteri Azalina, Siti Aisyah and Umi Azuddin.

2. Discussion: What's Most Difficult To Translate?

For me, titles and headings, for example book or story titles and chapter headings, are the ones most difficult and that require much thought and consideration.

Let's take "Tangled Emotions". A proper translation in Malay would be like "Emosi yang Berkecamuk" or words in the same tenor. However there are certain requirements of a title. Besides representing the whole book, it has to convey the right meaning and at the same time be catchy, nice sounding and have certain associations that you wish the reader to make upon reading it.

Translators do get the opportunity to propose the title for the translated book, at times. However, there are times when some interested parties have already set what the title should be, and your function is just to translate the texts, including chapter headings.

In the next post, we'll look at more 'most difficult to translate' items.

Till then, happy translating and do give your best always.

alb

Introduction: Yes, Everyone Can Translate But.....

2008-07-07T17:37:00.000-07:00

The question is how well can one translate.

As someone who has been in the business of full-time translations and one who once depended on the inflows from translation work to provide the wherewithal for my family, I can attest that always giving one's best is the best policy.

We have to realize that God gave us the best and expects the best from us. In the same manner, God wants us to deliver our best to everyone we interact with.

Allow me to define the simple 'boxing ring' for this blog:

I was, and I believe I'll always be involved, in translations from English to Malay and also Malay into English. Therefore, discussions here will be limited to these two languages only.

This will be more a sharing than a 'telling what to do' exercise. If there are some queries related to En>Ms>En translations, I can rely only on my own past experiences and what I learned - from others and from my researches - along the way.

Before I sign-off for now, allow me to give a synopsis of my 'translation career'.

I began doing translations on a part-time basis (the freebies I used to do for my bosses from 1971 onwards don't count) in 1978 and upon my VSS from Shell Malaysia in 1997, I plunged into full-time, commercial translations. Generally En>Ms translators do not specialize, so I actually started with translations relating to MSDS, Literary, Name surveys, and the Petroleum Industry.

I was fortunate to be selected as one of the 6 translators for the Volvo service manual translations in 1998 where I used Trados for the first time. I was sort of attached to COL (Centre of Languages) and was on first call to do COL's En>Ms work. This lead me to add med/pharma to my resume. My stint for COL also led me to the translation of books.

God favoured me with good clients and good translator friends and in turn, I served my clients like I'd serve God.

Till my next post, thank you very much for reading.

alb