TRANSLATION

What does the word translation mean? 

 Definition of Translation

The translation is the transmission of written text from one language (the source) to another language (the target). 

  Different Approaches of Translation 

Scholars like Theodore Savory define translation as an 'art' 

while Eric Jacobsen calls it a 'craft' and yet others like

 Eugene Nida describe it as a 'science'.

Science refers to an activity which is systematic and rule-governed which proceeds according to strict rules applied in a certain order and leading to expected results, is scientific in nature.

Craft, on the other hand is a skill where better and better results are obtained not by following set rules and regulations but by practice. Craft is primarily manual, that is to say it is practiced by hand. 

Art is also a skill, but it is skill raised to a higher level where elements of beauty enter into it. Art evokes strong emotional responses too.

 Pottery is a craft. Carving human figures on stone is also a craft. Because of practice and experimenting in different ways one may be able to calve out certain figures which may evoke strong feelings or emotions among those who see these figures.

This is art. It may follow certain procedures of carving or it may break those procedures. Each carver may set up his/her own rules. In this sense, art is different from both science and craft.

Certain groups of words are arranged in a definite manner. Only then they become well-formed sentences. So, translating is a science. 

A translator has to make several adjustments in content, form and style of the original text for the following reasons :

a) for conveying the writer's message in the original faithfully,

b)  for communicating with the reader according to author needs; 

In addition to these reasons, a translator has to consider the nature of the text.

c) The translator will make different adjustments while translating a poem, on the one hand and a scientific text on the other

Different types of translations.

WORD-FOR- WORD TRANSLATION

In this type of translation, the primary unit of translation is the word. A substitute of each word in this source language is made from the target language and the order of words remains the same as in the source language.

 This is based on the principle that while translating a text, no word should be left untranslated and  word which does not occur in the original text should be included in the translated text. 

 Let us look at an example of this type of translation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrqo88uHaik

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;'

பயம் இல்லாமல் மனம் எங்கே இதயம் எங்கே அச்சமின்றி உள்ளதோ,

எங்கே தலை நிமிர்ந்து நிற்கிறதோ 

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been divided by narrow domestic walls;

அறிவு வளர்ச்சிக்குஎங்கே பூரணவிடுதலை உள்ளதோ,குடும்பத்தின் குறுகிய தடைப்பாடுகளால்வெளி உலகின் ஒருமைப்பாடுஎங்கே உடைபட்டுத்துண்டுகளாய்ப்போய்விட படவில்லையோ,

Where words emerge from the depths of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

வாய்ச் சொற்கள் எங்கேமெய்நெறிகளின்அடிப்படையிலிருந்து
வெளிப்படையாய் வருகின்றனவோ,

Where the clear stream of reason has not been lost amid the dreary desert sands of dead habit 

Where the mind is led forward into ever-widening thought and action;

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

பாழடைந்த பழக்கம் என்னும் பாலை மணலில் வழி தவறிப் போய்விட வில்லையோ,நோக்கம் விரியவும்,ஆக்கவினை புரியவும்
இதயத்தை எங்கே வழிநடத்திச் செல்கிறாயோ,அந்த விடுதலைச் சுவர்க்க பூமியில் எந்தன் பிதாவே! விழித்தெழுக     என் தேசம்!

Psalm 42

திருப்பாடல்கள்

As the deer longs for running streams,

so my soul longs for you, O God.

கலைமான் நீரோடைகளுக்காக

ஏங்கித் தவிப்பது போல்

கடவுளே! என் நெஞ்சம்

உமக்காக ஏங்கித் தவிக்கின்றது.

மானானது நீரோடைகளை

வாஞ்சித்துக் கதறுவதுபோல,

தேவனே, என் ஆத்துமா

உம்மை வாஞ்சித்துக் கதறுகிறது. 

My soul thirsts for God, the living God.

When can I enter and see the face of God?

என் நெஞ்சம் கடவுள்மீது,உயிருள்ள இறைவன்மீது தாகம் கொண்டுள்ளது;

எப்பொழுது நான் கடவுள் முன்னிலையில் வந்து

நிற்கப்போகின்றேன்?

என் ஆத்துமா தேவன்மேல், ஜீவனுள்ள தேவன்மேலேயே

தாகமாயிருக்கிறது; 

நான் எப்பொழுது தேவனுடைய சந்நிதியில் வந்து  நிற்பேன்?

Thus word-for-word translation has a practical use for it helps linguists in teaching grammar. Similarly, when we translate a religious or classical text into a modern language, a word-for-word translation helps us understand the word order of the second translation.

 A second translation in the modern language helps to understand the meaning. Examples of word-for-word translation can also be found in legal texts, where the legal terms are already codified and have to be substituted for the words in the second translation

LITERAL TRANSLATION

There is  no two languages have exactly similar structures. That is to say different languages have different ways of putting words together to make sentences. Also, different languages have different ways of conveying meaning. However, sometimes two languages may be close to one another and their manner of organizing words and meanings may be similar.

 When the activity of translation takes place between two such languages, it may be possible to make a literal translation. Again, it may be possible to use this type of translation even among two dissimilar languages when the text is more information-oriented and less opinion-oriented. For instance, translations of scientific and technical texts may make use of this type of translation.

 

Literal language is saying exactly what you mean while 

figurative language is more elaborate and uses literary techniques or 

 

Literal language expresses thoughts and ideas in a clear and specific manner. They do not deviate from the accepted meaning. Thus, it is easy to understand literal language. This type of language is often used to deliver important information and is used in writing scientific, technical and legal documents.

2. Right to Freedom (Articles 19 – 22)

Freedom is one of the most important ideals cherished by any democratic society. The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom to citizens. The freedom right includes many rights such as:

• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of expression
• Freedom of assembly without arms
• Freedom of association
• Freedom to practise any profession 
• Freedom to reside in any part of the country

பேச்சு சுதந்திரம். பேச, ‘வெளிப்படுத்த’, ஆயுதங்கள் இன்றி அமைதியாக ஒன்று சேர, மன்றங்கள்/ அமைப்புகள் நடத்த, இந்தியாவுக்குள் எங்கும் சென்று வர, இந்தியாவுக்குள் எங்கும் வசிக்க – எல்லாக் குடிமகன்களுக்கும் உரிமை உண்டு. (பிரிவு 19)  ஒரே குற்றத்துக்கு இரு முறை தண்டனை வழங்கப்பட மாட்டாது. (பிரிவு 20) 

Figurative language is a language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. For example, look at the sentence ‘raining cats and dogs’. This does not mean that cats and dogs are falling from the sky. This actually means that it’s raining heavily.

Connotation and Denotation

 Connotation and Denotation are two principal methods of describing the meanings of words. 

Connotation refers to the wide array of positive and negative associations that most words naturally carry with them, whereas denotation is the precise, literal definition of a word that might be found in a dictionary.

Connotation is the emotional and imaginative association surrounding a word.

Denotation is the strict dictionary meaning of a word.

drug addict . . . druggie, drug fiend, substance abuser handicapped . . . crippled, disabled, differently abled horse . . . . . . steed, nag, plug

house . . . . . . home, abode, domicile, residence

thin . . . . . . thin, slender, slim, skinny, lean, beanpole attractive . . . pretty, beautiful, handsome,

fair reporter . . . . journalist, broadcaster, newshound unattractive . . plain, dull, ugly

1. What is the primary aim of translation?

2. Distinguish between literal and word-for-word translation.

3. Differentiate between literal and figurative meaning.

4. Draw a distinction between denotative meaning and connotative meaning.

5. what way does the nature of meaning determine the type of translation? 

karee in tamil

katee in Malyalam

Read More

Brief History of Indian Art(Architecture and painting)

 It is believed that ,art is  originated. From the period of  the Indus Valley Civilization .

Ancient Period

An early art form consisting of carvings or drawings on cave rocks. The oldest known prehistoric art is the series of petroglyphs discovered during the 1990s in two ancient quartzite caves in India: 

the Auditorium Cave at Bhimbetka and 

a rock shelter at Daraki-Chattan. 

This cave art consists of numerous cupules - non-utilitarian hemispherical cup-shaped depressions - hammered out of the rock surface. Geological investigations of the prehistoric sites by renowned archeologists . That have established that this rock art pre-dates the Acheulean culture of the Lower Paleolithic era, and must therefore date from at least 290,000 BCE.

However, once more advanced dating methods become available, it is conceivable that these petroglyphs will turn out to be much older - perhaps originating as early as 700,000 Even so, the Bhimbetka cupules are four times older than the Blombos Cave art, which is the next oldest site of Stone Age art.

Indus Valley Art

From the 2nd Century B.C., the Indus Valley Civilisation flourished in the northwest area of the country, which is Pakistan to the present date. The evolution towards a sophisticated and civilised culture happened in the Harappan period. Roughly dating somewhere from 3200-1200. The people of the Indus valley civilization produced the earliest known Indian art sculptures, from between 2500 and 1800 BCE. They were small terracotta and bronze figures depicting animals and humans, like cows, monkeys, and dancing positions.

Buddhism and Hinduism Influenced Art

Buddhism originated in India at some point in the 6th century BCE. Religious artists made sculpture pieces, including stone and bronze. They also produced magnificent examples of Indian cave art, with entire temples being carved in stone and decorated with Greek-influenced columns and sculptures.

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/10-ancient-buddhist-temples-to-explore-from-home/1gXxcehgngrO6w

 By the 5th century CE, the sculpture was a common practice among Indian Buddhists and Hindus. Hinduism continued to be the focus of art creation for centuries, sculptures of Shiva and other deities, and huge stone temples like the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, built in the 11th century in northern India.

Islamic Influence

In the 12th century, there was a gradual Muslim conquest in India with the establishment of various Islamic States during that time. Islam gradually gained importance in India and under the Mughal Empire, established in the 16th century. The beautiful influence of Islamic culture came with the invasion of Mughals and other Islamic rulers. With Mughals rule during the 16th century- mid 19th century, changed the entire complexion of the country leaving a lasting impression on India’s Culture, Clothing and especially in Indian Art and Paintings. Their influence can be traced to the architecture and monuments built by them during that time like the Taj Mahal.

https://www.yoair.com/blog/the-story-behind-the-taj-mahal-and-why-it-is-a-cultural-landmark/

Colonial Era

A defining moment in the History of Indian Art, which came during the western influence on the country’s heritage, was with the arrival of Vasco da Gama at the end of the 15th century, who established a direct link with India for trade. 

Slowly and gradually during the 17th century, France, Netherlands and Denmark and England began facilitating trade with India. With the fall of Maratha rule in the 18th century, European countries started entering India from its different regions. 

The British power expanded with the defeat of Tipu Sultan and by the mid-19th century, the country find itself covered under the British Empire’s governance. The western and European influence on India during that time is something that can be experienced in Indian’s culture and art even today. This resulted in local artistic traditions merging with foreign influences. 

History of Indian Art: Styles

Traditional Indian Art consists of religious characters (Gods and Idols) in Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism which have been a common theme throughout centuries. Sculptures and cave paintings found in ancient times mainly featured human, mythological, elaborated ornaments and animals forms. In the medieval period, Islam as well as the Indian art didn’t relinquish figural representations. Each style of art is unique in its own way and greatly admirable. Traditionally, these art styles existed only in wall paintings or murals. But today, they are also found in canvas, paper, cloth, etc. Here is a list of different Indian art styles, some still in practice and others not.

Madhubani Painting

This art is also known as Mithila art, and it originated in the kingdom of Janak in Nepal and in present-day Bihar. This art form was not known to the rest of the world until the 1930s when it was discovered after an earthquake. Mostly practised by women, these paintings or wall murals depict gods, fauna and flora. Characterised by geometric patterns, this art form is greatly admired for its evocative portrayal of traditions and cultures.

Warli Painting

This form of art dates back to 2500 BCE, and it was practised by the Warli tribes belonging to Thane and Nasik in Maharashtra. These paintings mostly illustrate the nature and social rituals of the tribe. 

It portrays daily activities like farming, praying, dancing, hunting, etc. Geometrical patterns in white against a yellow or red background are some of the main themes. Warli paintings were usually made by married women to celebrate a wedding, and they were also used to decorate huts of the Warli tribes.

Miniature Painting

The miniature paintings illustrate a combination of Indian, Islamic and Persian art styles. This art form dates back to the 16th century, and the themes are usually centred on battles, court scenes, portraits, wildlife, receptions, hunting scenes, legendary stories etc. Natural stone colours are used in a paper-based “wasli” for the creation of these paintings. The miniature paintings have developed into several distinct schools of miniature like Mughal, Rajasthan, Deccan, Kangra, Malwa, Pahadi, etc.

Kalamkari

Having a strong connection to Persian motifs, this art has been in practice for more than 3000 years. 

Kalamkari derives its name from kalam or pen, and it means ‘drawings with a pen’. 

This organic art of hand and block printing has survived generations in Andhra Pradesh. Kalamkari art involves earthy colours like green, rust, indigo, mustard and black.

 Today this art is used in ethnic clothing and depicts anything from fauna and flora to epics such as Mahabharata or Ramayana.

Tanjore Painting

First painted in the 16th century under the Chola regime, this painting originated in the Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu. 

Tanjore painting, also known by the name Thanjavur painting, is an ancient South Indian art form that was named after the city from where it originated. Locally, Tanjore Paintings are also called ‘Palagai Padam,’ which means picture on a wooden plank as these paintings are crafted on wooden planks. The innovative painting style, vibrant colors, iconic composition, and surface richness make Tanjore Paintings unique and popular across the world. Each Tanjore Painting is embellished with glass beads, semi-precious gems and stones, vibrant natural colors, and glittering gold foil. All these provide a three-dimensional effect to the painting.

The art form got its original inspiration from 1600 A.D., when the Nayakas were under the control of Rayas of Vijayanagara. During this period, Rayas encouraged various forms of classical art, including dance, painting, music, and literature. However, the painting style as we know it today is highly influenced by the Maratha court of Thanjavur. In 2007-2008, the Government of India recognized Tanjore Painting as a Geographical Indication. The skilled artisans use this painting style to paint the portraits of Hindu gods and goddesses in different postures.

The roots of Tanjore Paintings are also linked to Thanjavur. The painting style originated and flourished here in the 16th and 17th centuries. The origin of this classical painting style is linked to the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 A.D. to 1646 A.D.), including the areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The rulers of Vijayanagara were patrons of art and culture. The roots of this South Indian art form are linked to the Mural art of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Tanjore Painting was first used for decorating the doors and walls of homes, palaces, and temples in Thanjavur. The interior walls of the palaces were also painted with depictions of various events like a coronation, battle victories, and other achievements of the rulers. In contrast, the walls of temples and homes were decorated with murals and paintings involving religious themes and portraits of various Hindu deities.  

Tanjore Painting style is one of the oldest South Indian art forms that still exist. These paintings were made with humility, ritual purity, and devotion. Mostly, the subjects of these paintings are associated with Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The art form has stood against the test of times through history and went through several innovations. The reason it survived through centuries is the adaptability of the painting style to change the format. Even today, Tanjore Paintings still have a broad appeal. The artists have kept the traditional practices and techniques alive.

Read More

POINT OF VIEW: Perspective is a point-of-view

 POINT OF VIEW: Perspective is a point-of-view. In a way it is regarding something through a specific filter. Each perspective or filter has unique characteristics that direct how something is considered. Context or contextual knowledge relates to perspective, in that all perspectives are shaped by the circumstances around them that constitute a kind of background they form within. 

 3 Basic Types of Perspective 

 Cultural Perspective - Culture is a complex concept that encompasses the ways that social life effects and informs our experiences. , in whatever form they take, contribute to ‘made meanings’ of culture, specifically as visual culture. As Gillian Rose points out- these representations, whether they are high art or advertisements, are not transparent windows on the world, rather- they interpret the world.

 Historical Perspective - As time passes, scholarship and research occur and many people become aware of a particular artwork, art form, art style, etc. Recognition may increase (and sometimes decreases). Vincent Van Gogh is an example here—totally unappreciated while he was alive, he’s recognized worldwide as a notable painter. Other examples might be the negative attitudes towards jazz music or hip-hop in the mid-twentieth century.

 Personal Perspective - Personal perspectives are formed by the layered aspects that form our individual identities. This could be any number of defining aspects such as, gender, class, race, where you were born and raised, education, aspects of family, group affiliations, etc., and the list goes on. These aspects form our unique biographical experiences that constitute our identities and color our personal point of view or the way we interpret our life experiences. You may find that your personal response to art and artworks will change as you learn more about design, art making, and the history of art in general. Knowledge and/or education about art usually helps us appreciate and understand it. Sweeping judgments based purely on a personal emotional response can be colored with bias and often come from having little knowledge of a subject or artwork or the larger cultural context. These are habits of thinking that inhibit a critical understanding of things that are new to us like artwork. In

general, it’s a good idea to take a generous stance to art forms or artworks we don’t like or don’t understand or just don’t connect

Read More

Applied Arts-

 

The applied arts are all the arts that apply design and decoration to everyday and essentially practical objects in order to make them aesthetically pleasing. 

It combines aesthetics, design, consumer need, and finding practical solutions to problems. 

It is an area in which design and decoration come together to create objects and ideas that are both useful and beautiful. 

The applied arts are very distinct from fine art, where the aim is to produce an aesthetic that is beautiful for its own sake or that consciously places itself within an artistic tradition or movement. 

And although the boundary between the two areas is often blurred, it can be summarized in the following way: fine art is essentially an intellectual pursuit, whereas applied arts focuses on utility and usefulness.

Applied Arts- Book cover design and illustration, cartoon, poster, advertisements for newspaper, magazine, hoardings, T.V., photography, computer graphics, animation, printing processes. 

The term "applied art" refers to the application (and resulting product) of artistic design to utilitarian objects in everyday use. Whereas works of fine art have no function other than providing aesthetic or intellectual stimulation to the viewer, works of applied art are usually functional objects .

Works of applied art comprise two different types: 

standard machine-made products which have had a particular design applied to them, to make them more attractive and easy-to-use; 

and individual, aesthetically pleasing but mostly functional, craft products made by artisans or skilled workers.

 Artistic disciplines that are classified as applied arts, include industrial design, fashion design, interior design, and graphic art and design (including computer graphics), as well as most types of decorative art (eg. furniture, carpets, tapestry, embroidery, batik, jewellery, precious metalwork, pottery, goldsmithing, basketry, mosaic art, and glassware). 

Illuminated manuscripts and later book illustration are also classified as applied arts. Architecture, too is best viewed as an applied art.

https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/applied-arts-meaning-kinds

Read More

CONTEMPORARY ART (1970–PRESENT)

 The 1970s marked the beginning of contemporary art, which extends through present day. This period is dominated by various schools and smaller movements that emerged. 

the term contemporary art refers to art—namely, painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video art—produced today. Though seemingly simple, the details surrounding this definition are often a bit fuzzy, as different individuals' interpretations of “today” may widely and wildly vary. Therefore, the exact starting point of the genre is still debated; however, many art historians consider the late 1960s or early 1970s (the end of modern art, or modernism) to be an adequate estimate.

  Postmodernism: In reaction against modernism, artists created works that reflected skepticism, irony, and philosophical critiques. 

  Feminist art: This movement arose in an attempt to transform stereotypes and break the model of a male-dominated art history.

  Neo Expressionism: Artists sought to revive original aspects of Expressionism and create highly textural, expressive, large works. 

  Street art: Artists such as Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barry McGee, Banksy, and more created graffiti-like art on surfaces in public places like sidewalks, buildings, and overpasses. 

  The Pictures Generation: Artists Cindy Sherman, Louise Lawler, Gary Simmons, and others who were influenced by Conceptual and Pop art experimented with recognizable imagery to explore images shaped our perceptions of the world. 

  Appropriation art: This movement focused on the use of images in art with little transformation from their original form. 

  Young British Artists (YBA): This group of London artists were notorious for their willingness to shock audiences through their imagery, and a willingness to push beyond limits of decency. They’re also known for their zestful, entrepreneurial spirit.

  Digital art: The advent of the camera lent way to this artistic practice that allowed artists to use the infusion of art and technology to create with mediums like computers, audio and visual software, sound, and pixels. Art movements throughout the history of Western art have offered a swath of diverse, influential styles, techniques, and media across the globe. Each movement shed light on distinctive painting, sculpture, architectural achievements, and other defining works. Understanding the timeline of art history and how each period has influenced later movements is paramount to building a thoughtful, cohesive collection.

History: Major Contemporary Art Movements and Artists

Given its “art of today” definition, you may be surprised to hear that contemporary art actually has a relatively long history. To trace its evolution, let's take a look at the major movements and important artists that compose its history.

 

POP ARTIntended as a reaction to preceding modern art movements, contemporary art is thought to have begun on the heels of Pop Art. In post-war Britain and America, Pop Art was pioneered by artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. It is defined by an interest in portraying mass culture and reimagining commercial products as accessible art. While the movement lasted roughly from the 1950s through the early 1970s, it was reborn as Neo-Pop Art in the 1980s thanks to artists like Jeff Koons.

Conceptualism, 

In turn, Pop Art also helped shape Conceptualism, which rejected the idea of art as a commodity. In conceptual art, the idea behind a work of art takes precedence. Major conceptual artists include Damien Hirst, Ai Wei Wei, and Jenny Holzer. Though this experimental movement is rooted in art of the early 21st century, it emerged as a formal movement in the 1960s and remains a major contemporary art movement today.

Like Conceptualism, Minimalism materialized in the 1960s and is still prevalent today. According to the Tate, both movements “challenged the existing structures for making, disseminating and viewing art.” What sets Minimalism apart, however, is that its simple, abstract aesthetic invites viewers to respond to what they see—not what they think a given work of art represents.

Another movement with Conceptualist roots is Performance Art. Beginning in the 1960s and retaining its popularity today, performance art is a drama-inspired approach to art. While the art form is performed by artists (as the name suggests), it is not solely intended as entertainment. Instead, its goal is to convey a message or idea. Predominant performance artists include Marina Abramović, Yoko Ono, and Joseph Beuys.

street art 

As one of the most recent contemporary art movements, street art is a genre that gained prominence with the rise of graffiti in the 1980s. Often rooted in social activism, street art includes murals, installations, stenciled images, and stickers erected in public spaces.

 

Read More