In the context of the Turkish language, the term çeviri exemplifies the Turkish conception of the word translation, which is often mistakenly called çeviyi by non-Turkish language speakers. Regardless of whether you are a linguistics student, a burgeoning entrepreneur aiming for the Turkish-speaking demographic, or an avid hobbyist, an understanding of what this word means is important. The process of translation is more than merely moving or replacing a word from one dictionary to another, and includes a cross-cultural element.
This document will elucidate the meaning of the term, its origin and journey from ancient tablets to modern-day AI, and contemporary translation methodologies that are considered excellent. It will also empower you to grasp the intricacies inherent in the Turkish language and its translation.
Meaning and Relevance of “Çeviyi”
Let’s not skirt around the potential confusion regarding spelling. The correct Turkish term for ‘translation’ is ‘çeviri.’ The term ‘çeviyi’ often appears as an online search term, or a social media hashtag, or is use colloquially, mistakenly or as a variation of the accusative case of the word, thus referring to ‘the translation.’ However, for the purpose of this document, we will define the term as a whole and assume its diverse and extensive contextual use in the field of translation in Turkey.
Translation in Turkish culture is a lot more than just a technical process; it is an essential historical process. Turkey has always been a multicultural and multilingual region, which has been located at the intersection of Europe and Asia. From the Hittites, Persians and Arabs to the French and English, multiple languages have existed in the region. Therefore, çeviri has been and is a cultural and modernization imperative. It amplifies and modernizes the local voices to a global scale and at the same time, localizes the global ideas to the local context. It shapes, among others, literature and technology.
A Brief History of the Translation Sector
The translation industry, and its engagement with the transfer of meaning, is as old as the first written civilization. The oldest of the Sumerian tablets, used as bureaucracy or administration documentation, contain records of agreements between multiple societies and their languages.
From Baghdad to the Printing Press
The ninth and tenth centuries of Baghdad are often referred to as the ‘Golden Age of Translation’ or the ‘Golden Age of Baghdad’ because of the great number of received and translated texts (from Ancient Greece) into Arabic. The translated texts (along with some original Arabic texts) inspired the European Renaissance.
The fifteenth (or mid-15th) century revolutionized the way people in the West Europe accessed and received information because of the European Reformation, and the initial (or first Spanish) Protestant Reformation. The translated texts, books and writings now became available to the public (non-elite) society. In the periods of late Ottoman and early Republican Turkey, the translated European legal texts (and other Western) classics texts and modern Turkey scientific works modeled the Turkish language and the worldview.
Values of Current Translation
Standards or the practice of çeviri involve both the academic and professional worlds. Mere bilingualism is inadequate. A true translator (çevirmen) is one who also possesses the skills of interpreting.
Advertising Translation
One of the leading debates in the industry is going to be identifying the optimal balance between source text (kaynak metin) fidelity and target text (erek metin) readability. A translation that is typically rigid does not capture the Spirit of the source text! It causes the phrasing to sound odd. Most of the Modern Day Industry principles suggest “dynamic” (in this case) Equivalence.
Cultural Contexts
Research translation also highlights the importance of studying both the source and target language and cultures to understand the unavoidable and often subjective nature of language. Humor for example, often constitutes localized elements or CDs – which involve more comprehensively defined parameters than direct translation.
Everyday Life Practical Implications
The principles of çeviri are inherent in the lifestyle daily in almost every area of how we work, live, and enjoy our entertainment.
- Business and Commerce: When entering Turkey, firms must ensure precise legal, marketing, and website translation. Inaccurate translations can result in legal liability and tarnished firm image.
- Literature and Entertainment: Translators are invaluable in the Literature and Entertainment fields. Your favorite series on Netflix and recently bought books are influenced by translators. Netflix series and books are translated, so the Turkish audience can watch Korean series and read American sci-fi books, as if they were written in Turkish.
- Technical and Medical Fields: In hospitals and engineering, instructions must be free of ambiguity. Medical and technical translators ensure that the guides of medical equipment and the instructions of the safety measures are absolutely clear and precise.
Common Misconceptions
Translation is an everyday occurrence, but several myths surround the profession.
- “Anyone who speaks two languages can translate” is the most dangerous of the myths. While it is true that most translators are bilingual, successful translators also demonstrate great analytical ability, considerable subject matter expertise, and excellent writing skills in the target language. It is a skill honed through years of study and practice.
- “Machine Translation is good enough.” There’s no doubt that machine translation tools (like Google Translate) have gotten substantially better. However, they still do not understand context, tone, or nuance. They can help understand what is being said, but they can’t be relied on to do professional or creative work.
- “Translation is just about swapping words.” As I have mentioned before, the act of translating is about conveying a specific meaning. Take, for example, a single word in English can have five different ways of expression in Turkish. \Where the choice depends on the context, the level of formality, and the audience.
The Future of “Çeviri”
The field of translation is changing, mainly due to the rapid changes in technology. We are in the beginning stages of what is referred to as “augmented translation,” in which human translators work in tandem with AI.
Machine translation (MT) will handle all of the repetitive and high-volume work, while people will do the post-editing and any creative adjustments. This combination keeps the work efficient while still maintaining or improving quality. Plus, the new technology that allows for voice recognition and real-time interpreting will only increase ease of communication, travel, and business.
Even so, the human element is still essential. As machines continue to handle all of the data, the work of the human translator will be made of more cultural consulting and transcreation, ensuring that the message’s soul is still there.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of seeing çeviri in a textbook, or çeviyi in a rushed text, the concept remains a core part of human communication. It is a multifaceted and fluid field that connects “us” and “them,” and changes unfamiliar noises into meaningful ones.
Next time you interact with a translated book or an application available in your language, appreciate the work of all the translators who added to the work. Knowing the history, principles, and the future of translation gives us a more meaningful understanding of the world and the invisible workers, who have created the world we live in.
