Sunday, September 21, 2025

IKS

 



Q- 1 elaborate dhavani 

 Ans- Introduction: 

          The theory of Dhvani was given by Ānandavardhana in his work Dhavanyalok (9th century). It is one of the most important contributions to Indian poetics.

          The word Dhvani literally means sound, but in literary theory, it refers to “suggestion” or the implied meaning that goes beyond the literal (what is directly said).


Main idea 💡:

A poem is not just beautiful because of its words (śabda) or direct meaning (artha). The real beauty lies in what is suggested indirectly – the hidden meaning that touches the reader’s heart. This hidden essence is called Dhvani.


🪷Types of Dhvani

According to Ānandavardhana, there are mainly three types of Dhvani:



1. Vastu-dhvani (Idea-suggestion)

When a poem suggests a meaning or idea indirectly.

Example: If someone says “The lamp is flickering,” it may suggest that the night is ending.


2. Alaṅkāra-dhvani (Figure of speech suggestion)

When a figure of speech (like metaphor, simile) suggests more than its literal sense.

Example: “Her face is the moon.” Beyond beauty, it may suggest coolness, charm, or even distance.


3. Rasa-dhvani (Emotion-suggestion)

This is the highest form of Dhvani. When words suggest an emotional experience (rasa), the poem achieves true poetic excellence.

Example: In love poetry, the descriptions may only hint at the deep feeling of love rather than stating it openly.


✨Importance:

💮Dhvani is considered the soul of poetry (kāvya-ātma).

💮Without suggestion, poetry becomes lifeless.

💮Through Dhvani, literature goes beyond direct communication and creates aesthetic delight (rasa-anubhava).


🧑‍🏫  Abhinavagupta's View:

Great Kashmiri philosopher and poet Commented on Dhvanyāloka. Said that Dhvani works because of "Sahridaya" — a sensitive reader who feels what is suggested. Explained how poetry is not just understood — it is experienced.


🪷Types of Meanings in Poetry:

🔤1. Abhidha (Denotative meaning):

It gives the direct/literal meaning of a word.

Example: "Lotus" means the actual flower.


➤ Not Dhvani, but it is the base layer of meaning.


🧭 2. Lakshana (Indicative meaning):

Used when the literal meaning doesn’t make sense, so we take a secondary or indirect meaning.

Example: "The village is on the Ganga"

→ Literally not possible, so it means near the river.


➤ Still not Dhvani, but it is part of how meaning shifts.


🎯 3. Vyanjana (Suggestive meaning)

This is where Dhvani begins.

It suggests a deeper emotional or imaginative meaning, without saying it directly.


Example: "Her eyes are the ocean"

→ Suggest


💮✍️ Final Example – Compare Two Lines:

🌿 Literal line (No Dhvani):

➡️ “The king died in battle."

→ Straightforward. No emotion.


🌺 Line with Dhvani:

➡️“The battlefield fell silent — only the broken sword of the king lay glowing in the dusk.”


🪷→ Suggests:

The king is dead

He fought bravely


A sense of loss, honor, silence → This is Dhvani. It's felt, not just read.


Conclusion:

Dhvani is the soul of poetic language. It makes poetry more powerful by suggesting meanings instead of stating them. It invites the reader to feel rather than just understand. In Indian aesthetics, Dhvani = the magic of poetry.


Q- 2 Elaborate Vakrokti theory 

Ans - Introduction:-


Vakrokti is a concept from Sanskrit literature and is considered one of the most important ideas in Indian literary theory. The word Vakrokti comes from two Sanskrit words:


Vakra – meaning crooked, indirect, or unique


Ukti – meaning speech or expression


So, Vakrokti literally means “indirect or unique way of expressing something.” In simple words, it is the art of using clever, creative, and unusual expressions in poetry or writing that make it more beautiful, interesting, and impactful.Vakrokti refers to the art of employing indirect, metaphorical, or embellished expressions to achieve a higher aesthetic and emotional effect in poetry. 

In simple words, Vakrokti is the art of saying ordinary things in extraordinary ways. It is the twist, the turn, the hidden charm in language that makes it striking and memorable.


       Click here for video


❀Historical Development:

The theory of Vakrokti was systematically developed by the 10th-century Kashmiri scholar Kuntaka in his seminal work, Vakroktijīvitam. Kuntaka's formulation of Vakrokti marked a significant evolution in Indian literary criticism, distinguishing it from earlier theories. While earlier theorists like Bhamaha and Dandin acknowledged Vakrokti as a mode of expression, Kuntaka elevated it to a central principle of poetic composition.  


❀Why Vakrokti is Important ?

Ordinary speech is direct and plain. Poetry, however, stands out because of the way it is expressed.

The beauty of poetry comes from the clever use of words, style, and expression.

Vakrokti emphasizes creativity in expression rather than just the idea itself. Two poets may write about the same subject, but the one with Vakrokti makes it more appealing and artistic.


🌸Who Developed the Theory?

The theory of Vakrokti was developed by Kuntaka, a famous scholar from Kashmir in the 10th century. He wrote a book called Vakroktijīvitam, where he explained that the main beauty of poetry comes from how it is expressed, not just what is being said.

Earlier poets focused more on the meaning or story, but Kuntaka emphasized that the way a poet says something (their style) creates the real beauty.

☸Types of Vakrokti

Kuntaka divided Vakrokti into six levels based on where the “twist” or beauty appears:


1. Varṇavinyāsa Vakrokti (Phonetic or Sound Level):

Beauty arises from the choice of words, sounds, and their arrangement.

Example: Use of alliteration or rhyme.


2. Padavyakti Vakrokti (Word Level):

Individual words have a subtle or unusual meaning that makes them artistic.

Example: “वनं रम्यं रमणीयं” (Choosing multiple synonyms for beauty to enhance effect).


3. Prakaraṇavyakti Vakrokti (Sentence Level):

The way a sentence is constructed gives it an unexpected or elegant twist.

Example: “रामः गच्छति, परंतु सीता न गच्छति” (The contrast creates a poetic effect).


4. Vākya Vyakti Vakrokti (Expression Level):

A whole expression or phrase is cleverly turned to produce impact.

Example: “अम्बरं अश्वत्थं छायायामिव” (Comparing sky to a tree’s shadow—metaphoric).


5. Prabandha Vyakti Vakrokti (Composition Level):

The art lies in the structure of the entire literary work.

Example: “सूर्यस्य किरणाः हृदय स्पर्शिनः” (Metaphorically describing sunlight touching the heart).


6. Pravṛtti Vakrokti (Contextual or Situational Level):

Beauty comes from the context, situation, or the sentiment evoked in the audience.

Example: “सिंहस्य मुखे शान्ति, वन में भय” (Irony: peaceful mouth but forest full of danger).


✳️Characteristics of Vakrokti:

Vakrokti has certain defining qualities:

1. Indirectness – Ideas are not expressed in a plain manner; they have twists or turns.


2. Ornamentation – Use of poetic devices like metaphors, similes, alliterations.


3. Uniqueness – Each poet has their own style; Vakrokti is about the originality of expression.


4. Pleasure of reading – The main purpose is to delight the reader or listener.


5. Emotional impact – It evokes aesthetic emotion (called Rasa in Sanskrit) through subtle expression.


Example of Vakrokti

Imagine a simple statement:

Ordinary: The sun rises in the morning.


With Vakrokti (Poetic): The golden chariot of dawn spreads its light across the sky.

Here, the ordinary idea is made extraordinary through imagery and indirect expression.


🪷Conclusion:

Vakrokti teaches us that what is said is less important than how it is said. It is a celebration of artful expression, creativity, and the aesthetic pleasure of language. Without Vakrokti, literature may convey meaning but not delight the mind or evoke deep emotion.

In short:

 Vakrokti is the soul of poetry, turning ordinary language into art.


Q- 3   “Why is Anandavardhana considered a pioneer of Indian literary theory?”

Ans- 


       Anandavardhana, a towering figure in the history of Indian literature, is widely celebrated as a pioneer of literary theory because of his groundbreaking contributions that reshaped the way poetry and prose were understood in classical India. Born in the 9th century, he emerged during a period when literary criticism largely focused on grammar, stylistic embellishments, and the technical perfection of verses. Scholars before him often praised works for their skillful use of language or clever rhyming schemes, but Anandavardhana brought a revolutionary perspective that shifted attention from mere words to the deeper emotional and aesthetic experiences that literature evokes. He emphasized that the essence of poetry lies not merely in its literal meaning but in its power to suggest, evoke, and move the reader.


       His most remarkable work, the Dhvanyaloka, is considered a landmark in Indian literary theory. In this text, he introduced the concept of Dhvani, which can be translated as “suggestion” or “implication.” According to Anandavardhana, the true beauty of a literary composition does not rest solely in its direct statements or ornamented language, but in the subtle meanings and emotions it hints at. For instance, a poem describing a quiet night might also suggest a feeling of longing or loneliness that is not explicitly stated, yet it resonates deeply with the reader. This understanding of poetry as an art of suggestion allowed critics and poets to appreciate not just what was written, but what was implied, imagined, or felt.


       Anandavardhana’s ideas were transformative because they shifted the focus of literary evaluation from external decoration to the inner impact of a work. He argued that the emotional response a reader experiences—whether joy, sorrow, wonder, or love—was central to understanding the quality of a poem. This approach laid the foundation for later Indian literary theories, including those of Abhinavagupta and other commentators on Rasa and Dhvani, forming a sophisticated tradition of aesthetics that connected literature to human psychology and emotional experience.


       Moreover, Anandavardhana’s theories helped create a bridge between the technical aspects of composition and the emotional power of art. He demonstrated that literary excellence involves a harmonious balance between structure, language, and the subtleties of suggestion that stir the reader’s imagination. His work encouraged poets to focus not merely on clever wordplay or elaborate style, but on the ability of their words to touch hearts and provoke thought. By emphasizing the interplay of emotion and expression, he elevated literary criticism from a mechanical assessment of form to a thoughtful exploration of human experience through art.


       Anandavardhana’s pioneering role is further confirmed by the enduring influence of his ideas. Centuries after his work, scholars, students, and writers continue to study his theories to gain a deeper appreciation of Sanskrit literature and the art of poetry. His insights into Dhvani, Vakrokti, and aesthetic experience remain relevant today, not only in the context of classical literature but also for understanding modern poetry, storytelling, and creative expression. By redefining what constitutes literary excellence and providing a systematic approach to evaluating it, Anandavardhana rightfully earned his place as a visionary and a pioneer in Indian literary thought.


Thank you ...


Citation:

• photo created from Canva and chat GPT, Easy Litt.

• some information taken from INFILBNET, Scribd, e- Adhyayan and chat GPT.

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Sec

 


Q-1 video created on "Education and Corruption ".

Ans- 

 

📖 Education vs 💰 Corruption: A Visual Journey

In today’s world, education and corruption stand as two powerful forces shaping society in completely opposite ways. Through my video, I have tried to highlight how books bring strength, respect, and true success, while money-driven corruption creates fake power, injustice, and poverty. The following scenes capture this contrast in detail:


1. Education Gives Strength vs. Corruption Gives Weakness:

The opening scene sets the foundation by showing the choice between a book and money. A caption declares: “Education gives strength, and corruption gives weakness.” This simple contrast reminds us that while money may provide shortcuts, only education can build lasting power.


2. Hard Work vs. Shortcuts:

On a split screen, one student studies hard while another buys success through bribes. The comparison highlights the unfairness of corruption, where undeserving individuals gain rewards that belong to those who truly work hard.


3. Respect Through Education vs. False Power Through Money:

Here, one person chooses a book and earns respect, success, and recognition, while another takes money to appear powerful. This shows how education provides strength that lasts a lifetime, whereas corruption gives only temporary power that eventually collapses.


4. Hiding Corruption:

Another contrast appears when money is chosen to gain quick benefits but is then hidden away. This symbolizes the guilt and secrecy that surround corruption, unlike education which brings pride and confidence.


5. Knowledge Brings Success vs. Cheating in Exams:

During an exam, one student writes sincerely while the voice-over says “Knowledge gives success.” This emphasizes that true achievement comes only from learning, not from cheating or bribery.


6. Fake Success Through Money:

A student’s score of 4/15 is falsely changed to 15/15 through bribery. This represents the fake success that corruption creates—marks can be bought, but real knowledge cannot.


7. Corruption in Opportunities:

A scene shows how all seats are marked as reserved, but with money, the paper is destroyed and opportunities open up unfairly. This reflects how corruption denies opportunities to deserving individuals while benefiting the wealthy.


8. Money Makes Rules:

A clip of money being flipped is captioned “Money makes the rules.” This symbolizes how corruption often bends systems to favor those with wealth, ignoring fairness and justice.


9. Poverty as a Result of Corruption:

The sight of poor children taking food packets reflects the harsh reality that corruption and lack of education deepen poverty. Instead of uplifting the underprivileged, corruption keeps them trapped in suffering.


10. Power of Knowledge vs. Power of Money:

The final transformation scene conveys the ultimate conflict: “Knowledge is equal to power” but gets replaced with “Money is equal to power.” This ending reminds us of the ongoing struggle in society, and the urgent need to restore knowledge as the true source of power.


✨ Conclusion:

This video is a reflection of how education and corruption constantly clash in our world. Education brings dignity, wisdom, and true strength, while corruption offers only temporary gain, injustice, and destruction. The choice between books and money is not just symbolic—it is the choice between building a better future or falling into the trap of false success.

“Corruption buys degrees, but education earns respect.”


Q-2 Presentation on the world of digitalization 

Ans -


Click here to see the presentation


      My presentation on "The world of Digitalisation". Digitalisation has become an essential part of our daily lives, transforming the way we learn, communicate, work, and manage our resources. From sending an email to writing blogs, from secure payments through GPay to storing important documents in DigiLocker, from creating presentations to exploring advanced tools like Chat GPT, every step shows how technology simplifies and empowers us. It not only saves time but also builds efficiency, transparency, and global connectivity. In today’s world, digitalisation is not just a choice but a necessity for growth and progress. By embracing it wisely, we open doors to innovation, knowledge, and a brighter future.


Q- 3 Digitalisation and the Future of Society: Opportunities and Challenges

Ans-


“Digitalisation is not just a trend, but the foundation of our future.”


       In the present age, digitalisation has become one of the most powerful forces shaping human life. It simply means moving from traditional ways of working to modern methods that use computers, the internet, and advanced technologies. Earlier, people had to depend on paper, face-to-face communication, and manual systems, but today almost every activity is influenced by digital tools. From education and healthcare to banking, shopping, and even entertainment, digitalisation has entered every corner of society.

       One of the most visible areas where digitalisation has brought change is education. Students no longer depend only on textbooks or classrooms. With the help of online classes, digital platforms, and mobile apps, knowledge is available anytime and anywhere. This has given equal opportunities to learners who may live in remote areas or cannot attend physical schools. The use of smart classrooms and online study materials has made learning more interactive and interesting.

       Healthcare has also improved greatly with digitalisation. Patients can now consult doctors through online platforms, receive quick test reports, and keep their medical records safely in digital form. This system not only saves time but also provides timely help. During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine and health apps proved extremely useful, showing how digital tools can save lives and reduce human suffering.

       In the world of business and the economy, digitalisation has completely changed the picture. People no longer have to stand in long queues at banks, as mobile banking and UPI transactions make money transfer simple and quick. Shopping has also become easier through e-commerce websites like Amazon and Flipkart, which deliver products directly to people’s homes. Moreover, new careers have opened up in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital marketing, which attract the youth and provide global opportunities.

       Communication has become faster than ever before. With the help of social media, video calls, and instant messaging, people can stay connected with friends and family across the world. News and information travel within seconds, making the world feel like a small global village. Governments are also making use of digitalisation by offering online services to citizens. Paying bills, applying for documents, or raising complaints can now be done from home, which saves both time and effort and increases transparency.

       However, along with these benefits, digitalisation also brings some challenges. One of the biggest concerns is the safety of personal information. As more and more data is stored online, the risk of hacking, cybercrime, and misuse of information also increases. Another serious issue is unemployment. Since many industries are now using machines and artificial intelligence, certain traditional jobs are disappearing. People who do not have digital skills may find it difficult to get employment in the future.

       Another major problem is the digital divide. While urban areas and wealthy people enjoy fast internet and smartphones, many rural areas and poor communities still lack access to digital facilities. This creates inequality, where one section of society moves forward while the other remains behind. Overuse of digital technology also affects people’s health. Spending too much time on phones or computers can cause stress, reduce face-to-face communication, and even lead to addiction.

       In conclusion, digitalisation is like a double-edged sword. On one side, it makes life easier, faster, and more advanced, while on the other side, it creates new difficulties for society. The future of digitalisation will depend on how wisely we use it. If technology is used responsibly, if proper skills are taught to everyone, and if access is given equally to rural as well as urban people, digitalisation will become a true path toward progress. It is not just a change in machines, but a change in the way humans think, work, and connect with the world. The coming years will show whether society can handle this powerful tool as a blessing or let it turn into a challenge.


Thank you...

_________________________________________________________________________

Citation:

• photos created from chat GPT and video created from inshot video editing app.

• some information taken from Google, wikipedia, Honeywell and chat gpt.

Major 6

Essay 


Q - 1. Translating the proverb and idioms, and paragraph

Ans:- 

1. Break the ice 🧊: 


🪷 Literal meaning: 

  • બરફ તોડવો / to physically break or crack the ice .

🪷 Meaning:

  • To start a conversation in a friendly way and remove the initial shyness or tension between people.

🪷 Gujarati meaning:

  • વાતની શરૂઆત કરવી / મૌન તોડવું.”

🪷 Equivalence :

1. “વાતની ગાંઠ ખોલવી”

– (to untie the knot of conversation).

2. चुप्पी तोड़ना / बात की शुरुआत करना

- ( to break the silence, or starts to talk.) 


📌 Example:

At the party, he told a funny joke to break the ice.


2. Add fuel to fire 🔥:


🪷Literal meaning:

 • to pour ghee in the fire.

🪷 Meaning:

 • To make a bad situation worse by saying or doing something that increases anger, conflict, or problems.

🪷 Gujarati meaning: 

 • it remains same 'આગમાં ઘી નાખવું'.

🪷 Equivalence :

1.“ઝગડામાં મરચું નાખવું”

– (to throw chili into a quarrel) → to make the fight more intense.

2.“આગમાં ઘી નાખવું ”

– (to pour ghee into the fire) → exact same as English, very common.


📌 Example:

When they were already arguing, his rude comment just added fuel to the fire.


3. Kick the bucket🪣: 


🪷 Literal meaning :

 •To kick a bucket with foot.

🪷Meaning: 

 •To die / to pass away (મરી જવું / मर जाना).

🪷 Gujarati meaning:

 • મરી જવું 

🪷 Equivalence:

1. “स्वर्ग सिधार जाना”

– to depart to heaven (polite/formal)

2.“ઈશ્વરના ઘરે જવું”

– literal: to go to God’s home.


📌 Example:

The old man finally kicked the bucket after a long illness.


4. The ball in your court⚾⛳: 


🪷 Literal meaning: 

 • The ball has landed on your side of the court.

🪷 Meaning:

 •Now it’s your turn to take action or make a decision.

🪷 Gujarati meaning 

 •હવે નિર્ણય તારા હાથમાં છે.

🪷 Equivalence :

1.“હવે તારો વારો છે” (Now it’s your turn)

2. “अब फैसला तुम्हारे हाथ में है” (The decision is in your hands)


📌 Example:

I’ve done everything I can; now the ball is in your court.


5. When pigs fly🐷🪽:


🪷Literal meaning :

 •Pigs flying in the sky with wings 

🪷Meaning :

 •Something that will never happen / an impossible thing.

🪷Gujarat meaning :

 •"એકાદ તહેવારને ચાંદ દેખાડે ત્યારે" (something that happens extremely rarely).

🪷Equivalence :

 1. “जब गधे सींग मारेंगे”

– “When donkeys grow horns” → impossible.

 2. “ડુક્કર શીંગડા પાડે ત્યારે”

– “When pigs grow horns” → impossible situation.


📌 Example:

He will study without being told when pigs fly.


6. Once in a blue moon🌚:


🪷Literal meaning :

 •When the moon actually appears blue in color (which is extremely rare).

🪷Meaning :

 •Something that happens very rarely.

🪷Gujarati meaning :

 •ખૂબ જ ઓછા વખત / બહુ દુર્લભ પ્રસંગે.

🪷Equivalence :

 1. “અમેરિયા બેર આવશે ત્યારે”

– When Amriya berries come (a fruit that never comes → very rare).

 2. “कभी–कभार”

– Once in a while / rarely.


📌 Example:

He comes to the village once in a blue moon.


7. Let the cat out of the bag 🛍️ 😺:


🪷Literal meaning :

 •To take a cat out of a bag.

🪷Meaning :

 •To reveal a secret, often by mistake or before the right time.

🪷Gujarati meaning :

 • રહસ્ય ખુલ્લું પાડવું.

🪷Equivalence :

 1.“ભેદ ઉઘાડવો”

 2.“राज़ खोलना”


📌 Example:

We wanted her promotion to be a surprise, but John let the cat out of the bag.


8. A piece of cake 🍰 :


🪷Literal meaning :

 •A slice of cake.

🪷Meaning :

 •Something that is very easy to do.

🪷Gujarati meaning :

 •ખૂબ સહેલું કામ.

🪷Equivalence :

 •“પાણી પીવું જેટલું સહેલું” → As easy as drinking water.

 •“बाएँ हाथ का खेल” → A game of the left hand (very easy).


📌 Example:

The exam was a piece of cake.


9. Don't cry over spilled milk🥛:


🪷Literal meaning :

 •If milk has already fallen on the ground, crying will not bring it back.

🪷Meaning :

 •Don’t waste time worrying about things that have already happened and cannot be changed.

🪷Gujarati meaning :

 •દૂધ વેરાઈ ગયું છે, તેના માટે રડવું નહીં.

🪷Equivalence :

 •“થઈ ગયેલી વાત પર પસ્તાવો ના કરવો.”

 •"अब पछताए क्या जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत।"


📌 Example:

It’s sad you lost money, but don’t cry over spilled milk.


Q -2  Translating the stories, poem & emotions :-



1.) "Post office"

✳️ English

In the grey sky of early dawn stars still glowed, as happy memories light up a life that is nearing its close. And old man was walking through the town, now when again drawing his tattered clothes tighter to shield hos body from the cold and biting wind. From some houses came the sound of grinding mills, and the sweet voices of women singing at their work, and the sound helped him along his lonely way. Except for the occasional bark of a dog, the distant steps of a workman going to work, or the screech of a bird disturbed before it's time, the whole town was wrapped in deathly silence. Most of its inhabitants were still in the arms of sleep, the sleep which grew more and more profound on account of the intense winter cold; for the cold used sleep to extend its sway over all things even as a false friend lulls his choosen victim with caressing smiles. The old man, shivering at times but fixed of purpose, plodded on till he came out of the town - gate on to a straight road. Along this he now went at a somewhat slower pace, supporting himself on his old staff.
 
✳️ Gujarati translation:


પાછલી રાત્રિનુ ભૂરું આકાશ, માનવજીવનમાં અનેક સુખદ યાદગીરી ચમકી રહે તેમ, નાના મોટા તારાઓ થી ચમકી રહ્યું હતું. ઠંડા પવનના સુસવાટા થી પોતાના જુના અને ફાટેલા ઝબ્બા ને શરીરે વધારે ને વધારે લપેટી લેતો એક વૃદ્ધ ડોસો શહેરના મધ્ય ભાગમાં થઈને જતો હતો. સ્વાધીન અવસ્થા ભોગવતા કેટલાક ઘરોમાંથી આ વખતે ઘંટી નો મધુર લાગતો અવાજ, કોઈક વહેલા ઉઠનારના પગરખાં નો છેટેથી સંભાળતો શબ્દ કે કોઈ અકાળે જાગેલા પક્ષીનો સ્વર: 

એ સિવાય શહેર તદ્દન શાંત હતું. લોકો મીઠી નિંદ્રામાં ઘોરતા હતા, અને શિયાળાની ઠંડીથી રાત્રિ વધારે ગાંઠ બનતી હતી. કહે નહિ છતાં કતલ કરી નાખે એવા મીઠા મનુષ્યના સ્વભાવ જેવી શિયાળાની ઠંડી કાતિલ હથિયાર ની માફક પોતાનો કાબુ સર્વત્ર ફેલાવી રહી હતી. વૃદ્ધ ડોસો ધ્રુજતોને શાંત રીતે ડગમગ ચાલતો, ‌ શહેરના દરવાજા બહાર થઈ, એક સીધી સડક પર આવી પહોંચ્યો, ‌ ને ધીમે ધીમે પોતાની જૂની ડાંગના ટેકાથી આગળ વધ્યો. 

🪷 Observation :

1. Faithfulness to Original Sense:

The translation keeps the essence of the old man walking in the cold, the silence of the town, the sounds of mills and women singing, the metaphor of cold as a false friend.
In this word to word is not done sense to sense translation is done which makes read naturally in gujarati.

2. Use of Gujarati Idiomatic Expressions:

Words like "ડોસો" (old man), "ઝબ્બા" (tattered clothes), and "કાતિલ હથિયાર" (murderous weapon) give cultural and emotional weight to the translation.

3. Slight Expansion / Paraphrasing

The English text says: “From some houses came the sound of grinding mills, and the sweet voices of women singing at their work...”
In Gujarati :
"સ્વાધીન અવસ્થા ભોગવતા કેટલાક ઘરોમાંથી આ વખતે ઘંટી નો મધુર લાગતો અવાજ..."→ Here, “ઘંટીનો મધુર અવાજ” is not in the original, but you added it to make the sentence more melodious in Gujarati.

4. Tone and Flow

The English original is poetic, descriptive, and melancholic. It also shows slow, detailed, and emotional—matching the atmosphere of early dawn and the lonely journey.


2.) "Three neighbours"


✳️ English 

The seth and Ram are waking; the whole world's calling;
The burdens of the earth with the saviour's birth are falling.
Sounds of the morning, 
Birds twittering in the morning,
Drown out Makor's hungry howl.
Ram is in forest dwelling; the Seth in his palace home.
Temple gongs and trumpet sound of revelry are blown.
Makor faints to her death.
A lone black crow laments her gone .

✳️ Gujarati translation 

શેઠ જાગે તે રામજી જાગે, જાગે સો સંસાર. 
ભોમના ભાર ઉતારવા આજે જન્મ્યા તા કિરતાર,
પરોઢના જાગતા સાદે રે, 
પંખીના મીઠડા નાદે રે,
ડૂબે માકોર નો ભૂખ પોકાર. 
શેઠ હસે બેઠા આઠમે માળે, રામ રમે રણવાસ,
રામે મંદિર ઝાલર બાજે, શેઠને મહેલ હુલાસ, 
માકોરની મૂરછાંટાણે‌ રે,
ઘંટીના મોતના ગાણે રે, 
કાળો એક કાગ કળે‌ળે નિસાસ,

🪷 Observation:

1. Wealth vs Renunciation – Seth in palace, Ram in forest.
શેઠ મહેલમાં, રામ રણમાં.

2. Nature vs Celebration – Birds sing, temple gongs resound.
પંખી ગાય, મંદિરે ઝાંઝ વાગે.

3. Ignored Suffering – Makor dies, only crow laments.
માકોર મરે, કાગ જ રડે.

4. Philosophical Irony – Ram born, yet pain remains.
રામ જન્મ્યા, દુઃખ યથાવત.


3.) "The heart seeks"

✳️ English

The heart seeks again, those nights and days 
Sitting for long, with my imaginings at play. 

In summer nights Easter lies 
Staying awake in white sheet 
Star-gazing in the terrace, stretch on a feet 

✳️Hindi translation 


मिर्जा गालिब का एक शेर है 

दिल ढूंढता है फिर वही फुर्सत के रात – दिन 
बैठे रहे तसव्वर – ए – जाना किए हए

 
या गर्मियों की रात जो पुरवइया चले 
ठंडे सफेद बिस्तर पर जागे देर तक     
तारों को देखते रहे छत पर पड़े हुए 

🪷 Observation:

1. Theme → Nostalgia and imagination, heart longing for carefree nights and days.
विषय → स्मृतियाँ और कल्पना, दिल फिर वही बेफ़िक्र दिन-रात चाहता है।

2. Imagery → Summer nights, cool breeze, white sheets, terrace star-gazing.
बिंब → गर्मियों की रातें, ठंडी पुरवाइयाँ, सफेद बिस्तर, छत पर तारों को निहारना।

3. Tone → Meditative, tender, filled with longing.
स्वर → ध्यानमग्न, कोमल और अभिलाषा से भरा हुआ।

4. Language → Poetic words preserve rhythm and emotion in both versions.
भाषा → काव्यात्मक शब्द लय और भाव को दोनों रूपों में बनाए रखते हैं।

5. Nostalgia → “The heart seeks again” mirrors दिल ढूंढता है फिर वही, evoking lost leisure.
स्मृति → “The heart seeks again” सीधा दिल ढूंढता है फिर वही को दर्शाता है, बीती फुर्सत को जगाता है।

6. Cultural Reflection → Terrace nights in Indian summers reflect everyday lived experience.

4. "Kabuliwala" 

✳️ English 

Mini's mother is a naturally timid person. Whenever she hears a slight noise from the street, she thinks all the tipplers of the world are rushing together towards our house. After living so many years in this world (though not many), she has still not been able to temper her fear that the world is full of all kinds of horrors: thieves, robbers, drunkards, snakes, tigers, malaria, cockroaches, and European soldiers.

✳️ Gujarati translation 

મીની ની મા ખૂબ વહેમી સ્વભાવની બાઈ હતી. રસ્તા પર જરા જેટલો‌ અવાજ થાય તો‌‌ આખી દુનિયાના દારૂડિઓ બસ અમારા જ‌ ઘરમાં ઘૂસવા દોડી આવે છે એવું એને લાગે. આખી પૃથ્વી ચારે ખૂણે ચોર, ‌ડાકુ, દારૂડીયા, સાપ, વાઘ, મેલેરિયા, ઇયળો, વંદા, કાનખજૂરા, અને ગોરાઓથી જ ભરાયેલી છે એ એનો ભય આટલા દિવસ ( બહુ વધારે દિવસ ન હોતા થયા) ઓ પૃથ્વી પર વાસ કરતા છતાં હજી એના મનમાંથી દૂર થયો નહોતો. 

🪷 Observation:

1. Theme → Human fear and insecurity, especially in timid personalities.

2. Characterization → Mini’s mother is portrayed as overly cautious, imagining every noise as danger.

3. Tone → Humorous yet sympathetic — her fears seem exaggerated to the reader but real to her.

4. Imagery → The long list of dangers (thieves, snakes, malaria, cockroaches, soldiers) creates both fear and comic effect.

5. Social Reflection → Reveals how ordinary families lived surrounded by anxieties of disease, crime, and colonial rule.

6. Irony → Despite living many years in the world, her fear never lessened but grew stronger.


Thank you....


Citation: 
👉🏻 Photos created from chat GPT.
 
👉🏻 Some information taken from Google translator, chat GPT and  Cambridge dictionary.

Monday, September 1, 2025

Major - 6

Home Assignment 


Q- 2 How has translation evolved from traditional human - centered methods to modern technology-assisted practices, and what role does digitalisation play in shaping contemporary translation studies? 

Ans - Introduction: 

                                Translation Studies, as an academic discipline, has traditionally focused on understanding the theory, practice, and history of translation—how meaning moves between languages, cultures, and contexts. Historically, translation relied on human skill, intuition, and expertise, often constrained by manual processes and the availability of resources like dictionaries or parallel texts. With the advent of digitalisation, Translation Studies has entered a transformative phase. Digital tools, software, and the internet have redefined both the practice and study of translation. Machine Translation (MT) systems, Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, translation memory databases, and artificial intelligence-powered language models have accelerated translation speed, increased consistency, and enabled access to vast multilingual resources.

       Digitalisation has also expanded the scope of Translation Studies to include new areas such as localisation, subtitling, audiovisual translation, corpus linguistics, and post-editing of machine translation output. Researchers now explore not only linguistic fidelity but also how technology mediates meaning, shapes translation workflows, and affects translator decision-making. In essence, Translation Studies in the digital age is no longer just about the transfer of meaning between languages; it is about understanding the dynamic interplay between language, technology, and culture. It integrates traditional theoretical frameworks with emerging computational approaches, preparing translators for a landscape where human creativity and digital efficiency coexist.

☸ What is  Translation?

       Translation is the process of transferring meaning from a source language (the original language) into a target language (the language you are translating into) while preserving the sense, style, tone, and context of the original text. It is more than just word-for-word substitution; effective translation requires understanding cultural nuances, idioms, context, and the purpose of the text. Translation can be written (text translation) or spoken (interpretation) and is applied in literature, media, technical documents, business, law, and more.

       In simple terms, translation bridges languages and cultures, allowing people who speak different languages to communicate, share ideas, and access information. Translation is the art and science of conveying meaning from one language (source) into another (target) while maintaining the original message’s accuracy, style, and cultural relevance. It’s not just literal conversion; it requires understanding context, purpose, and audience.

❀ what was translation in past? 

       Translation in the past, especially before the modern digital era, was a very different and often more labor-intensive process than it is today. Here's a detailed breakdown:


1. Definition in the Past:

       In historical contexts, translation was primarily the act of converting text or speech from one language into another, focusing on conveying meaning, cultural context, and sometimes literary style.


2. Historical Methods:

•Manual Process: Translation was done entirely by human translators, often scholars or scribes, who had to understand both the source and target languages deeply.

•Literal vs. Free Translation: Early translators debated between word-for-word translation (literal) and sense-for-sense translation (free).

•Example: In classical texts like the Bible or Greek literature, translators often had to decide whether to keep exact wording or adapt meaning for the audience.

•Cultural Adaptation: Translators often localized texts to fit the social, religious, and cultural norms of the target audience.


3. Tools in the Past:

       Dictionaries and grammars were limited and often incomplete. Translations relied heavily on personal knowledge, interpretation, and scholarly references. Printing press (from 15th century) allowed wider dissemination of translations, but the work still required careful human expertise.


4. Purpose of Translation:

👉🏻Religious: Translating sacred texts (Bible, Quran, Buddhist sutras) to make them accessible to followers.

👉🏻Literary: Bringing foreign literature to new audiences.

👉🏻Diplomatic & Trade: Translating treaties, contracts, or trade documents.


5. Challenges:

       Lack of standardized vocabulary for many languages. High risk of misinterpretation or loss of nuance. Time-consuming; even a single book could take months or years to translate.

🌟In essence: Translation in the past was a highly human - centered, interpretive, and scholarly activity, shaped by culture, religion, and the translator’s judgment, without the help of machines or digital tools.

❀ Translation studies in present that is through digitalisation:

            Digitalisation in translation studies refers to the integration of modern digital technologies into the process of translation and its academic research. It is the shift from traditional, manual methods of translation—using paper dictionaries and human memory—to technology-assisted practices that involve computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, machine translation (MT) systems, and online resources. In translation studies, digitalisation does not only change how translation is carried out but also how it is studied, researched, and taught. It enables faster, more accurate, and large-scale multilingual communication, while also opening new areas of study such as localisation, subtitling for digital media, corpus-based translation research, and the role of artificial intelligence in language transfer.


 1. Introduction to Digitalisation in Translation:

✳️Explain briefly what digitalisation means: the integration of digital technology into everyday life and work.

✳️Connect it to translation: how translation is no longer just human manual work but also involves computers, software, and online tools.


🌟Example idea:

"With the rise of computers and the internet, translation has increasingly moved into the digital realm, changing both the methods and the scope of translation practices."


2. Digital Tools in Translation Studies:

🪷Mention Translation Memory (TM) tools: stores previously translated texts to assist translators.

🪷Machine Translation (MT): Google Translate, DeepL, AI-based translation.

🪷CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) Tools: software that helps translators work faster and more accurately.


3. Impact on Translation Studies:

       Research in translation studies now includes digital methodologies, such as corpus analysis, NLP (Natural Language Processing), and AI-driven translation evaluation.

Translation studies are no longer just theoretical; they involve practical training with digital tools.


4. Advantages of Digitalisation:

❇️Speeds up translation and improves consistency.

❇️Enables large-scale multilingual communication (websites, social media, global business).

❇️Creates new areas for study: localization, subtitling for digital media, and AI translation ethics.


5. Conclusion / Future Perspective:

       Highlight that digitalisation has transformed translation from a purely linguistic task to a techno-linguistic practice.

Translation studies today combine traditional skills with digital competencies.


🌟Example sentence:

"Thus, translation studies in the digital age focus not only on the art of language conversion but also on mastering digital tools and technologies that enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and scope of translation."

💮How digitalisation origin:

❇️ Origin of Digitalisation :

       Digitalisation as a concept started to gain prominence in the mid-20th century with the invention of computers and digital technology. While it is hard to credit a single “founder,” pioneers like Alan Turing laid the groundwork for digital computing, and later, companies like IBM and software developers contributed to digital tools that transformed translation.

In translation specifically, the development of Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools in the 1980s and 1990s, like Trados, marked the beginning of digitalised translation practices.


💮 Impact on Past Translation Practices:

 •Before digitalisation, translation was entirely manual: dictionaries, reference books, and human memory were essential.

Digitalisation introduced Translation Memory (TM), Machine Translation (MT), and corpus-based research, drastically reducing human effort for repetitive tasks. Past translations could take days or weeks; digital tools allow for near-instant translation of large texts. However, this shift also challenged traditional translation methods, emphasizing speed and technology over purely human creativity and linguistic intuition.


💮 Can We Depend Fully on Digital Translation?

✨Digital translation tools are helpful but not perfect.


✨Machine translation can produce fast results but often lacks context, cultural nuance, and idiomatic understanding.


✨Human oversight is still essential for high-quality, precise, and culturally accurate translations.


       Therefore, the modern approach is a collaboration between human translators and digital tools to achieve the best results.


Thank you...


Citation:

➡️Photos created from chat GPT and canva . And some information taken from chat GPT and  Google.

       


                              

                              

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Major 6

Class Assignment 

Q- 1 In what ways did translation influence the preservation and transmission of ancient knowledge across different civilizations?

Ans - Introduction: 

                                The history of translation is the story of how human beings have bridged the gap between languages and cultures throughout time. From the earliest civilizations, people needed to exchange ideas, trade, and spread religion, which made translation an essential activity. Ancient translators in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome laid the foundation, often focusing on adapting meaning rather than preserving exact words. In the Middle Ages, translation flourished in the Arab world and later in Europe, especially with the translation of religious texts like the Bible and the works of Greek philosophers. The invention of the printing press during the Renaissance further expanded translation, making knowledge accessible to ordinary people in their own languages. By the modern era, translation had developed into a professional and theoretical discipline, with debates on how to balance faithfulness to the source text with the needs of the target audience. Today, translation is not only a cultural and literary tool but also a global necessity in diplomacy, business, media, and technology, especially with the rise of machine and AI-based translation.

          Translators have been viewed in both positive and negative ways. Some people call them traitors or predators, while others see them as bridges or connectors between cultures. However, in the 20th and 21st centuries, translation has become recognized as an important and respected field of study, with many books, journals, and research focusing on big issues like culture, ideology, and ethics in translation.

👉  Translators were once seen negatively, but in modern times translation is respected as an important academic and cultural field.

❁ Origin of Translation studies:


        The phrase "Translation studies" was first used to buy James Holmes, an American scholar living in Amsterdam. He introduced this term in 1972 in his  paper "The name and nature of translation studies". This work is seen as a key starting point for the field of translation studies.
        In this paper, he described translation as a serious field of academic research and outlined its scope, methods, and goals. His work is considered the foundation of modern Translation Studies, because before this, translation was mainly seen as a practical activity, not an independent discipline. Since then, Translation Studies has developed into a recognized academic field with theories, research, and institutions dedicated to studying translation as both an art and a science.Holmes’s framework became the foundation for modern Translation Studies. His work inspired scholars like Gideon Toury (Descriptive Translation Studies), Itamar Even-Zohar (Poly system Theory), and later Susan Bassnett and André Lefevere (Cultural Turn). Since then, Translation Studies has grown into a truly interdisciplinary field, connecting with linguistics, literature, cultural studies, sociology, philosophy, history, technology, and even artificial intelligence.

        Translation Studies as an academic field began in 1972 with James S. Holmes, who gave it a name, structure, and research agenda. From there, it expanded through linguistic, cultural, and technological approaches, and today it is a respected global discipline.

History of Translation:
  

         Translation has a long history, going back thousands of years. The history of translation is the story of how human beings have bridged the gap between languages and cultures throughout time. From the earliest civilizations, people needed to exchange ideas, trade, and spread religion, which made translation an essential activity. Ancient translators in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome laid the foundation, often focusing on adapting meaning rather than preserving exact words. In the Middle Ages, translation flourished in the Arab world and later in Europe, especially with the translation of religious texts like the Bible and the works of Greek philosophers. The invention of the printing press during the Renaissance further expanded translation, making knowledge accessible to ordinary people in their own languages. By the modern era, translation had developed into a professional and theoretical discipline, with debates on how to balance faithfulness to the source text with the needs of the target audience. Today, translation is not only a cultural and literary tool but also a global necessity in diplomacy, business, media, and technology, especially with the rise of machine and AI-based translation.

        The history of translation is deeply tied to the history of human civilization, because wherever different cultures and languages met, translation became essential for communication, knowledge, and survival. From its earliest days, translation was not only about changing words from one language to another, but also about carrying culture, religion, science, and ideas across borders. In ancient times, translation emerged as a tool for administration, trade, and religion. The translation of sacred texts like the Septuagint (the Hebrew Bible into Greek) and later the Latin Vulgate shaped entire civilizations. In the Middle Ages, translation acted as a bridge between East and West: Arab scholars preserved and translated Greek knowledge into Arabic, which later reached Europe and helped ignite the Renaissance.

        With the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, translation expanded rapidly, spreading literature, science, and philosophy to wider audiences in their own languages. The 19th century brought professionalism to translation, with colonial encounters further increasing its importance. In the 20th century, translation finally became an academic discipline through the work of scholars like James S. Holmes, who introduced the term Translation Studies in 1972. Since then, it has developed theories, methods, and frameworks to study translation systematically. Today, in the 21st century, translation is more important than ever. It is present not only in books but also in films, websites, diplomacy, international business, and technology. With the rise of machine translation and AI, the field continues to evolve, showing that translation has always been, and will remain, a vital force in connecting people across languages and cultures. The history of translation is the story of how humans have exchanged ideas across languages, from ancient sacred texts to today’s AI-powered tools.     

🌼 The Roman translation: 

       During the Roman Empire (around 3rd century BCE – 5th century CE), translation played an important role in shaping culture, literature, and education. Rome admired Greek culture, and most of its philosophy, science, and literature came through translation of Greek texts into Latin.

1. Translation Approach: 

       Roman translators were not strict word-for-word translators. They preferred a “sense-for-sense” method, focusing on meaning rather than exact wording. This was because Romans wanted texts to be natural and elegant in Latin, not awkward copies of Greek.

2. Key Roman Thinkers on Translation:

       Cicero (106–43 BCE): A statesman and philosopher, he translated Greek oratory and philosophy. He argued that translators should not be “slavish” but should preserve the spirit and style of the text. Horace (65–8 BCE): A poet, he also emphasized freedom in translation—capturing beauty and meaning rather than strict literalness. Both Cicero and Horace influenced later debates about faithfulness vs. creativity in translation.

       He believed that just translating the exact word wasn't enough. Institute translator should carefully choose words that carry the same meaning in target language. This approach helps keep the original meaning while also making the translation under stable. He understood the challenges translate your face and advise them not to follow the original text too strictly. 

       Thus, Roman translation was mainly from Greek into Latin. Thinkers like Cicero and Horace promoted sense-for-sense translation, focusing on meaning and style rather than word-for-word accuracy. This laid the foundation for Western translation theory and influenced later ages.

🌼 The Bible Translation: 

       The first major translation of the Hebrew Bible.Translated into Greek in Alexandria for Jewish communities who no longer spoke Hebrew.Legend says 72 scholars produced it, hence the name Septuagint (“seventy”). Importance: Allowed the scriptures to reach the wider Greek-speaking world and later became the Old Testament of the early Christian Church.

       The translation of the Bible had a big impact on how languages developed Europe. It encouraged the use of local languages instead of Latin and help and rich many European languages. The translation were also used to challenge the work practice of the church. By making the Bible available in common language , it become harder for clergy to misuse religious teachings. John wycliffe was the first to translate the Bible into English. He believe that comparing the grammar and meaning of words between the original language and translated language was important. This method become a standard for translators. Many also fell that translated by Bull should not only be easy to understand but also written in a way that was pleasing to read. So, Bible translation AMD to be clear and inspiring.

1. A turning point: 

       Reformers wanted the Bible in vernacular languages so ordinary people could read it themselves.

•Martin Luther’s German Bible (1522–1534): Shaped modern German.

•William Tyndale’s English Bible (1526): Formed the basis of later English versions. He was executed for it.

•King James Bible (1611): One of the most famous translations; influenced English literature and culture.

2. Modern and Contemporary Translations (19th–21st century):

       Missionaries and Bible societies translated scripture into hundreds of languages during colonial and postcolonial times.Today, the Bible is the most translated book in the world (over 3,600 languages). Modern translators apply linguistic theories, like Eugene Nida’s dynamic equivalence, focusing on natural meaning rather than word-for-word translation. With digital tools and AI, translations are now faster, even for rare and endangered languages.

       Thus, Bible translation is central to the history of translation because it shows the tension between faithfulness and accessibility. From the Septuagint to the Vulgate, from Reformation Bibles to today’s modern and digital versions, each stage reflects how translation has shaped not just religion, but also languages, culture, education, and identity worldwide.

🌼 The Renaissance Translation:

       During the Renaissance, a moment known for promoting humanism, people begin to focus more on and virtual and less on the church. This shift and thinking also acted how translation were done. Translator started to pay more attention to their audience and the target language rather than sticking closely to the original text. The English translator Eral of Surrey, he made the translation more relatable to read by emphasising the sense of the individual. Overall, Renaissance translator  prioritised making the text more accessible and meaningful to their  readers.

 1. Historical Context:

       The Renaissance (“rebirth”) began in Italy in the 14th century and spread across Europe.It was a period of rediscovering classical Greek and Latin texts and promoting humanism (a movement that emphasized knowledge, art, and individual potential).The invention of the printing press (Gutenberg, 1450s) revolutionized access to books and translations.

🗝️ Key Features of Translation in the Renaissance:

1. Rediscovery of Classics:

       Greek works of philosophy, science, and literature (Plato, Aristotle, Homer, etc.) were translated into vernacular languages (Italian, English, French, German, Spanish).This allowed ordinary people, not just scholars, to access classical wisdom.

2. Humanist Approach:

       Renaissance translators balanced faithfulness to the source with elegance and style in the target language.They valued beauty, clarity, and accessibility.

3. Patronage and National Identity:

       Wealthy patrons, kings, and nobles supported translation projects. Translation helped shape national languages (e.g., Italian through Dante, English through Shakespeare’s era, German through Luther’s Bible).

4. Important Examples:

•Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536): Produced a new Greek edition of the New Testament with Latin translation, influencing biblical scholarship.

•William Tyndale (1494–1536): Began English Bible translation, influenced by Renaissance humanism.

•French & Italian Translations: Spread classical and religious works widely.

•Spanish translators: Brought Arabic scientific and medical knowledge (from earlier centuries) into Europe.

5. Importance in the History of Translation:

👉🏻Knowledge Expansion: Translation spread classical and scientific knowledge, fueling the Renaissance and later the Enlightenment.

👉🏻Language Development: Translations enriched and standardized European vernaculars.

👉🏻Shift in Translation Theory: More focus on balancing accuracy with style and cultural context.

👉🏻Freedom of Thought: Translation became a tool of reform and intellectual independence. 

       Thus, the Renaissance translation movement was about more than language—it was about knowledge, power, and culture. By translating classical works and religious texts into local languages, Renaissance translators broke the monopoly of Latin, spread humanist ideas, strengthened national identities, and set the stage for modern translation practices.

🌼 Translation in the 17th century: 

       The 17th century was a turning point in the history of translation. Coming after the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation, it was a period when translation played a central role in religion, literature, science, and philosophy. With the rise of national languages and the growth of printing, translators were no longer just mediators of sacred texts but also carriers of new knowledge, ideas, and cultural values. The century was especially notable for the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages—most famously the King James Bible (1611)—which shaped language and literature for generations. At the same time, translators like John Dryden began to develop systematic theories of translation, debating whether translations should be literal or free. The 17th century thus marks the beginning of translation as both a practical tool of knowledge exchange and a theoretical discipline that influenced modern translation studies.

1. Historical Context:

       Europe was experiencing major political, religious, and cultural changes after the Renaissance. The printing press was well established, so translations could spread widely. The Reformation had already made Bible translation central, and now translators continued to focus on both sacred and secular works. National languages were growing stronger (English, French, Spanish, Italian, German), and translation helped shape their development.

2. Features of 17th-Century Translation:

•Bible Translations Continue:

       After Martin Luther’s German Bible and Tyndale’s English Bible, more translations appeared. The King James Bible (1611) in England became one of the most influential translations, shaping English language and literature.

• Rise of Vernacular Literature:

        Translations of classical works (Homer, Virgil, Aristotle) into local languages continued. For the first time, literature and philosophy were widely available to non-Latin readers.

 • “Free” vs. “Faithful” Translation Debate:

       Translators debated whether they should translate word-for-word (literal) or sense-for-sense (free). Many 17th-century translators leaned toward free translation, prioritizing beauty, elegance, and clarity in the target language.

➡️Example: John Dryden (England) introduced the idea of three kinds of translation:

1️⃣Metaphrase (word-for-word)

2️⃣Paraphrase (sense-for-sense)

3️⃣Imitation (very free, adapting the original)

•Scientific & Philosophical Translations:

       With the Scientific Revolution (Galileo, Newton, Descartes), translation became important for sharing discoveries. Works in Latin were translated into European languages, spreading science and philosophy.

3. Importance of 17th-Century Translation:

👉🏻Language Development:                           Translations helped enrich and standardize European vernacular languages.

👉🏻Religion:                                                       Bible translations deepened the divide between Catholic and Protestant traditions.

👉🏻Literature:                                                     Theories by Dryden and others influenced how translators thought about their craft for centuries.

👉🏻Science & Knowledge:                               Translation helped spread new scientific discoveries across Europe.

       Thus, in the 17th century in translation history was marked by the growth of vernacular languages, the spread of the Bible and classical works, and important debates on translation theory (literal vs. free). Thinkers like John Dryden laid the foundation for modern translation theory, while translations of scientific and philosophical works fueled the Age of Enlightenment that followed.

🌼 Translation in 18th century: 

       In the 18th century, translators followed the methods set by Dryden and Pope. Dr. Samuel Johnson, in his life ' life of pope ' argued the translators should be understood and the context of their own time and culture. He supported that Pope's translations because they were tailored  to the tastes and needs of the people in his own era. Dr Johnson added an important question for translators to consider: 

'Who' is the translation for? Along with deciding what to translate and 'why' translator 'how' need to think about their audience.

1) The cultural context (why translation mattered in the 18th century):

       The 18th century was the Age of Enlightenment: reason, science, and literature spread across Europe. Printing, rising literacy, and stronger national languages meant translations reached many more readers than before. Translation stopped being only a clerical or scholarly task and became a major way of circulating ideas (philosophy, science, poetry) to the public.

2) The new focus: translation for an audience


•A major point in the passage: translators began to ask “Who is this translation for?”.Instead of thinking only about literal word-by-word accuracy, translators now deliberately tailored translations to the tastes, expectations, and language of contemporary readers. That meant choosing vocabulary, tone, and style that would make the text appealing and readable for a given public or era.

3) Samuel Johnson’s view (an important shift):

       Dr. Samuel Johnson (writer and critic) argued that a translator’s work must be judged in the context of its own time and culture. He defended translations (for example, Alexander Pope’s Homer) that adapted originals to the style and expectations of 18th-century readers.

Johnson’s point: a translation that “works” for its contemporary audience can be more valuable than a literal but awkward rendering.

4) Practical consequence:

       re-translations and updating language Because tastes and language change, many classic works were re-translated repeatedly to fit current language, idiom, and ideas. Translators updated expressions, smoothed awkward constructions, and sometimes omitted or adapted passages to keep the text natural and readable. This trend shows a move toward domestication (making the text fit the target culture) rather than strict foreignness. 

5) Alexander Fraser Tytler and the first English “rules” (1791):

       By the end of the century we see early attempts to state translation rules systematically. Alexander Fraser Tytler’s short work (often cited as The Principles of Translation, 1791) is an early English statement of such principles. The passage lists his three key principles — paraphrased here and explained:

(a) The translation must retain the complete idea of the original work:

       The translator must convey the whole meaning and not leave out important ideas. Accuracy of content is essential.

(b) The translation must retain the style and manner of writing:

       The translator should try to preserve the author’s tone, rhetorical effects, and general manner — so the target reader feels the same kind of text (e.g., elevated poetry vs. plain prose).

(c) The translation should have the ease of the original (i.e., read naturally):

       The translated text must read smoothly and naturally in the target language; it should not be stiff or literally awkward. In other words, the translation should feel like good writing in the target language.

Why these three? Because Tytler recognized the central tensions of translation: fidelity of meaning, preservation of style, and naturalness/readability in the receiving language. He treats these as standards translators should try to balance. 

6) How this fits with earlier ideas (Dryden, Pope):

       Earlier writers like John Dryden had already discussed different approaches to translation (e.g., literal vs. paraphrase vs. imitation). The 18th century continued those debates but moved toward practical guidance for producing translations that served readers’ needs. Tytler’s rules are a prescriptive attempt to capture good practice.

7) The long-term significance:

       The 18th century shifted translation toward audience - centered practice and style-conscious craft. Tytler’s short list anticipates later translation theory: the same three concerns (meaning, style, naturalness) remain central in translation studies today. This era set the stage for 19th- and 20th-century professionalization and, later, the academic field of Translation Studies.

       Thus, In the 18th century translators began to prioritize audience, style, and readability—a change defended by critics like Johnson—and early theorists like Tytler tried to state clear principles: keep the full meaning, preserve style, and make the translation read naturally.

🌼 Translation in the romantic age: 

        The Romantic Age (roughly 1780s–1830s) marked a new spirit in literature, philosophy, and art, and this spirit deeply influenced translation. While the 18th century had emphasized clarity, elegance, and adaptation for contemporary taste, the Romantic era shifted attention to imagination, individuality, and cultural uniqueness. Translation was no longer seen simply as a smooth transfer of meaning; it became a way of preserving the “soul” of the original text and of sharing the genius of foreign nations. Romantic thinkers and translators (such as Friedrich Schleiermacher in Germany, Coleridge and Shelley in England) argued that translation should retain the foreignness of the original rather than domesticating it too much. They believed that encountering strangeness in a translation helped readers expand their horizons and experience other cultures more authentically. This was a sharp contrast with the Enlightenment preference for polish and fluency. The Romantic Age marked a major shift in the history of translation. Unlike the 17th and 18th centuries, which emphasized rationalism, rules, and accuracy, Romantic translators focused on creativity, imagination, and the spirit of the text.

1. Rejection of Rationalism:

       Translators of this period rejected the mechanical, word-for-word translation style of the previous Restoration Age (17th century). Instead of accuracy and logic being the priority, they emphasized imagination, inspiration, and artistic freedom in translation.

2. Role of Imagination (Coleridge):

       Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in his Biographia Literaria (1817), discussed the difference between “Fancy” and “Imagination.”

•Fancy = mechanical reordering of ideas, a more superficial activity.

•Imagination = the deeper, creative power that produces originality.

He believed translation should rely on imagination, making it an act of re-creation rather than copying.

3. Creative Approach (Shelley):

       Percy Bysshe Shelley, another Romantic poet, argued that translations should be valued not only for accuracy but for their literary beauty and creativity. He said that translating poetry should aim to recreate the spirit of the original work, not just transfer words. For Shelley, poetry is about soul and essence—a translation that is too literal loses the beauty.

4. Famous Idea about Translating Poetry:

       Shelley compared word-for-word translation to destroying the essence of a flower while trying to study it. His famous line suggested that trying to translate a poem word-for-word was like “discovering the essence of a violet by destroying it.”

✨Meaning: a poem’s beauty lies in its living spirit, not just in the individual words.

5. Romantic Spirit in Translation:

       Translations during this age were highly interpretative, emotional, and artistic. Translators acted almost like poets themselves, recreating the soul of the text in a new language. This period made translation an art form, not just a technical practice.

       Thus, in the Romantic Age, translation moved away from rigid rules and embraced creativity, imagination, and the poetic spirit. Coleridge emphasized imagination as the true source of creativity, while Shelley argued that translations must capture the spirit and beauty of poetry rather than simply its words. This era transformed translation into an artistic and literary practice.

🌼 Translation and the Victorian age: 

        The Victorian Age (19th century, after the Romantic period) marked another turning point in the history of translation. While the Romantics emphasized imagination and creativity, the Victorians focused on fidelity to the spirit of the original but also added their own cultural and linguistic flavor.Victorian translators wanted translations to feel as if they came from a distant time or place, which is why they often used archaic (old-fashioned) language. This made translations appear noble, scholarly, and closer to the “aura” of the original.

1. Spirit of the Original Text:

      The Victorians, like the Romantics, wanted to capture the spirit or essence of the original works. But they did so by adding their own stylistic touch, often through the use of archaic language. This gave translations a sense of historical authenticity, as if they belonged to the same age as the original.

2. Matthew Arnold’s Contribution:

       In 1862, Matthew Arnold delivered a famous series of lectures called “On Translating Homer.” Arnold insisted that the true judges of a translation are scholars who know the original language (in this case, Greek) and the cultural background.

✨His advice: “Let him ask how his work affects those who both know Greek (the original language) and can appreciate poetry.”

👉🏻Meaning: a good translation must satisfy both accuracy (scholars who know the original) and artistic effect (readers who value poetry).

3. Shift in Translation Theory:

       By the end of the 19th century, translation was no longer seen as just copying an original text. Instead, translations began to be treated as independent works of art in their own right.This meant that translators were recognized as creators, not just imitators.

✳️Romantics (early 19th century): Translation = Imagination + Spirit.


✳️Victorians (mid–late 19th century): Translation = Fidelity to spirit + Archaic style + Scholarly judgment.


🔑Key figure: Matthew Arnold (On Translating Homer, 1862).


✳️Impact: By the end of the Victorian era, translations were respected as independent literary works.


        So, in short: The Victorian Age professionalized translation further, giving it scholarly authority and treating it as a serious literary art rather than just copying.

🌼 Translation in the 20th century:

       The 20th century was a revolutionary age for translation. Unlike earlier times, when translation was seen mainly as an art or literary activity, the 20th century began to treat translation as an academic discipline with theories, methods, and schools of thought. This was the era when scholars debated: Should translation be faithful to words (literal)? Or to meaning (free)? And new approaches to culture, language, and communication reshaped the field.

✳️Detailed Developments

1. Early 20th Century (1900–1940s):

       Focus was still on literal vs. free translation debates. Many translators emphasized faithfulness to the text but also recognized the importance of style and cultural differences. Bible translation movements and colonial expansion made translation important worldwide.

2. Mid 20th Century (1940s–1960s):

       Linguistics entered translation. Scholars like Roman Jakobson introduced concepts such as “intralingual, interlingual, and intersemiotic translation.”Translation began to be analyzed scientifically, in terms of equivalence between languages.

🌟Eugene Nida (1960s) developed the famous concepts:

Formal Equivalence → word-for-word translation.

Dynamic Equivalence → meaning-for-meaning translation (how the text affects the target reader).

This was revolutionary for Bible translation and beyond.

3. Late 20th Century (1970s–1990s):

        Translation Studies as a discipline was born. In 1972, James S. Holmes published “The Name and Nature of Translation Studies”, marking the origin of translation studies as an academic field. Scholars no longer saw translation as just practice, but also as a theoretical and scientific study.

🆕New Approaches:

•Skopos Theory (Hans Vermeer, 1970s): Translation should follow the purpose (skopos) of the target text.


•Poly system Theory (Itamar Even-Zohar, 1970s): Translation is part of a literary system and interacts with culture.


•Descriptive Translation Studies (Gideon Toury, 1980s): Instead of prescribing rules, study what translators actually do.

🌟Summary of 20th Century Translation:

➡️Early 20th c. → Traditional debates (literal vs. free).


➡️Mid 20th c. → Linguistics + concepts of equivalence (Jakobson, Nida).


➡️Late 20th c. → Birth of Translation Studies as a discipline (Holmes, Vermeer, Toury).

Impact:

The 20th century changed translation from an artistic practice into a scientific and academic discipline, laying the foundation for today’s global translation studies.

🌼 Modern Translation: 

          In today's globalized world, translation has become more essential than ever. With the Rapid exchange of information across countries and cultures translation serves as a Bridge that connects people speaking different languages. Modern translation goes beyond literary and religious text, it now encompasses  technical documents, scientific research, business, communication, language text, entertainment and digital content. The rise of Technology including the internet has made information instantly accessible but only if it's understandable. It has increased the demand for professional translators and machines assisted translations. 

       One of the biggest developments in modern translation is the use of machine translation tools, such as Google Translate, which can quickly translate large amount of text. While this tools are not perfect and often struggle with context or idiomatic expressions. They have made translation accessible to the masses and haves sped up that translation process for many industries. Computer - assistant translation  (CAT)  tools also helps translators by providing translation memory and terminology databases, ensuring consistency and saving time.

       Modern translation refers to translation practices and theories that emerged roughly from the late 19th century to the present day. This period is marked by the growth of translation as an academic discipline, technological advancements, globalization, and the professionalization of translators. Unlike earlier periods, which focused mainly on literature or religious texts, modern translation covers a broad range of fields: literature, science, law, media, technical texts, and digital content.

✨🗝️✨Key Features of Modern Translation:

1. Scientific and Linguistic Approach:

       Modern translation emphasizes linguistic analysis, understanding of grammar, semantics, and pragmatics. Translation is studied scientifically, moving beyond just “faithfulness” or “literal meaning” to include functional equivalence and context.


2. Rise of Translation Studies as a Discipline:

       Scholars like James Holmes (1972) laid the foundation of translation studies as an independent field. The field now incorporates theory, methodology, and practical application.


3. Functional and Skopos Theory:

       In modern translation, the purpose of the translation (Skopos) is crucial. Proposed by Hans Vermeer, this theory suggests that translation strategies should be guided by the target audience and intended function, rather than strictly following the source text.


4. Technological Influence:

       The development of machine translation, computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, and AI-based translators has transformed modern translation. Translators now combine human creativity with technological efficiency.


5. Focus on Cultural and Contextual Adaptation:

       Modern translation considers cultural nuances, idioms, and socio-cultural context. It's not just about words; it’s about transferring meaning, tone, and function across cultures.


6. Specialized Translation Fields:

       Modern translation includes technical, legal, medical, audiovisual, and literary translation, each with specific methods and standards.


🌟Significance:

       Modern translation bridges communication across languages and cultures, supporting globalization and international collaboration. It ensures accuracy, clarity, and cultural sensitivity in various professional and social contexts. Academic study has allowed translation to become more systematic, teachable, and research-oriented.


       Thus,In short, modern translation is characterized by a scientific, professional, and culturally aware approach, extending far beyond the literary focus of earlier centuries. It is purpose-driven, technology-assisted, and highly specialized, reflecting the needs of the modern world.


This photo is created for a quick memory recap. 


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✳️Citation : 
•photos generated from Canva and GPT.
•Some information taken from Google and chat GPT.

IKS

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