DISTORTION OF MEANING IN TRANSLATING

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE:

A case study of Rima Radio Sokoto News

Translation

By

SAJO MOHAMMAD ALIYU

ADMISSION No. 05211110005

Master of Arts in English Language

Department of Modern European Languages and

Linguistics,

Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto

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February, 2010

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

This work sets out to study distortion of meaning in

translating figurative language in the broadcast media. Radio

medium specifically Rima Radio, the Sokoto State broadcasting

Corporation will be used as a case study.

The focal area in the entire work revolves around translation

from English to Hausa. The relevance of translation in the

broadcast media particularly in the multi-cultural and multi-

lingual states of Nigeria cannot be over emphasised.

To achieve intended responses of the media audience,

translators should be able to understand clearly the verbal

elements of the source language (SL) English (as in this

study).

The work also finds out how distortion of meaning affects

communication.

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The research focus on variation in structure and form from one

language to another, the principles of translation, figurative

language in translation and Hausanization of knowledge. This

work tries to explore ways of addressing the persistent

problems of disseminating distorted news messages in Hausa

translated from the English language.

The problem is so militating that the learned among the Sokoto

community members who

understand English properly prefer to listen to English news

on Rima Radio to Hausa.

This is due to series of distortions of meaning of the message

in the source language, English. Rima Radio is the case study

in this research work. The station covers Sokoto state and its

environs. News on this medium is broadcast in English and

Hausa. Fulfulde version of the news is also broadcast in the

mid-day bulletins (i.e. 12:00 noon). All news items are first

written in English language and later translated into Hausa

for the benefit of the majority of the speech community. In

this case, the relevance of Hausa translation is so important

that the station cannot afford to miss air time for the Hausa

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version of the message. In the Nigerian language situation,

Hausa plays significant role in the media particularly in news

broadcasting. The Nigerian language situation provides for

translation of English version of the news on the media for

the benefit of local communities. The three major Nigerian

languages are used by the media in respective states to convey

messages from English version to the common language used by

the communities. For example, Hausa, which is the dominant

language in northern Nigeria, is used by the media

organisations to inform, educate and entertain the community.

If only English is used to send the message, then, majority

will not understand the message. Such applies in the South

Western states e.g. Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo states which use

Yoruba as a translated version of the English news. In the

South-East, i.e. the Igbo dominated states of Imo, Anambra,

Enugu, Abia etc; Igbo language version of the news is aired in

relation to the English version.

Translation involves at least two languages and a message. It

is the task of translators to convey accurately the message

from one language to another. Translations according to Rufa’i

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(1983) entails reproducing in the receptor language (RL) the

closest natural equivalent of the source language which is

English in this case. The equivalent should not only cover

intelligibility of the message but also its total impact on

the audience. The message should have the same effect as the

original. A message is distorted if:

i. Information not contained or implied in the original is

added.

ii. Information contained or implied in the original is

omitted and

iii. Extraneous information is omitted whilst omitting part of

the original information

A lot of scholars have written on translations as a semantic

issue, Abdullahi (2001), Yakasai (1994), Azare (2001), Rufa’I

(1983), Sajo (2004), Bunza (2006) etc. These studies focus on

variation in structure and form from one language to another,

the principles of translation, figurative language in

translation, Hausanization of knowledge, errors in news

translation etc. This work in relation to those listed above

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is set to address certain errors in translating figurative

language on the Rima Radio medium. A related work was carried

out in 2004 which focused on the errors of distortion of

meaning in translations generally. Careful follow-up of the

impact of such study indicates that the major problem now is

translating figurative language by translators (which this

study is set to explore). This is due to the significance of

translation in the communication of ideas, thoughts and

feelings to the audience (i.e. listeners). Through good

translation, the audience can easily understand and respond to

the message appropriately. Poor translation on the other hand

brings about breakdown in communication.

1.1 Development of Broadcasting in Nigeria

Broadcasting is the transmission of Radio and Television

programmes intended for the reception of the public. In its

commonest form, broadcasting may be described as the systematic

dissemination of information, education, entertainment and other

features for simultaneous reception by scattered audience. For

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information to be properly disseminated, it should be accurate

and precise.

Broadcasting started in about 1920. The first known Radio

programme in the United States of America was broadcast on

Christmas eve in 1906. In Nigeria, radio distribution service

station was inaugurated in Ibadan in 1939 and later in Kano in

1944. This was followed by provincial broadcasting service in

most of the Nigerian provinces. Also in 1954, the First Nigerian

Broadcasting Service station was established at Ikoyi in Lagos.

In March 1957, the struggle for independence became more

prominent and the NBS was transformed into Nigerian Broadcasting

Corporation (NBC) which was inaugurated on April 1st, 1957 and

made autonomous. The corporation was run by Board of Governors.

Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu and Ibadan were made zonal headquarters.

With the creation of states in 1967, the radio stations become

magnified. When more states were created, there was proliferation

of state owned radio stations.

1.2 Brief History of Rima Radio

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Rima Radio was primarily affiliated to Nigeria Broadcasting

Corporation (NBC) Kaduna as Sokoto zonal office but was later

taken over by Sokoto State Government in April, 1978. This is a

result of the hand over of the defunct NBC stations to state

governments.

The action brings about efficiency in grass root broadcasting,

generated and encouraged inter-communication among different

segments of the society. The station is situated along Zaria road

in Tudun Wada ward of Sokoto South Local government. It is headed

by a General Manager.

Objectives of Rima Radio

a. The medium is to provide efficient broadcasting services to

Sokoto State.

b. To provide comprehensive coverage of the culture of people

of the state through broadcasting.

c. To promote culture and to disseminate the results of such in

order to promote growth and national development.

d. To cover day-to-day activities of the state government

through efficient broadcasting system so as to generate

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awareness among the public on various programmes of the

state government.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

Errors in translations resulting from distortion of meaning on

the broadcast media have been a problem in many language

communities which rely heavily on the translated messages on the

media to respond to certain information. This affects Sokoto

state listeners where majority of the people speak and understand

Hausa language. The objectives of this research work are:

1. To determine whether or not errors in translating figurative

language are from the translators.

2. To determine whether or not the errors are from reporters.

1.4 Research Questions

Why do errors of translating figurative language occur?

How often do such errors occur?

How can such errors be avoided?

1.5 Significance of the Study

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The significance of translation in the communication of ideas,

thoughts and feelings cannot be over emphasised. Through

translation, government policies and programmes are made more

comprehensive to the teeming populace who rely on the Hausa

version of the news to understand the messages. On the other

hand, the audiences make their feelings known to the government

through the media by visiting such media organisations or sending

comments and suggestions to them. Certain numbers of listeners

also comment freely on the way Rima Radio news and other

programmes (including translations) are produced and broadcast.

This study will give further approach to ways of addressing

related problems of distortion of messages in translations.

1.6 Delimitation

The study will be restricted to translation of figurative

expressions from English to Hausa. Interpretative method of

translation which is commonly used in the electronic media will

be adopted. The method of sample survey through administering of

questionnaires to radio listeners is to be used. One hundred

people who are regular listeners of the Rima Radio news programme

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will be administered questionnaires to respond to. The decision

to go for one hundred questionnaires is to give room for

collection of a wide range of views from regular listeners of the

Rima Radio News programme. From this a selection can be made that

can represent the total population for easy documentation.

However, fifty questionnaires would be used to collate, analyse

and interprete the data. This is because the population will be

easy to treat statistically.

1.7 Limitations

Although the population of fifty people is small compared to the

size of the Rima Radio listeners in Sokoto state, this is done

due to time constraints and limited resources to cover the larger

population of the listeners. The limited resources include funds

to cover logistics expenses of going round the nook and cranny of

the Sokoto city and its environs to collate data. Time is also

another factor considered while carrying out the research. Due to

the limited time available for the study, the work is set to

cover an appreciable population of the listeners. Despite these

shortcomings, the findings made are still valid going by the

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calibre of people engaged in answering questions from the

questionnaires administered to them.

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CHAPTRE TWO

2.0 Literature Review

This chapter is aimed at reviewing related literature concerning

distortion of meaning in translating figurative language on the

broadcast media specifically radio. Translation is central to

meaning because the broadcast media in Nigeria do translate and

broadcast in local languages to enhance effective communication.

Areas to be touched are:

i. Some theoretical considerations in translation

ii. The purpose and nature of language

iii. Relationship between form and meaning

iv. Distortion of meaning

v. Translatability and synonymy

vi. The word in context

vii. Types of meanings

viii. Types of translations

ix. Some techniques of translation

x. Theoretical framework

xi. Figurative language

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xii. Types of figurative expressions

xiii. Literal language

2.1 The Purpose and Nature of Language

Rufa’i (1983) says ‘Language is used to communicate ideas,

information, wishes and feelings from one person to another, if

no meaning is conveyed, one is not talking a language but

nonsense’

In other words when the actual meaning of a word or group of

words is distorted, the message will be wrongly received and

digested by the listener, hence the translator ends up speaking

nonsense.

These statements are in agreement with our view in this research

work whose focus is the use of figurative language to enhance

communication on the media. Whenever the actual meaning of word

or group of words is distorted, there will be communication

failure. The audience in this case will not comprehend the

message accurately.

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When one speaks to convey a meaning, sound considerations are

used to symbolise the meaning. Jarrett in Rufa’I (1983) says

there are two stages in the procession from meaning to sound

which can be depicted diagrammatically as:

Symbolised GrammarRealised

Meaning PlusSound

by Vocabularyby

Fig. 1 sourced from Rufa’I (ibid)

The diagram can be simplified by joining grammar (plus

vocabulary) with sounds and refer to them as form.

expressed

Meaning Form

by

Fig. 2.

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This implies that human being use words to convey meanings in the

utterances they make. The sound combination they use must however

be sensible enough to be easily understood by the listener. In

this case, form becomes the expression of meaning.

The application of this can be seen in the day-to-day translation

on the media particularly the radio. The translator of English

news to Hausa tries to comprehend the form and meaning of the

sentences in the source language (SL) English and then gets a

corresponding form and meaning of such sentences into the

receptor language Hausa so that the message is delivered.

2.2 Relationship between form and Meaning

The relationship between form and meaning is such that one

meaning may be expressed by several different forms as in the

following examples in Rufa’I (ibid):-

i. Others Blamed Musa for the difficulty.

ii. Others blamed Musa because of the difficulty.

iii. Others blamed the difficulty on Musa.

iv. Others said Musa was responsible for the difficulty.

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v. Others accused Musa of being responsible for the

difficulty.

vi. Others said that Musa was causing the difficulty.

vii. Others said that Musa was the cause of the difficulty.

In the sentences above, it can be seen that almost all the

sentences mean the same thing but they differ in form. This

implies that one meaning can be expressed in different forms.

On the other hand, one form may express several different

meanings as in Rufa’I (ibid)

Examples

i. My Village - Where I live

ii. My train - Which I am to take

iii. My route - Which I am to follow

iv. My Brother - Kinship

v. My Car - Signifying possession

vi. My foot - Part whole; etc.

From the above examples, it can be concluded that it is very

necessary for translators (particularly news translators) to

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know how to separate meaning from form to avoid distorting the

meaning or message.

2.3 Translatability and Synonymy

In semantics term, meaning is always considered as a semantics

issue. Understanding the condition for translation requires

consideration of phonetic, syntactic and pragmatic factors as

well. These factors are not discrete and so, consideration of a

particular problem in translation may confine one to an area of

concern.

But an adequate conception of the condition for translation also

requires consideration of all the factors and their inter-

relation. This brings us to an area known as the word in context.

2.4 The Word in Context

Yakasai (1997) says words carry dual meaning within the context

of relation. They convey factual information by referring the

idea in the concept to the real word.

Examples:

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English: Hausa:

Ceremonies Bukukuwa

Courting Zance

Dating Nema

Honey moon Sayen baki/Kama hannu/kumshi

Patience Ha}uri

Gentlemanliness Dattako

Generosity Kirki

In other words, meaning of a word or an expression depends on the

work it does in the sentence (Ogundipe e’t al1985). In this case,

to translate a sentence, the translator should always consider

the word or words in the context in which they are used. This in

our view is because some words do not only have dual meanings

i.e. synonyms but are polysemous that is to say words with many

meanings.

2.5 Distortion of Meaning

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Einstein (nd) said, ‘although words exist for the most part for

the transmission of ideas, there are some which produce such

violent disturbances in our feelings that the role they play in

transmission of ideas is lost in the background’.

The above statement by the famous physicist Albert Einstein of

the 20th century probably justifies the negative effect

distortion has on the society, that is to say whenever words are

not used effectively and correctly to transmit ideas, then the

resultant message gives a violent feeling to the listener.

Lau and Chan (2004) defined distortion as using words in such a

way that deviates from its standard meaning in an inappropriate

manner.

According to Webster’s revised un-abridged dictionary (1913),

distortion is:

1. The act of distorting or wresting out of natural or regular

shape; a twisting or writhing motion, as, the distortion of

the face or body.

2. A wrestling from the true meaning.

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3. The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out

of true position, crookedness, perversion.

4. (Medical); an unnatural deviation of shape or position of

any part of the body producing visible deformity.

Out of the four definitions above, the second relates directly

to this research work. Wrestling from the true meaning of an

expression is actually the distortion of meaning being

referred to. Distortion of meaning is commonly found in the

translation of figurative expressions written in the source

language, English, where translators should use relevant

connotations to interprete or decode the meaning to the target

language (Hausa in this case). It can also occur when a

statement in literal form in English is wrongly translated

figuratively in the target language Hausa.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia describes distortion as ‘a

misrepresentation of the truth’. This in our view is a fact

because once a message is distorted, then the true information

is misrepresented. For example:

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Special Adviser to the Governor on Scholarship and Students

Matters said, another batch of Sokoto State indigenes had been

sponsored to study medicine abroad.

Hausa: Mai ba gwamna shawara a fannin bada tallafin karatu da

lamuran ]alibbai ya ce an kuma ]auki nauyin wasu ‘yan jihar sakkwato don su

karanto ilmin harha]a magunguna a }asar waje. In the above translation,

the word medicine was misrepresented as pharmacy. The actual

meaning of the word ‘medicine’ in the context it was used is

Likitanci. This is a serious distortion of meaning.

Larson (nd) says translation consists transferring without

distortion, meaning from the source language into the target

language. According to Larson, meaning must be kept constant

even when the form of the source language changes as it is

turned into the form of the target language. Form here refers

to the grammatical surface structure of the language while

meaning is the semantics deep structures.

To avoid distortion of the message contained in the Source

Language, Larson is of the view that the translator should

take into consideration the communication situation.

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Communication situation refers to the ability of a translator

to determine the surface and deep structure of the expressions

in the passage to be translated, the environment, i.e. the

place where the expression was made, culture of the author and

the ability of the translator to translate accurately using

literal or figurative type of interpretation of the message in

the source language. From the above explanations by various

scholars, it can be said that distortion of meaning refers to

using words that deviate from the actual meaning intended. To

transfer a message from one language to another, at least two

conditions should be met. These are accuracy and naturalness.

By accuracy it means the ability of a translator to translate

a sentence from one language to another by discovering its

meaning and then constructing a corresponding sentence in the

target language that has the same meaning. This can be done

when the translator is very familiar with the verbal elements

of the source language (English) and then translates the

sentence into the receptor language with the corresponding

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verbal elements and form. If this is not fully achieved,

errors result; hence, the intended meaning is distorted.

2.6 Some Reflections on Distortion of Meaning

This entails expressing some errors found in translation on the

Rima Radio medium which constitute the distortion of meaning.

They are found through careful monitoring and analysis of some of

the English versions of the news and the translated scripts.

Example 1:

A translator of 3:30pm news bulletin of 8th November, 2003

translated a sentence thus: Two car bombs have exploded in a

synagogue in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Wasu bama-bamai biyu sun

tashi a garin ‘Synagogue’ ta birnin Istanbul a }asar Turkiyya’. This message

contains serious errors of distortion because the word Synagogue

is a noun referring to a building where Jews meet for religious

worship and teaching. In Hausa it means Mujamia or Wurin ibadar

Yahudawa.

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In another bulletin, a translator translated the phrase Koran

School teachers as Malaman Gargajiya. Within a fraction of an hour,

some listeners responded clearly expressing dissatisfaction with

the distorted meaning created by the translator who cast the

news. It should have been translated as Malaman Makarantun Allo.

Example 3: in a related development, another translator of mid-

day news of 18/2/2008 translated the figurative expression

‘backbone for meaningful development’ as }ashin bayan’ cigaba mai

ma’ana. The figurative expression ‘backbone’ was translated

literally without considering its inner linguistic meaning. The

expression is:

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Education Alhaji Arzika Tureta

says education is the backbone for meaningful development.

However, during a later broadcast of the news at 5:30pm, the

other translator corrected the translation as: Kwamishinan Ilmi

na Jihar Sakkwato Alhaji Arzika Tureta ya bayyana ilmi a matsayin

jigon kawo cigaba mai ma’ana.

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Distortion of meaning in any translation has serious negative

impact on the listener because it often misleads and raises

ambiguity.

2.7 Types of Meanings

The art of translations centres on the linguistic term

‘meaning’. In the theory of meaning, we consider speakers

meaning and semantic meaning. Speakers meaning refers to

what the speaker means by saying something. Semantic meaning

on the other hand refers to what the words uttered by the

speaker mean.

According to Kripke, an American philosopher, Speaker’s

meaning and semantic meaning are different. This is simply

because sometimes we do not always say what we mean. People

do use words that do not actually express what they want to

express. This distinction drawn by Kripke can be seen in the

theory of pragmatics where actual wordings of a speaker do

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not reflect his intended meaning or action. It is however

important to note that in the context of translation for the

broadcast media, we give emphasis to semantic meaning.

2.8 Associative Meaning

According to Yakasai (ibid), Associative meaning is divided

into five components namely:

i. Connotative meaning

ii. Affective meaning

iii. Reflected meaning

iv. Collocative meaning and

v. Stylistic meaning.

2.9 Connotative Meaning

Also according to Yakasai (1997), Connotative meaning

includes emotional response which a word arouses in a

position due to its attitude to the subject referred to.

This response may be positive, negative or even neutral in

varying degrees. Example: The word wa in Hausa arouses a

positive emotional response in most people while the word

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uwa ka arouses a negative response. On the other hand, words

like ]alibi are neutral since they arouse neither negative nor

positive response. This explanation by Yakasai is relevant

to this work because connotation is always taken into

consideration by translators as they transfer forms of some

words or phrases from SL to RL taking into consideration

linguistic culture of the languages in question.

Yakasai’s explanation of Connotative meaning corresponds to

that of Jarrett (1981) as cited in Rufa’i (1983) who said

‘Connotative meaning refers to emotional response which a

word arouses in person because of the person’s attitude to

the object referred’. In an attempt to speak about things

without arousing the negative, translators often substitute

emotionally neutral terms or paraphrases for such words in a

negative association. These neutral or polite terms are

called ‘euphemism’. For example, in the following sentence:

‘The death has been announced of Abdun Inka Bakura’. This

can be translated as: An bada labarin rasuwar Abdun Inka Bakura.

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Here, it is more polite to use the word rasuwar instead of

Mutuwar.

Another example is:

He is dead. Ya rasu, not ya mutu (which means the same thing).

In this case, it is very important for translators to

recognise euphemism in the SL and use it correctly in the

RL.

2.10 Affective Meaning

This according to Yakasai is the choice of a particular word

which conveys the fooling attitude of the speaker. For

example, to describe a person in Hausa as Jahili implies a

person as wayayye or in our view mai ilmi which implies

positive judgement.

2.11 Reflected Meaning

According to Jarrett (ibid) if one sense of a word has

positive or negative overtones, these overtones are often

reflected or carried over into the other sense of the word.

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Such words associated with negative overtones tend to be

avoided in neutral contexts. Hence simple colour terms such

as ‘black’ and ‘white’ cannot be used in any context without

evolving an emotional reaction.

Jarrett’s explanation also corresponds with Yakasai’s here.

They both explained that reflected meaning is a special one

that may be conveyed by using a word out of its normal Co

locative range. Example: Nisha]i, Ba}in ciki cannot be used in

any context without embarking on emotional reaction.

2.12 Collocative meaning

Ogden and Richards (1923) said, this type of meaning

consists of associations a word acquires on account of the

meanings of words which tend to occur in its environment.

For example: ‘pretty’ and ‘handsome’ share common ground in

the meaning ‘good looking’ but may be distinguished by the

range of nouns with which they are likely to co-occur or

collocate.

Girl boy

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Boy man

Woman car

flower vessel

Pretty Garden handsome overcoat

Colour airliner

Village typewriter

Etc. Etc.

Collocates found in English language may not be found in

Hausa language. For example, simple translation of the words

‘handsome’ and ‘pretty’ will be the same as in:

Pretty Girl - Kyakkyawar Yarinya

Beautiful girl - Kyakkyawar yarinya

Handsome boy - kyakkyawan yaro

These are usually taken into consideration by translators as

they translate expressions from the SL to RL.

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2.13 Stylistic Meaning

Ogden and Richards (ibid) said stylistic meaning is that

meaning in which a piece of language conveys about the

social circumstances of its use. We decode the stylistic

meaning of a text through our recognition of different

dimensions and levels of usage within the same language. In

this type of meaning, some words or pronunciations are

recognised as being dialectal i.e. telling us something of

the geographical or social origin of the speaker.

The application of stylistic meaning can be seen in

situations where a reporter/ translator tries to decode

speeches presented by a personality, may be a governor of a

state, a minister, a commissioner or even a president. This

means knowledge of geographical or social origin of a

speaker often helps or guides the translator to easily

simplify messages contained in a speech for public

consumption.

In his opinion, Yakasai (ibid) says Stylistic meaning can be

viewed from different angles such as the following:

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a. Informal: which can be conversation or dialogue

b. Casual: which can be greetings and jokes

c. Formal: which can be public address of a president

d. Technical: which is found in professional fields and

e. Cultural: which should be based purely on culture.

In Yakasai’s view on stylistic meaning, the points c, d and

e all relate to this research work (i.e. meaning in relation

to translations in the media).

In his view on stylistic meaning, Jarrett (ibid) says ‘The

status of speaker affects the style of language he uses’.

This is seen in situation where we hear or watch broadcast

by governors of states or the president. It is noticed that

the prestigious position they hold make their language more

formal.

‘The study of meaning in its entirety is semantic’ Palmer

(1981). According to Palmer, semantics is the technical term

used to refer to the study of meaning, and since meaning is

part of language, semantics is apart of linguistics. The

scholar explained that meaning covers a variety of aspects

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of language and there is no general agreement about the

nature of meaning, what aspects of it may properly be

included in semantics or the way in which it should be

described.

This explanation by palmer can be justified in the

application of the various principles of translations

earlier mentioned in this chapter.

214. Translation

This is the process of conveying accurately the message from

one language to another. It involves at least two languages.

Abdullahi (1997) says ‘Translation is mainly transferring

what one says in one language to another language’.

The process of Translation requires linguistic competence and

linguistic culture by translators, i.e. they have to know the

grammar, vocabulary and culture of the languages in question.

In this context, translation of English news to Hausa news

must be sound enough to adequately communicate or transfer

messages from the Source language (SL) English to the

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Receptor Language (RL) i.e. Hausa. The following statement by

Abdullahi (ibid) underscores the role and relevance of

translation in the media:

‘Undoubtedly there is today a great need for deep

understanding and effective communication between different

communities of the world in order to preserve world peace and

enhance the progress of mankind. To be able to communicate

effectively, it is essential to develop the art of

translation’.

Bargery (1993) as cited in Bunza (2006) describes translation

as ‘meaning of a word or expression’. It can also be an

interpretation of a statement.

Bunza (2006) said ‘Translation is the process of conveying

meaning from one language to another in spoken or written

form’. From the aforementioned, Bunza’s view on translation

corresponds with ours here because his definition covers both

the written and spoken aspect of the translation particularly

the media aspect of it.

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Also Bunza (ibid) itemised seven conditions translators

should consider in the process of translation. They are:

i. The type of translation to be used.

ii. Who is to do the translation

iii. The source language.

iv. The receptor language

v. The message (to be translated)

vi. The audience (i.e. listeners in this case) and

vii. Effectiveness of the translated version.

In our view, all the above conditions are in agreement with

what really obtains when embarking on translation as

indicated by a cross section of radio news translators who

were interviewed.

Challenges before the task of translation as enumerated by

Jarrett (ibid) are: firstly, the message (i.e. meaning) has

to be formulated in the terms and structure of the original

or source language.

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The translators or interpreters therefore have to understand

or decipher the meaning.

Secondly, the message has to be put into the forms and

structures of the receptor language.

2.15 Types of Translations

Bunza (ibid) said there are basically three types of

translations, namely:

i. On-the-spot translation (Fassarar nan take)

ii. Word-to-word translation (Fassarar kalma-da-kalma)

iii. Free or interpretative translation (Fassara mai ‘yanci).

I. On-the-spot Translation

Bunza (2008) said, this type of translation had been in use

since time immemorial. It is one in which as the speaker of

the source language speaks, the translator or interpreter

translates the message directly. It is commonly used at

conferences which involves people speaking different

languages e.g. United Nations conferences and court sessions.

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II. Word-to-word translation:

As the name implies, word-to-word translation is one used to

transfer written message from one language to a written text

in another language. In northern Nigeria, it is commonly used

in Koran Schools where scholars translate wordings of

expressions from Arabic language to a local language for

their students during a study session.

III. Interpretative Translation

This covers the two types explained above. According to Bunza

(ibid), interpretative translation is one in which the

translators employ the basic principles of creativity taking

into consideration verbal elements and linguistic culture of

the two languages involved. It is the type used by both the

print and the electronic media. It gives translators

opportunity to freely explore the nearest forms in meaning to

the form in the source language so that the listener or

reader can easily understand the message. This is necessary

to avoid distorting the message.

38

Birniwa (2008) emphasised that ‘the essence of translation is

to convey the message as it is, into another language,

without distortion. The simplest and comprehensible phrases

and words should therefore be chosen’.

Challenges in the task of translation as enumerated by

Jarrett (ibid) are:

Firstly, the message (i.e. meaning) has to be formulated in

the terms and structure of the original or source language.

The translators or interpreters therefore have to understand

or decipher the meaning.

Secondly, the message has to be put into the forms and

structures of the receptor language.

2.16 Some Techniques in Translation

This section is to highlight methods used in translating

figurative language and techniques of adjustment i.e. use of

addition or expansion due to cultural variations, use of

39

contraction or subtraction and the use of modification or

alterations.

New Mark (1987) and Nord (1992) in Yakasai (1994) have shown that

figurative language is one of the text specific problems facing

translators. The problems include figures of speech, metaphors,

individual words creation or puns etc.

Mamman (ibid) gives clear examples of such problems below:

1. (a) English: The Kaduna State Commissioner of Police Alhaji

Hamza Katsina has warned the public not to take law into their

hands.

(b) Hausa: Kwamishinan ‘yan Sanda na jihar kaduna Alhaji Hamza

Katsina yayi kira ga jama’a da kada su ]auki doka da hannun su

(FRCN Kaduna 13/5/83).The phrase in 1(a) according to Yakasai

(ibid) is a figurative expression which was rendered literally

without considering its inner semantic content. Mamman whose view

is this case corresponds with ours says adjustment has to be made

by the translator either by finding the appropriate idiom in

Hausa or translated non idiomatically as ‘Kada su yi wa kansu

hukunci’.

40

2.17 Theoretical Framework

The chosen framework for this research work for the treatment

of translations-related problems on the media is the method by

Nida (1974). He proposed three methods to assist translators

to overcome the problem of translating figurative expressions

using their outer linguistic meaning instead of their inner

linguistic meaning. The choice of this framework is due to the

fact that little work has been done to look and address

certain problems encountered by translators while trying to

translate sentences that contain figurative expressions from

the source language English to the receptor language Hausa and

vice versa. This is aimed at reducing series of distortions of

meaning during translation which result to failure of

communication in the radio news broadcast in Sokoto state.

Nida’s idea highlights some text-specific problems in

translating sentences that contain figurative expressions as

well as those without figurative expressions (i.e. literal

expressions) but are translated figuratively. The analysis

41

would be applied to the existing happenings on Rima Radio

translations (which is the case study of this work).

2.18 Figurative Language

Figurative language has been defined in various angles by

various scholars.

Ogungbesan and Woolger (1978) said, Figurative expressions are

statements which say something in an indirect way and are not

to be taken at a literal level.

Wierhadt (2005) defined Figurative language as a word or

phrase that departs from every day literal language for the

sake of comparison, emphasis, clarity or freshness. Relating

the two definitions above with the subject of this research

i.e. translation and use of figurative language on the media,

we can agree that figurative expressions are used in a way

different from the usual literal expressions as in the

following examples:

English: Sokoto state pilgrims have been urged o safeguard

their basic traveling allowance while performing the hajj.

42

(Rima Radio, Jan. 2009). The above statement which was written

in the source language English in literal form, can be

translated figuratively as

Hausa: An yi kira ga mahajjatan jihar sakkwato da su yi kaffa-kaffa da guzurin su

sa’ilin da su ke aikin hajji.

In this case, the verb safeguard which literally means tanadi

or tattali in Hausa was translated figuratively as kaffa-kaffa.

Nordquist (2009) describes figure of speech as a rhetorical

device that achieves a special effect by using words in

distinctive ways. The distinctive way here means use of words

or phrases in a special way as against the literal

expressions.

According to the freedictionary.com (2009), figurative

language is any expression that goes beyond the literal

meaning of a word in order to furnish new effects or fresh

insights into an idea or a subject.

William (nd) describes figurative expression as figures which

change the typical meaning of a word or words. Wikipedia the

free encyclopedia (2008) says Figurative expression otherwise

43

known as figure of speech is a use of a word or phrase that

diverges from its normal meaning.

According to the Wikipedia (ibid), while a word in literal

expressions denotes what it means according to common or

dictionary usage, words in figurative expressions connote i.e.

add layers of meaning to convert an utterance into meaning; in

this case, the human mind requires a cognitive framework that

would enable the translator to memorise all possible meanings

available to apply to particular words in their context. This

in our view is to say that a translator should have

understanding of the two languages involved in the

translation. Competence in the two languages would enable the

translator to manipulate the languages through use of

appropriate connotations from the source language to the

receptor language. Example:

English: The ground is thirsty.

The sentence above denotes the nature of land when there is no

rainfall. That is to say, the nature of dryness of the ground

surface during the absence of rainfall especially in the arid

44

areas. The above sentence is a figurative expression in a

metaphorical form which can be interpreted literally as ‘the

ground is dry’. It can also be translated literally in Hausa

as kasa ta bushe.

2.19 Types of Figurative Expressions

According to Ogungbesan and Woogler (ibid), there are many

types of figurative expressions but the most important are

similes and metaphors. Harris (2005) in his view describes

figurative language as rhetorical devices used to improve the

effectiveness, clarity and enjoyment of one’s writing. In our

view emphasis will be given to the four figurative Expressions

namely simile, metaphors, personification and alliteration

because they are more relevant to this research work and are

applied in the media particularly the electronic media.

2.20 Simile

Examples of simile as seen in Achebe (1958) are: ‘Obierika’s

compound was as busy as an ant hill’. (Things Fall Apart: p78)

In this case, a compound was compared to a very busy place

that houses the ants. Another example of simile is: ‘The

45

drummers took up their sticks again and the air shivered and

grew tense like a tightened bow’. (Things Fall Apart: p35). In

this sentence, the inanimate object ‘air’ is likened to a bow.

There is also the figure of speech personification in the

sentence as seen where it was said ‘the air shivered and grew

tense’. The expression was as if the air is a living thing

that could even shiver as human beings do. In the broadcast

news, simile is not commonly used. Instead, personification

and metaphorical expressions are commonly used along side

literal expressions.

2.21 Metaphor

This is usually differentiated with simile. According to

Ogungbesan and Woolger (ibid), the writer or poet does not

announce the comparison with words such as ‘like, as, and

similar to’ as it happens when using simile. Also in Achebe

(ibid), there are series of metaphorical expressions as in the

following:

‘The earth had decreed that they were an offence on the land

and must be destroyed’. (Things Fall apart: p87)

46

In the above sentence, there was direct comparison of the

personal pronoun ‘they’ with ‘an offence’. The other part of

the sentence contains personification as in ‘The earth had

decreed that…’

Here, the earth was given the feature of humans, as if it is

capable of enacting a law or decree. On page 91 is another

metaphorical expression as: ‘For two or three moons the sun

had been gathering strength till it seemed to breathe a breath

of fire on the earth’. In this sentence, the sun was also

given the features of humans because only living things can

breath.

Another example of metaphor in the novel is: ‘Okonkwo was

popularly called…he was a flaming fire’. In this case, the

subject of the sentence Okonkwo was equated with ‘flaming

fire’ as seen in the second sentence where he was represented

by a pronoun ‘He’. Wierhadt (ibid) has similar views with

Ogungbesan and Woogler (ibid) by describing simile and

metaphor as the most common figures of speech. However, she

further said things like hyperbole, synecdoche, puns and

47

personification are also figures of speech. The scholar said

figurative language was also known as figure of speech,

rhetorical figure or metaphorical language.

In its view, idioms, the free dictionary. com explains

figurative language as any language that goes beyond the

literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or

fresh insights into an idea or subject. The web site also

stated that the most common figures of speech are simile,

metaphor and alliteration. Alliteration according to the

author is repeated consonant sound occurring at the beginning

of words or within words. It is used to create melody,

establish mood, call attention to important words, and point

out similarities and contrasts.

Example: From Kano to Kabbah, Yola to Yelwa, Minna to

Maiduguri, all gathered for one man, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the

Sardauna of Sokoto. (NTA, 2006).

2.22 Personification

This is a figure of speech highlighted by Harry (ibid); it

gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object or

48

idea. It is also another type of figurative expression

commonly used in the electronic media.

Example: Sokoto state government expresses displeasure over

the resurfacing of illegal structures at the Sokoto Central

Market.

(Rima Radio, 24/4/2009).

Another example is: Kebbi state government is to partner with

Israeli government in the control of desert encroachment.

(Rima Radio 24/04/2009).

2.23 Literal Language (Literal Expression)

Words in literal expression denote what they mean according to

dictionary usage, hence, literal translation is one in which

the translated version of a word or phrase is the basic or

usual meaning of such word or phrase.

Example:

English: The Commissioner of police cautions people against

hiding criminals in their domains.

49

The above sentence in clear term is not a figurative

expression. However, it can be translated literally and

figuratively into the receptor language Hausa as follows:

Komishinan ‘yan sanda ya garga]i mutane da kada su ajiye

miyagun ]iya a gidajen su.

It can be added here that the use of figurative language by a

speaker tells the speaker’s competence in the language.

This is so because only those who exhibit high proficiency in

the language (or languages) can manipulate such language (s)

to communicate messages.

2.24 Approaches to Translation

In an effort to overcome the problems of translating

figurative language, Nida (ibid) came up with the following

idea:

(a) Shift from figurative to non figurative.

(b) Shift from one type of figurative expression to another

one.

(c) Non figurative expression changed to figurative one.

50

Yakasai (1994) built on that and came up with the following

notations to classify them (as in a, b, and c above)

i. +Fg +Fg

ii. – Fg + Fg

iii. + Fg - Fg

The above notations are highly applied in the day-to-day

translations particularly English-Hausa. Use of figurative

expression is highly pronounced in the broadcast media

translations. However, strict adherence to the notations

depends on the translator’s competence.

Here are some instances of use of figurative expressions in

translation as proposed by Nida (ibid). Some of the examples

are sourced directly from the Rima Radio Sokoto news

translations (which is the case study of the research work).

Shift from figurative expression to figurative expression.

i. +Fg +Fg

51

i.e a situation where figurative expressions in SL are

translated with a corresponding figurative expression in the

RL.

English: Sokoto State Teachers Service Board has vowed to deal

with any teacher found wanting in the discharge of his duty.

Hausa: Hukumar kula da Ayukkan Malanta ta Jihar Sakkwato ta lashi takobin

sanya }afar wando guda da duk malamin da ta sama yana sakaci da aikin sa.

(Rima Radio, 20/5/2009).

In the above example, the figurative expression in the source

language ‘found wanting’ was translated with a corresponding

figurative expression in Hausa sanya kafar wando guda.

Another example is:

English: The Leader of Sokoto state government delegation to

this year’s hajj Alhaji Abdullahi Balarabe Salame has called

on all stake holders in the hajj operations to work hand-in-

hand with the committee for the success of the hajj.

Hausa: Shugaban ayarin mahajjatan sakkwato da gwamnati ta kafa don aikin

hajjin bana Alhaji Abdullahi Balarabe Salame ya yi kira ga dukkan ma su hannu ga

52

lamarin aikin hajjin da su yi aiki kafada-da-kafada da juna don samun nasarar

aikin. (Rima Radio, 1/11/2008).

The above sentence was also translated literally by another

translator who translated the repeat broadcast of the news;

hence, it will be seen in examples under translation of

figurative expressions to non-figurative ones.

English: The state police command’s effort to rid the society

of bad eggs has continued to yield dividends.

Hausa: {okarin hukumar ‘yan sanda ta jiha don kawar da bara gurbi daga cikin

al’umma yana cigaba da samun nasara. (Radio Kano 3/4/90)

Non figurative to figurative.

ii. – Fg + Fg

It is a situation when figurative expressions are used in the

RL but absent in the SL as in the following examples:

English: Our reporter who visited the main campus observed

that the institution was deserted as no any academic activity

was taking place.

53

Hausa: Wakilin mu da ya ziyarci babban mazaunin jami’ar ya lura da cewa wurin

yayi wayam domin kuwa babu wasu ayukkan karatu da ke gudana.

(Rima Radio, 20/5/2009).

In the above example, it can be seen that the verb of the

sentence in the source language (as underlined) was in the

literal form but rendered figuratively in the receptor

language in Hausa.

Other examples are as follows:

English: Nigerians have been advised to shun smoking and

excessive in-take of salt and alcohol to avoid hypertension.

Hausa: An shawarci ‘yan Najeriya da su guji zu}ar taba sigari da wuce-wuri wajen

shan gishiri da barasa domin kauce ma cutar hawan jini. (Rima Radio,

20/5/2009)

English: He said the committee would soon meet to discuss

measures to be taken against erring ones.

Hausa: Ya ce nan ba da jimawa ba ne kwamitin zai yi taro don tattaunawa akan

matakan da za’a dau}ar ma masu kunnen }ashi. (Rima Radio, 30/5/2009).

54

English: Colonel Chijuka said it would amount to waste of time

on the part of such distasteful comment to think that the

armed forces could be inducted to go back…

Hausa: Kanar Chijuka ya ce babu wata zolaya da za ta sa sojojin su nemi komar

da hannun agogo baya…..(KTTV 28/11/93).

English: Meanwhile, the Head of State Chief Earnest Shonekan

has said that the interim national government was determined

not to repeat the mistake of the past which led to the current

problem.

Hausa: A wani labarin kuma shugaba Shonekan ya ce gwammnatin ri}on }warya

za ta yi bakin }o}arin ta wajen ganin ba’a kwata ‘yar gidan jiya ba, abin da shi ne ya

haifar da rikicin }asar nan. (CTV now STV, Kano 24/10/93).

Figurative to non-figurative:

iii. +Fg -

-Fg:

This is when figurative expressions in the source language are

rendered non-figuratively in the receptor language.

55

Still here are more examples from Rima Radio news and Yakasai

(ibid):

English: The Leader of Sokoto state government delegation to

this year’s hajj Alhaji Abdullahi Balarabe Salame has called

on all stake holders in the hajj operations to work hand-in-

hand with the committee for the success of the hajj.

Hausa: Shugaban ayarin mahajjatan sakkwato da gwamnati ta kafa don aikin

hajjin bana Alhaji Abdullahi Balarabe Salame ya yi kira ga dukkan ma su hannu ga

lamarin aikin hajjin da su yi aiki kafada-da-kafada da juna don samun nasarar

aikin. (Rima Radio, 1/11/2008).

English: Seven staff of the ministry of the Federal Capital

Territory were yesterday paraded before the Minister Malam

Nasiru El-Rufa’i and newsmen for their alleged involvement in

the thirty million naira fraud.

Hausa: Jiya ne aka gabatar da wasu mutane na ma’aikatar birnin tarayya a gaban

minista Malam Nasiru El-Rufa’I ga manema labaru akan zargin da ake yi masu na

suna da hannu a cikin wata danfara ta naira milyan talatin da uku. (Rima Radio,

21/2/2004).

56

English: While answering questions from newsmen on the new

change of government in the country, the Emir prayed that the

country should not jump from the flying pan into the fire.

Hausa: Yayin da ya ke amsa tambayoyi daga manema labarai game da canjin

gwamnati a }asar nan, sarkin ya yi addu’a da a sami zaman lafiya mai ]orewa

(KTTV, 23/1/94).

All the above examples are directly relevant and related to

this research work because similar examples are noticed when

one monitors daily translations on the Rima Radio medium.

2.25 Conclusion

This chapter reviewed available literature on translations on

the broadcast media (English to Hausa) particularly the radio

medium. Areas covered include:

i. Theoretical considerations in translation

ii. The purpose and nature of language (in translations)

iii. Relationship between form and meaning

iv. Distortion of meaning

v. Translatability and synonymy

57

vi. The word in the context

vii. Types of meaning

viii. Types of translations and

ix. Some techniques in translations

x. Theoretical Framework

xi. Figurative Language

xii. Types of figurative language

xiii. Literal language and

xiv. Approaches to translations.

The next chapter will look at the research methodology.

58

59

CHAPTRE THREE

Methodology

This chapter focuses on the method employed in the conduct of

the research. It is divided into areas such as introduction,

Research questions, characteristics of the study population

and the criteria for selection, Data collection instrument,

procedure for processing the data and conclusion.

The method to be used in this research work is the

questionnaire approach (i.e. sample survey method). In this

method, questionnaires will be distributed among respondents

who are regular listeners of the news programme. Their views

are collated, classified and analysed. The use of sample

survey is chosen in this work because it enhances accuracy in

the data collated as the information is obtained from sources

competent to comment on the subject matter (i.e. the Radio

listeners).

Another method to be used is the content analysis. In this

method, news bulletins in English and the translated versions

in Hausa would be reviewed and analysed.

60

3.1 Characteristics of the Population and Criteria for

Selection.

The nature of the population i.e. the respondents who are

listeners of the news are all adults. The minimum level of

educational qualification of the respondents is diploma. They

are journalists, translators, lecturers and civil servants.

The respondents are carefully selected based on their interest

in listening to the radio news programme in both English and

Hausa.

3.2 Data Collection Instrument

The data collection instrument in this research is the

questionnaires. This is the sample survey method of collating

data in a research work. The questionnaires will be used to

collate responses from the listeners based on the research

questions. Content analysis of the news bulletins will also be

carried out. It entails going through some selected English and

61

translated Hausa news bulletins to analyse errors in translating

figurative expressions.

3.3 Method of Data Presentation

Method of data presentation in this research is the simple

percentage. Variables are grouped in a tabular form and simple

percentages are calculated to represent each of the variables

tabulated.

3.4 Procedure for Processing the Data

Responses from the listeners are aimed at finding answers to the

research questions on the problems of translating figurative

expressions. The responses generated are processed on the basis

of the nature of listeners. Comparisons were made and the data

were processed through calculation using simple percentage. The

reason for using the simple percentage is because it is easy to

interprete data statistically.

This chapter has highlighted the research methodology adopted in

carrying out the research. The chapter explained characteristics

of the population and criteria for selection, data collection

62

instrument, method of data presentation, procedure for processing

the data and conclusion.

The next chapter which is the concluding part of the work, takes

a look at the data analyses, interpretation and summary of

findings.

63

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation, Analyses of Data, Findings and Conclusion

4.0 Introduction

This chapter presents results obtained from questionnaire

responses and the content analysis. Tables are used in each case

to present the data in relation to the research questions. The

chapter is divided into five namely; Presentation and analyses of

data, Presentation and analyses of the data according to research

questions, Summary of findings, Conclusion, References and

Appendix.

64

4.1 Criterion Group Returns

The population is classified into journalists, lecturers, civil

servants and translators. They are all listeners of the news

programme as indicated in their responses to questions in the

questionnaire. The questions administered were centred on how

often the respondents listen to the radio? How often do they

notice errors in translating figurative expressions? Who is

responsible for the errors? E.t.c.

4.2 Classification of respondents according to professions:

Table One: Type of Respondents-Journalists:

Frequency of Listening to the Rima Radio news programme by the

respondents:

Frequency of listening. Percentage % Percentage %

Very often 15 88.23

Often 2 11.76

Rarely 0 0

65

Total 17 100

From the table one above, over eighty percent of the population

listens to the news in both English and Hausa very often.

Table 2: Frequency of detecting errors of translating figurative

expressions of the respondents (i.e. journalists).

Frequency of

detecting errors

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Very often 8 47.1

Often 8 47.1

Rarely 1 5.9

Total 17 100

In table two above, almost half of the population noticed that

the errors occur very often. The same number also is of the view

that the errors occur often. This means the degree of occurrence

is less than the first eight.

66

Table 3: Journalists’ responses to the question ‘who is

responsible for the errors?

Who is responsible

for the errors

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Translators 14 82.4

Reporters 0 0

Both 3 17.6

Total 17 100

In table three above, over eighty percent (80) of the population

is of the view that translators are responsible for the errors of

translating figurative expressions in the news programme while

only seventeen point six percent (17.6%) are of the view that

both reporters and translators are responsible.

Table four: Type of Respondents: - Translators.

Population: 10

The translators whose opinions were sampled were mostly from Rima

Radio. Of the ten interviewed, five were from Rima Radio, two

from NTA Sokoto and three were from Rima Television, Sokoto.

67

Their educational qualifications are Diploma in Translations,

Diploma Mass Communication and NCE Hausa as well as some

seminar/workshop certificates.

Frequency of Listening to the news programme by the respondents:

Frequency of

listening to the

news.

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Very often 7 70

Often 2 20

Rarely 1 10

Total 10 100

From the table above, over seventy percent (70%) of the ten

translators interviewed stated that they listen to the news

programme very often while twenty percent of them often listen

and ten percent rarely listen to the news.

68

Table Five: Frequency of detecting errors by translators.

Frequency of

detecting errors

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Very often 3 30

Often 3 30

Rarely 4 40

Total 10 100

From the table above, thirty percent of the ten respondents noted

that they listen to the news very often; thirty percent often

listen while forty percent rarely listen to the news programme.

Table six: Translators’ responses to ‘who is responsible for the

errors?’

Who is responsible? Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Translators 6 60

Reporters 1 10

Both 3 30

69

Total 10 100

From the table six above, sixty percent of the respondents are of

the view that only translators are responsible for the errors in

translating figurative expressions on the news. Thirty percent of

them say both the translators and the reporters are to be blamed

while ten percent apportioned the blame on the reporters

Table 7: Type of respondents: Lecturers.

Population: 10

Frequency of listening to the news programme by the respondents.

Frequency of listening. Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Very often 7 70

Often 3 30

Rarely 0 0

Total 10 100

From the table above, majority of the respondents (i.e. 70% of

them) monitor the news very often while thirty percent of them

often monitor the programme.

70

Table 8: Lecturers’ response to the frequency of errors on the

news programme.

Frequency of errors

occurring

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Very often 4 40

Often 4 40

Rarely 2 20

Total 10 100

From the table 8 above, forty percent of the respondents noticed

errors occurring very often, while forty percent others noticed

that the errors often happen; twenty percent on the other hand

are of the view that the errors rarely happen.

Table 9: Lecturers’ response to ‘who is responsible for the

errors in translating figurative expressions?’

Who is responsible

for the errors?

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Translators 10 100

Reporters 0 0

Both 0 0

71

Total 10 100

From the table 9 above, all the ten respondents are of the view

that only translators are responsible for the errors on the news.

Table 10:

Type of respondents: Civil Servants.

No. of respondents: 13.

Frequency of

listening of the

news.

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Very often 9 69.2

Often 3 23.1

Rarely 1 7.7

Total 13 100

From the table ten above, over sixty nine percent (69%) of the

respondents very often listen to the news; twenty three percent

(23%) often listen while only seven point seven percent (7.7%)

rarely listen to news programme.

Table 11: Frequency of errors occurring in the news:

72

Frequency of errors

occurring

Number of

respondents

Percentage %

Very often 3 23.1

Often 5 38.5

Rarely 5 38.5

Total 13 100

From the table above, 23.1% of the population is of the view that

the errors occur very often, 38.5% of the respondents say they

often occur while another 38.5% of them stated that the errors

rarely occur.

Table 12:

Type of respondents: Civil Servants.

Population of the respondents: 13.

Civil Servants’ response to ‘who is responsible for the errors?’

Who is responsible

for the errors?

Number of

respondents.

Percentage %

Translators 12 92.3

Reporters 0 0

Both 1 7.7

73

Total 13 100

From table 12 above, over 90% of the population are of the view

that only translators are responsible for the errors in

translating figurative expressions on the news.

4.3 Response of the listeners to the question: What happens to

the message when the translation contains errors?

From the responses in the questionnaires, all the respondents

i.e. journalists, Translators, lecturers and civil servants are

of the view that:

i. The message is distorted

ii. It is wrongly communicated

iii. The audience does not comprehend the message

iv. The message is wrongly delivered

v. One does not properly understand the actual message in

the translation.

vi. Distortion of meaning occurs

vii. There is misinformation

74

viii. The audience is misled through the distorted messages

in the translation.

4.3 Listeners response to the question ‘What is the Reason

for the Errors in Translating Figurative Expressions?’

i. The translators do not ask questions when in doubt.

ii. The translators lack training and retraining.

iii. Some of the translators have poor background of

English Language (which is the source language).

iv. Lack of contacting News Editors or reporters when in

doubt of a word or expression.

v. Lack of adequate supervision by Head of Translations

unit.

vi. Adoption of direct translation contributes to the

problem.

vii. Incompetence is being exhibited by some translators

due to lack of relevant qualifications.

viii. Ignorance of the options allowed in translating

figurative expressions.

ix. Lack of consultation and research by translators.

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4.4 Listener’s Suggestions to the Problem of Translating

Figurative Expressions:

From the data collected, the entire respondents are of the view

that:

a. There should be regular training and retraining of

translators to update their knowledge.

b. There should be close supervision by the Heads of

Translations unit so that the translated scripts are checked

before the presentation.

c. Only qualified personnel in the related areas should be

employed in order to over come the problem.

d. Translators should be asking questions whenever in doubt

before translating any expression.

e. Reporters should endeavour to check translated scripts of

their reports to ascertain correct translation.

f. In-house training should be organised by the management of

the Rima Radio Sokoto at regular intervals to enhance

exchange of ideas on the various methods of translation.

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4.5 Content Analysis of Some Selected News Bulletins.

The content analysis in this work is to highlight some of the

errors of translating Figurative Expressions as established in

the findings from the sample survey conducted.

English: Youths in Sokoto state have been advised to shun any act

capable of thwarting the efforts being made by the present

administration to improve their lots.

Hausa: An shawarci matasan da ke jihar sakkwato da su yi watsi da duk wata ]abi’a

da ke iya lahanta }o}arin da gwamnati ke yi na inganta rayuwar su. (Rima Radio,

30/10/2008).

The above expression which is in literal form in the source

language English was translated figuratively using the verbal

elements watsi and lahantawa. The message though understood would

have been better understood if proper lexical forms are used. It

would have been translated as: An shawarci matasan jihar Sakkwato da su

kauce ma duk wata ]abi’a da ke iya gurgunta }o}arin da gwamnati mai-ci-yanzu ke yi

na kyautata rayuwar su.

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English: Malam Yusuf Alibawa spoke on the do’s and don’ts of

performing hajj during the sermon.

Hausa: Malam Yusuf Alibawa Ya yi tsokaci game da }abli da ba’adin aikin hajji a

lokacin hu]ubar. (Rima Radio, 31/10/2008).

The above sentence which was written with figurative expression

‘do’s and dont’s’ was translated figuratively as }abli da ba’adi. The

translation though appears simple, is misleading. To address

this, a corresponding figurative word should be used or

translated literally as:

Malam Yusuf Alibawa ya yi tsokaci game da }a’idojin aikin hajji a cikin hu]ubar sa.

English: The benefitting schools include Nagarta College, G.S.S

Yabo, G.G.C. Sokoto, G.S.S.S. Gwadabawa, G.T.C Farfaru and G.G.C

Tambuwal as well as the Inspectorate Department of the ministry.

Hausa: Makarantun da suka amfana sun ha]a da Kolejin Nagarta, G.S.S. Yabo, G.G.C.

Sakkwato, G.S.S.S. Gwadabawa, G.T.C Farfaru da G.G.C. Tambuwal kazalika da Sashen

dudduba makarantu na ma’aikatar. (Rima Radio, 31/10/2008).

The above translation only deviates from the rule of reading and

writing various items in Hausa. As against the English language

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which uses commas to separate items, Hausa uses the conjunction

da after each item up to the end. Hence, the sentence should be

written and read as: Makarantum da suka amfana sun ha]a da Kolejin Nagarta

da G.S.S. Yabo da G.G.C. Sakkwato, da G.S.S.S. Gwadabawa da G.T.C Farfaru da G.G.C.

Tambuwal kazalika da Sashen dudduba makarantu na ma’aikatar.

English: Alhaji Mamman Tsafe said, on hearing the incident,

police were mobilized to arrest the killer who was attempting to

flee the state.

Hausa: Alhaji Mamman Tsafe ya ce da samun labarin, sai a ka rarraba ‘yansanda don

su kama mai laifin wanda ya so ya bar gari. (Rima Radio, 31/10/2008).

English: Governments and organisations in the country have been

advised to always honour people who distinguished themselves in

the service to humanity.

Hausa: An shawarci gwamnatoci da }ungiyoyin da ke kasar nan da su rin}a karrama

mutanen da suka sadaukar da kansu wajen ayukan jin}an bil’adama. (Rima Radio,

7/9/2008).

The above sentence can better be reframed if the phrase ‘who

distinguished themselves’ is replaced with a better corresponding

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phrase in the figurative form wa]anda suka yi abin a-zo-a gani. The

phrase Sadaukar da kai can only be used if similar phrase ‘who

sacrificed themselves’ is used.

English: Local government councils Sokoto state have been

cautioned against allocating roadside lands to people.

The above expression which is in literal form was translated

figuratively as: An yi kashedi ga majalisun }ananan hukumoni akan rarraba

filayen gefen titi ga jama’a.

The translation in our view is correct but can also be done in a

better way.

This is by replacing the verbal element in the figurative form

kashedi with a synonym in literal form i.e garga]i, hence it will

be: An garga]i majalisun }ananan hukumomi akan rarraba filayen gefen titi ga

jama’a. Synonymy means sameness in meaning, (Palmer, 1981). It is

always applicable in our view to use synonyms in this context

where one synonym gives better meaning than the other.

4.6 Findings from Questionnaire responses and Content Analysis of

the News Bulletins:

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1. The audience is misinformed due to the distorted messages

contained in the translations.

2. Due to the errors in the translations, the radio station

tends to lose its listeners-ship there by causing a decline

in its patronage.

3. The faults are from the translators.

4. Lack of training and retraining of the translators.

5. Inadequate supervision from the translations unit.

6. Poor background of English language in some translators.

7. Failure of most translators to ask questions when in doubt.

8. The errors often occur on the medium.

9. Due to lack of training, the translators are unable to apply

the various types of translations to suit a particular

situation.

4.7 Summary of Findings

1. There is lack of training and re-training on the

translators.

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2. There is inadequate supervision on the translators to

reduce the number of errors occurring in the station.

3. The audience is misinformed due to the distorted messages

contained in the translations.

4. There is wrong application of figurative expressions in

translations which brings about the distortion of

meaning.

5. There is inadequate knowledge of the English language

vocabulary by translators to enable them translate

sentences correctly using the options for either literal

or figurative expressions.

6. The faults are found from the translators because

manuscripts of the translated versions of the news were

made by the translators themselves.

7. That there is tacit agreement between the findings from

the sample survey of listeners’ views on the

questionnaire and the content analysis of the news

bulletins.

8. It was found that use of figurative language is done

inter-changeably with the literal language.

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9. Wrong application of the use of the figurative

expressions in translations tends to bring about the

distortion of meaning in the translations.

4.8 Conclusion

From the research conducted, it was gathered that uses of

figurative expressions in translations tend to portray

competence of the use of language by a speaker or a

translator. Also figurative expressions when properly used

in translations make meaning clearer to the listener than

even the literal expressions. In this research, it was found

that translators who are competent in the use of the two

languages (English and Hausa) use expertise in translating

sentences figuratively or literally. It is hoped that

findings from this research will be used to address certain

problems encountered by translators while translating

sentences with or without figurative expressions.

83

References

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Nigeria Ltd.

Jowitt, D. (1991). Nigerian English Usage: An Introduction,

Lagos, Longman Nigeria plc.

Harris, A. R. (2005) A Handbook of Rhetorical Devices (sourced from the

internet).

Muhammad, Y.M. (2001). Fassara A Takaice.Zaria, Institute of

Education, A.B.U.

Ogden, C.K and Richards, I. A. (1923). The Meaning of Meaning:

London, Kegan Paul. Ogundipe e’t al (1985). Brighter Grammar

Book 1. England. Longman Limited

Ogungbesan, K. and Woogler, D. (1978). Images and impressions: An

Oxford Senior Poetry Course. London: Oxford University Press.

Abdullahi, A.G.D. (1997) Faithfulness in English to Hausa Translating: A

Product of Dynamic Equivalence or Formal Equivalence? Kano, Bayero

University.

84

Abdullahi, A.G.D. (2001) Variation in Structure and form in Translating: A look

at some of the Major types of Adjustments in English to Hausa Translations.

Algaita, Journal of Current Research in Hausa Studies, volume

1, 2001.

Oyetunde, O.T. (2002). Research Project, Journal Articles, Conference Papers

and Documenting. Jos, Lecaps publishers.

Palmer, F.R. (1981). Semantics. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press

Nida, E.A. and Taber, C.R. (1974). The Theory and Practice of Translation.

Leiden: United Bible Societies.

Rufa’I, A. (1983). Some Aspects of Translating. Kano, Bayero

University, Kano.

Sarbi, A.S. (2008). Studies in Translation. Kano: Samarib

Publishers.

Azare, Y.M. (2001) Hausanisation of Knowledge: A dire need for Massive

Translation. Algaita journal of Current research in Hausa studies,

Volume 1, No. 1, 2001.

85

Birniwa, H.A. (2008). The Uniform System of Translation and Transliteration of

Hausa.

presented at the In-house Training Workshop on Uniform

System of Translation and Transliteration into Hausa

organised by the Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu

Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

Bunza, A. M. (2006). Fasahar Fassara (Yadda ta ke da yadda ake tafiyar da

ita); Paper presented at the Special In-house Training Workshop on

Translation organised by the Centre for Islamic Studies, Usmanu

Danfodio University, Sokoto.

Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Network News Abuja (2006).

Rima Radio, (2008). News Bulletins, English and Hausa. Sokoto State

Broadcasting Corporation.

Sajo, M.A. (2004) Errors in News Translations: A case Study of Rima

Radio News Bulletins. Unpublished B.A. Project, Department of

Modern European Languages, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

86

Yakasai, H.M. (1994). Figurative Language in English-Hausa Translations: A

Communicative Approach: M.A. Dissertation, Department of

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.

http://docentia.udea.edu.co/teoriatraducciom//linguistico/midred0

1.ingles.htm

http://rescomp.stanford.edu/Cheshire/einsteinquotes.html

http://nobelprize.org/nobel-prizes

http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev

http://enwikipedia.org/wiki/figures-of-speech

http://www.about.com

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

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APPENDIX

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Dear Sir/Ma,

QUESTIONNAIRE ON ERRORS IN TRANSLATING FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS INRADIO BROADCAST IN SOKOTO STATE FOR M.A. ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

This study is being conducted purely for academic purpose. Allinformation will be treated in confidence. Therefore, yourcooperation in respect of this study is highly appreciated.

Thank You.

Yours sincerely,

Mohammad Aliyu Sajo.

QUESTIONNAIRE

INSTRUCTION: This questionnaire is divided into two sections:Personal data and Radio audience section. You are required to

88

tick ( ) where boxes are provided and where necessary fill inthe blank spaces.

SECTION A:

Personal Data.

1. Name(optional)………………………………………………………………………..2. Occupation…………………………………………………………………………….

Leve of Education…………………………………………………………………….3. Sex: Male ( ) Female ( )

SECTION B: Radio Audience Section.

4. How often do you listen to Rima Radio News Programme?a. Very oftenb. Oftenc. Rarely

5. Do you listen to English version of the news? a. Yes( ) b. No ( )

6. Do you listen to Hausa version of the news? a. Yes ( )b. No ( )

7. Do you notice errors in translating figurativeexpressions? a. Yes ( ) b. No ( )

8. How often do you notice such errors?a. Very often ( )b. Often ( )c. Rarely ( )

9. What happens to the message when the translation containserrors?

............................................................

............................................................

........................

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. Who do you think is responsible for the mistakes in thetranslations?a. Translators ( )

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b. Reporters ( )c. Both ( )

11. If your answer above is translators (as in a above),what do you think is the reason for the mistakes?

...........……………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. If your answer is reporters (as in b above), what doyou think is the reason for the mistakes?

...........………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. If your answer is both as in ‘c’ above, what do youthink is the reason for the mistakes?

14. What do you suggest as solution to the problem?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

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………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thank You.

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