Basic Details
Word: Translation
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Turning words, speech or writing from one language into another; also the new text that results.
Synonyms: version, rendering
Word origin: From Latin translatio, a carrying across.
How to Spell Translation
Syllables: trans - la - tion
Tricky part: Students often slip an extra a in after trans (transalation), as if the word had four beats. Others drop the s or end it in -sion.
Watch out for: transalation, tranlation, translasion
Memory tip: Three beats only: trans-la-tion. Translate already ends in -late; swap the -te for -tion and nothing else changes.
Idioms and Phrases
- lost in translation: weakened or changed when moved from one language or setting to another Example: "The joke worked in Bengali, but it was lost in translation when Riya told it in English."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Arun read an English translation of a Tamil novel over the holidays.
Example 2: The museum guide offered a Hindi translation of every label.
Example 3: Good translation needs a sharp ear for both languages, not just a dictionary.
Fun Fact
The Panchatantra fables were translated into an early form of Persian in the sixth century, and from there their stories travelled into Arabic and many European languages.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
transalation
a) l
b) a
c) t
d) n
Show answer
b) a. Say it in three beats, trans-la-tion; the a after trans adds a beat that is not there.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. interpretor 2. bilinguel 3. dialekt 4. translation
a) able to speak two languages well
b) a person who turns speech into another language as people talk
c) a form of a language spoken in one area
d) turning writing or speech into another language
Show answer
d) turning writing or speech into another language. Interpreter ends in -er, bilingual in -al, and dialect has a c, not a k.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word translation as used in the sentence:
The Marathi translation of the play was staged in Pune last winter.
a) sequel
b) original
c) version
d) review
Show answer
c) version. A translation is a version in another language; the original is the very thing it is translated from.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A translation of a Hindi poem into English should ____.
a) copy the Hindi letters
b) keep the meaning in new words
c) change the whole story
d) leave out every line
Show answer
b) keep the meaning in new words
2. Which task is a piece of translation?
a) painting a classroom wall
b) turning a French menu into English
c) repairing a broken laptop
d) counting books in a library
Show answer
b) turning a French menu into English
