The Importance of Periodic Translations in Education

Translation studies, which emerged as a separate science in the world in the 70s, takes its roots from linguistics. However, it is known that translation exercises were carried out even before they began to be studied scientifically and that these were based on certain traditions. It's important to page through the past to see how modern practices have gotten to this point. Thus, we can always set goals for the future one step further. Translation has gone through multiple processes throughout history and each process has brought a new feature to it. We will encounter more than one view in this translation archive, which stretches from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Here is the history of translation, ancient and medieval translation studies…

Translation in Antiquity

In this period, translations were not made by considering cultural values ​​or logical facts as they are today. Even beyond the habit of translating word for word, there was an attitude based on structures. While excessive dependence on the resource was observed, even the smallest units of the resource were tried to be protected. Since the structural differences between languages ​​were translated without considering other planes, intertextual communication could not be achieved. Another expert was needed to analyze the translated text.

Ancient Roman Translations

The extreme dependence on the source observed in Antiquity was not valid for Rome. Because there were approaches that could be considered close to today's translations. Being a military and powerful state, Rome made Greek translations under its own dominance and translated them as Roman texts. The Source is ripped from its essence and the warrior side of Rome is often brought out. Loyalty to the source is unimportant and even names are romanized. Even if such translations are observed today, these translations can be studied more under "adaptation" as they change the course of events. Since there is a high level of freedom, the texts are seen as original works. Since Latin literature was weaker in this period, it was fed from Greek literature. For example, Cicero translated Plato's dialogue into prose and followed a goal-oriented approach. According to Cicero, fidelity to the meaning of the source text is important, not formal fidelity.

Translation in the Middle Ages

Rome was destroyed and 3-10. Between the centuries, civilizations in the West began to weaken. This indicates that we have entered a dark period. The church began to dominate from the 10th century, and scholastic thought was gradually spreading. Therefore, translations come under the authority of the church and are made in monasteries according to the ideology of the church. Since most of the people are illiterate, those who benefit from these translations and books are intellectuals affiliated with the church. Translation expectations are offered by the Vatican. Therefore, most of the translations are censored and controlled. Since the translated texts are generally about religion, the sources are holy texts and the translations are auxiliary texts.

Hieronymus, who was an important translator of Bible translations during the Middle Ages, translated the Vulgate. This translation was accepted by the Council in 1546 as the closest translation of the Bible to the truth. It is faithful to the source because it is a sacred text; however, it tends to convey meaning rather than a formal fidelity like Cicero.

Martin Luther translated the Bible into German in the 16th century. The Renaissance and Reformation movements began in Europe during the Lutheran era. Many problems such as the authoritarian state, limited education and institutional pressures began to collapse in these periods. The important thing in this period is to reveal the value of the human being again. The use and spread of the printing press paved the way for the monopoly of the information to come out of the church. Controls are reduced and the human mind begins to liberate. Martin Luther questions a new understanding of religion, opposing the church's exploitation and humiliation of the poor and uneducated. For this, he translated the Bible into the vernacular. He did the translation into plain languages, and the principalities supported Luther rather than paid the Vatican. The foundations of a national identity and language consciousness were laid.