Communication of Information

In some cases, the content gets precedence over form. For instance, notices put up in airports or railway stations are bilingual, if not multilingual. Important notices that give information have to be in different languages in international airports where you have travellers from all parts of the world. Here the translation has to be such that it gives the meaning without any distortion. The same is true for manuals that come with appliances. In these cases, the translator might not be able to do a literal translation, as languages differ from each other in structure as well as semantics. But the emphasis is on the reader and the aim is to make the reader who does not know the other language, understand what is being said. This is very much a reader-oriented translation where the translator is completely subservient to the message that is to be communicated. The translator can safely claim that there is no loss in translation here or rather, he cannot afford loss in translation. In some cases sign language is used avoid confusion.

This is quite common with traffic signals which are a universal language of sorts. Road signs are usually accompanied by pictures or signs that are universally understood. Here a semiotic system or sign language is utilised to overcome the potential hazards of not comprehending a road sign in another language. In other words this is a context where the translator cannot afford breakdown of communication or loss in translation. To make the message clear s/he might have to make suitable changes in the word order or choose a word that might not be the literal equivalent of the original. What is significant here is that the aim of the translator is not just to pass on information but also to ensure that the reader has understood the message. The reader is king in these forms of translation as the whole process is aimed at him/her.