Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Translation. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Translation is a tricky business. There are so many things that are very difficult to translate from one language to another. Of course lots of words are easy. A book is a book in all languages. But is it? In English you can “go by the book” if you want to follow the rules. What book is this? Many of the things that are difficult to translate are cultural. I also think it’s pretty much impossible to translate jokes and humour. I think that’s why we have the expression “lost in translation”. Being a translator must be a difficult job. Especially translating things like legal documents. If you make one tiny mistake, you could mess everything up. One day we’ll translate everything on the Internet.
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THE ACTIVITIES
LISTENING GAP FILL
Translation ____________________. There are so many things that are very ____________________ from one language to another. Of course lots of words are easy. A book is a ____________________. But is it? In English you can “go by the book” if you want ____________________. What book is this? Many of the things that are difficult to ____________________. I also think it’s pretty much impossible to translate jokes and humour. I think that’s why ____________________ “lost in translation”. Being a translator must be a difficult job. Especially translating things ____________________. If you make one tiny mistake, you could ____________________. One day we’ll translate everything on the Internet.
CORRECT THE SPELLING
Translation is a cytkri business. There are so many things that are very difficult to translate from one ggaanleu to another. Of ucoser lots of words are easy. A book is a book in all languages. But is it? In English you can “go by the book” if you want to foolwl the rules. What book is this? Many of the things that are cidfltfiu to translate are cultural. I also think it’s pretyt much impossible to translate ojeks and humour. I think that’s why we have the expression “lost in translation”. Being a translator must be a difficult job. Especially translating things like legal cumodnest. If you make one tiny estamik, you could mess everything up. One day we’ll translate everything on the etInetrn.
UNJUMBLE THE WORDS
a Translation tricky is business. There are so many things that are one very to from language difficult translate to another. easy course of are Of lots words. A book is a book in all languages. But is it? In English you can “go by the book” rules you to the if want follow. What book is this? Many difficult are that things the of translate to are cultural. I much pretty it’s think also impossible to translate jokes and humour. I think that’s why we have the expression “lost in translation”. Being a translator must be a difficult job. things translating Especially like legal documents. one make you If mistake tiny, you could mess everything up. One day we’ll translate everything on the Internet.
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about translation. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE:Write a magazine article about translation. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. TRANSLATION POSTERMake a poster about translation. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.
5. MY TRANSLATION LESSON:Make your own English lesson on translation. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.
6. ONLINE SHARING:Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on translation. Share your findings with the class.
ANSWERS
Check your answers in the article at the top of this page.
