In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation

by Mona Baker

In Other Words has been the definitive coursebook for students studying translation for nearly three decades. Assuming no knowledge of foreign languages, it offers a practical guide based on extensive research in areas as varied as lexis, grammar, pragmatics, semiotics and ethics. It thus provides a solid basis for training a new generation of well-informed, critical students of translation. Drawing on linguistic theory and social semiotics, the third edition of this best-selling text guides trainee translators through the variety of decisions they will have to make throughout their career. Each chapter offers an explanation of key concepts, identifies potential sources of translation difficulties related to those concepts and illustrates various strategies for resolving these difficulties. Authentic examples of translated texts from a wide variety of languages and genres are examined, and practical exercises and further reading are included at the end of each chapter. The third edition has been fully revised to reflect recent developments in the field and includes a new chapter that engages with the interplay between verbal and visual elements in genres as varied as children’s literature, comics, film, poetry and advertisements. This key text remains the essential coursebook for any student of translation studies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, Linguistics, Academic, Reference, Theory, History

390 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Professor of Translation Studies, Centre for Translation & Intercultural Studies, University of Manchester.

Reviews

[Adrian Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has opened my mind to the argument that languages should be protected like endangered species. Previously, I had been in favour of an Anglophone world with hobby languages for the enthusiast - like Spanish, or Chinese. I thought that if there was any need for 41 words for snow, English would pick them up any way. But this book's detailed discussion of the actual differences between languages shows that they are not merely superficial lexcico-grammatical differences but there are grammatical categories that English doesn't use at all, such as 'Topic'. Chinese is a topic-prominent language. The absence of whole a grammatical category, means that there is no fully adequate translation, and we might just lose out through language extinction.

[عباد ديرانية · Rating 4 out of 5]

منى بيكر هي من أشهر الأساتذة والمؤلفين الأكاديميين في مجال الترجمة، وأظن كتابها هذا -وهو من أهم مؤلفاتها- من أكثر الكتب تداولاً في صفوف الترجمة عالمياً (أو لعلّه كان من أكثرها قبل عشر سنواتٍ أو نحوها). قد يكون هذا أفضل كتاب قرأته في مجال الترجمة التطبيقية قطّ، فهو يتبحّر بكل تفصيل ودقة بتفاصيل عملية الترجمة وعقباتها وتحدياتها وحلولها بتنظيمٍ ممتاز، بدءاً من الترجمة على مستوى الكلمة المفردة فالجملة فالفقرة والنص.

وفي كل واحدةٍ من هذه الموضوعات تأتي المؤلفة بأمثلة ملمّة من معظم عائلات اللغات الكبرى، ومنها اللغات اللاتينية والآسيوية والسامية والأمريكية (أي لغات الأمريكيين الأصليين). والجميل في الأمر أن المؤلفة، لأنها مصرية نشأةً، تأتي بعددٍ هائلٍ من الأمثلة العربية في الكتاب وتعطي لمحاتٍ مذهلة عن خصوصيات الترجمة العربية وما يقعُ من إشكالات فيها بسبب اختلاف قواعدها اللغوية والتعبيرية والتواصلية عن اللغات اللاتينية، وهي معلوماتٌ لا تقدّر بثمنٍ للمترجم العربي.

ما يُعَاب على الكتاب هو أسلوبه الممل والجامد، فهو دليل أكاديمي صرف يتوخّى الدقة ويستشهد بالكثير من الظواهر اللغوية المعقّدة، لكن المؤلفة لم تبذل جهداً في إضافة أي نوع من السرد التشويقي أو المثير إليه، فهي لا تجرّب السرد القصصي ولا تروي شيئاً عن قصص الترجمة أو تاريخها وشخصياتها، على أن هذا الأمر لن يزعج الباحث أو القارئ الراغب بالكتاب لنفعه العملي.

[Kevan Houser · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's important to point out that this is a TEXTBOOK, and as such, isn't aimed at the general public. It's clearly intended for readers with a background in linguistics and/or translation, due to its dry, scientific presentation and the huge amount of specific lingo:

(Here are a just a few terms I found in the first half of the book, flipping through and reviewing my notes: propositional vs expressive meaning, collocational range, marked collocations, modal meanings, agentless clauses, theme vs rheme, Sprachgefühl, disjuncts, onoma and rhema, the Hallidayan approach vs the Prague school, fronted theme, etc.)

That said, there are a few interesting nuggets here and there (mostly in the earlier chapters) that even a lay reader might find of interest. However, the text is exceedingly dry and scientific (which isn't a criticism; this is a TEXTBOOK, and reads like one), and the latter half of the book is particularly dense and daunting.

I am a translator, so I'm constantly reading books on the subject to broaden my knowledge and insight, and this is a valuable work, one I would recommend to translators. However, one thing I would point out is that at times the book seems a bit exaggerated in that it tries too hard to turn an activity that is, I believe, an ineffable mix of art and science, into a hardcore, clear-cut science.

In other words, this book only considers the science aspect of translation, sometimes stretching to set out scientific vocabulary and methodology to describe and define a practice that is very much an art at its heart.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Translators would do well to be familiar with the terms and theories presented in the book in order to inform their practice, but the risk is that one may come away with the impression that translation is a precise, scientifically defined pursuit, period.

To put it another way, a similar coursebook on poetry, for example, might outline various meters used in poetry, different styles and types of poetry, etc.

Obviously, many great poets wouldn't necessarily know this specific information (especially the terminology), and someone who does memorize all this terminology and information isn't guaranteed to be a great poet, clearly. This is because poetry involves art, creativity, imagination, a sense for how words sound, etc., and these are things that science can't teach.

Likewise, translation (especially literary translation) involves creativity, imagination, a sense for how words sound, and many other artistic elements that are difficult or impossible for science to define, let alone teach.

This is supported by a quote used in the book (p. 65 of my edition): "A translator shall work only into the language (...) of which he has native knowledge." The point is that a native speaker of a language has the best "feel" for its tone, idioms, structure, grammar, etc. This falls into the "art" realm of language use, beyond something that can be described or taught by science.

I did appreciate how various translation solutions were listed and elaborated upon, with many practical examples of English text translated into various other languages (including Chinese, Arabic, French, etc.), followed by back-translations into English to demonstrate structural differences in the languages and how they affect the form and tone of the message.

Finally, I should note that the edition I have is the 1992 one. Later editions are undoubtedly improved and expanded.

[Rita P Smits · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In Other Words" was the main coursebook followed in my Translation Masters (University of Birmingham).

It is clearly a very good reference on the field, and yet I don't think it is perfect: while it is very pedagogic (with loads of examples from many different languages, and practical exercises) it can also be excessively academic at times (overly technical chapter on the Hallidayan thematic structure, for example, or the less useful final chapter on ethics and morality).

I advise it only for someone that is interested in following a study or equivalent on translation; if you are only interesting in being introduced to the theme (without having to dabble with linguistics or text analysis) there are other books out there better suited for it.

[Dion Yulianto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terima kasih, kamu sangat berjasa untuk skripsi saya *peluk-peluk bukunya walaupun cuma minjem :p

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book on the basics for translation. Mona Baker goes into every aspect of language and provides examples of translations shifts that different languages suffer. We get to see first the introduction of a language element, starting from the most simple one, the word, and working our way to the most complex which involves coherence and implicatures on language. And she talks about particular translation problems for each of these elements as well as solutions most professionals use, but always remarking that solutions would eventually depend on type of text and target language.
I’ve had this book for quite a few years now, but had never gone through it all. It used be more for consults and I just realised I had only read a few chapters as a whole, so I’m very glad I finally read through it all. It was really good remembering all these things from when I was studying.

[Ty Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faaaaaaantastic book!
Great introductionary read to translation studies.
Nicely presented and they did a great job with clarity when it came to non-roman scripts, especially when presenting Chinese examples.
I would have like more Hebrew examples lol ;-) naturally... but the Arabic ones they used were of similar interest nonetheless and usually applicable to Hebrew anyway.
Chapter 5 on textual equivalence was a bit dense, but not insurmountable. I have a definite preference for the Hallidayan framework! The Prague school of thought on this matter is a bit mind-boggling!
Also found the chapters on cohesion and coherence very useful! I've studies these before but not from a translation angle, definitely added a new dimension.
The final chapter on ethics and morality is a nice addition to this new edition of the book but it read a bit like a wikipedia article, very factual and clinical, quite exhaustively defining ethics and morality. Think I might have to re-read this chapter if I am to really absorb it. It was useful though, especially when moral dilemmas were illustrated using real examples and the tactics translators use to deal with them.
Although I squirmed at the translator who refused to translate a glossary of slaughterhouse terminology simply because she was a vegetarian; that's not an ethical dilemma, it's over-sensitivity and borderline hysteria (how typical of a woman) :-P
A definite improvement on the last edition, especially aesthetically and with the added bonus of the extra chapter on ethics.

[WIlliam Gerrard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Mona Baker book is a core text on my Translation (MA) at Cardiff University. We use the text to accompany the Translation Methods Course. The early chapter of equivalence at word level and how to translate non equivalence is particularly interesting, useful and a strong section of the well-written precise coursebook. On occasion there is perhaps an abundance of examples although Baker covers a range of different languages, often straying into non-European, non-standard foreign tongues. In this new edition there is a valuable additional chapter on Ethics and Morality. This is a fashionable area of current Translation research. I feel that the book is an essential read for anyone considering Translation as a profession or those who study it at degree level. To a lay reader, perhaps the in depth detail is a bit profound. However, the book remains very accessible and is an ideal entry level text for students. This book will be well-thumbed in my reference section.

[Babsidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So if you want to know anything about translation, start here. Baker does a beautiful job laying out the basics with evidence from a wide variety of language and cultures, in writing that is clear and understandable without being condescending.

Also she casually calls out misogyny and racism in the examples, and the field in general. A++ all around.

[Angela]

Read this for grad school over the course of this semseter. This was a READABLE text which is a rarity it seems in the world of academia. Even if the concepts were difficult to understand, the language she used to explain them was clear and concise, with lots of helpful examples. She also considered things like gender roles, misogyny, racim, homphobia and colonialism, which I appreciated greatly.

[Steve Wales]

Reliving my days at uni in Manchester learning Translation Studies as taught by the author, among others...

A very informative book addressing issues of difficulty in translation from a more general perspective than most, i.e. rather than basing theories on a standard set of (usually European) languages and assuming they apply to languages less familiar to the proponents of such theories, Baker here presents practical examples of translations into and out of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and some far less well-known tribal languages. Information can be conveyed in the source by stress or intonation, word order, punctuation, inflexion or agreement of verbs, adjectives, etc.: ways which may be unfamiliar or impossible in the target language or culture. The book covers a number of such difficulties for translation to make translators aware of potential pitfalls and suggests strategies for dealing with them.

The book summarises a number of major theories related to translation and, more importantly for the professional rather than academic translator, explains how these theories can be put into practice.

[Numnum AlQassab · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, one year later, I decided to change my rating from 2, to 4 stars. It seems that I only realized the value of this book two semesters later. When I first took this, it was like any other textbook. However, I now realize that it has in fact introduced me to terminologies that no other student knows of, it has brought to me examples that have in fact, broadened my horizon, and showed me the interesting side of languages (and translating them).

[Mohammad Aboomar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that strikes a really difficult balance between theory and practice in the field of translation. Handling translation difficulties is supported by examples and is very conscious of differences between languages.

Chapter 8 about translation ethics can be of interest to anyone who has a general interest in ethics.

[Omar | عُمَر · Rating 5 out of 5]

بعد غياب طويل أعود بمراجعة كتاب ”بتعبيرٍ آخر: كتاب دراسي في الترجمة“ للمترجمة المصرية المعروفة عالمياً منى بيكر.
اخترتُ كتابة المراجعة بالعربية على الرغم من عدم توفر الكتاب باللغة العربية لزيادة تعريف القراء العرب - وخاصة المهتمين بمجال الترجمة - بالكتاب.

في البداية الكتاب لغته أكاديمية وسهلة إلى متوسطة وتناسب المبتدئين. عدا عن أنه موجه بشكل خاص لطلاب الترجمة في الجامعات والمعاهد، وأيضاً للمهتمين بمجال الترجمة بشكل عام.
واحتوت أمثلة الكتاب العديد من اللغات، منها الإنجليزية والعربية والصينية واليابانية والعديد من اللغات الأوروبية كالفرنسية والإسبانية والألمانية وغيرها..

تم تقسيم الكتاب لمقدمة وثمانية فصول مستقلة، وهي:

1) الترادف على مستوى الكلمة.
2) الترادف فوق مستوى الكلمة.
3) الترادف القواعدي.
4) الترادف النصوصي: البُنى المعلوماتية والموضوعية.
5) الترادف النصوصي: الإتساق.
6) الترادف البراغماتي.
7) الترادف السيميائي (البصري والسمعي).
8) ما بعد الترادف: الأخلاق والقِيَم.

أكثر ما أعجبني في الكتاب كثرة المعلومات المفيدة وتوافر الأمثلة في لغات متعددة، والأهم بالنسبة لي هو غزارة المراجع المتعلقة بالترجمة بوصفها فرع من علم اللغويات التطبيقية.. واللغويات التطبيقية هي ما أنوي أن أتخصص فيه في مرحلة الماجستير بإذن الله.

[Piotrek Machajek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first significant step taken by Baker is arranging the contents into inductive order. Such an approach stands in the opposition with a standard practice of descriptive translation, but it makes the whole thing much more accessible for learners. It also helps to raise awareness of the meaning of every single linguistic item. The examples in the coursebook are not English-focused which is another advantage, on the other hand, I feel like grumbling about relative low diversification of reference texts. The focus mentioned above is of utmost importance in nowadays world of speeding up globalization which is not in favor of language multifariousness.
I believe the whole thing is a must-read for those who take any translation-related courses. Maybe but the last chapter - that one takes too much focus on the lengthy theoretical explanation of linguistic phenomena that we instinctively can describe and apply in practice. 'In other words' is all about sharing the essentials, so I fully understand the need for doing so, yet it was not a grand finale for this amazingly practical and interesting coursebook.

[Sam Berner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It might be best-selling, but it doesn't mean it is a brilliant textbook. It just means there is nothing else to replace it.

First issue with the content is that it assumes the reader has a functional knowledge of English grammar, but it has been decades since grammar has been taught at schools in the English-only-speaking world. If it is meant to be aimed at English-as-additional-language, then it misses the point: when translating into a native tongue, practitioners need books in their native tongue (and that's why the Saudis translated Baker for their students). Third, judging from my language pair, the examples provided are substandard in terms of transfer.

I much more enjoyed Baker's writings about stuff that matters: language and politics, for example.

It is time someone wrote a book for translators who are not linguists, and that is the majority of the profession outside Europe.

[Rinami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed from my university library.

As a beginner in translation studies I find the structure of this book makes it easy for me to understand. Starting from equivalence at word level to the text level and beyond, it provides a wonderful introduction to the issues of translation.

Another feature I like is its integrated approach to the art. With a take on both the theories and the application, the book gave me hints on how to improve my work in translation and how I should pursue the study after I finish my undergraduate program.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author could have greatly benefitted from the guidance of a more meticulous and conscientious editor. Her writing is often awkward and repetitive, to such an extent that I found myself at times mentally rewriting her sentences just to navigate her disordered, circular logic. Apart from stylistic and structural failings, the text also reveals a dearth of real-world example translations. Just halfway through the book, Baker’s repeated reliance on the same handful of (mostly Arabic-English) source and target texts becomes monotonous, inevitably testing the reader’s will to continue.

[Llyr Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent at explaining Translation issues, pitfalls and strategies to dealing with common translation issues. The book explains terms, issues and strategies in great detail and is perfect for students studying translation or experienced translators.

It is particularly useful to reference when justifying your translation strategies and choices.

[Emma Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative book, which explains the ins and outs of translation theories and practices. It includes plenty of examples to consolidate theoretical knowledge. I found the chapters quite long and it was a slightly dense read, but, as Baker is a key figure in translation studies, it is a necessary read for translation students.

[Joy Agustian · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is truly helpful during my thesis writing. i once had no idea how the content is until i read several footnotes on my working guide book. so i decided to check them online, and bought it on amazon. i — what can i say, i am totally out of words.

[I wish I had eyeballs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very decent book. Only problem is that it is from 1992, so any parts about Russia and ex-Communist countries/cultures/languages are outdated and can't/shouldn't be followed, and obviously other issues of translation (say, more modern issues like CAT tools, e-books or DTP) are not included at all.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read this properly, much of it was too dense for me, but there were a few sections I read and enjoyed greatly for the insight it gave me into all the different possibilities in tension with each other than must be weighed and decided between as the work progresses.

[Gonçalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a technical guideline, it offers some interesting insights and strategies for translation.
I would say a part is linguistic common-sense, but it is still important that it is documented and explained through and through.

[Nadeenmohamed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book

[Tiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

avg book, i understand the things even before reading it. good for new translators btw.

[Inês Martins dos Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit slow-paced in some parts, but in general a detailed description of language shifts in the process of translation.

[Karolina Petraškaitė · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive and illustrative coursebook.

[Colin Withrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Aseel Ramy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great