Translating a Poster Without Flattening It
A community group asks a Stage 2 student to produce a Sinhala version of an English poster for a health clinic. The English reads: 'Your health, your choice. Free checks this Saturday. Walk in, no appointment needed. All welcome.' The group wants Sinhala speakers to feel personally addressed and respected. A volunteer suggests a word-for-word translation to be 'accurate.' Another suggests adding a line about bringing family members. The student has limited space and must decide what to keep, adapt, or add, and must explain the choices to the group.
1. Evaluate the word-for-word approach for this poster.
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Word-for-word translation would preserve the English syntax but not the poster's function. The slogan 'Your health, your choice' relies on a parallel possessive pattern that may sound mechanical or overly individualistic in Sinhala, where a warmer, more relational phrasing can carry the same empowerment. 'Walk in' is an idiom that would be meaningless if rendered literally; it must become an expression meaning no appointment is required. 'All welcome' needs a phrase that conveys genuine inclusiveness rather than a bare permission. Accuracy here means equivalent effect and clear information, not matching each English word. The student should keep the core facts exact, especially the day and the free service, while rewriting the persuasive lines so they sound natural and respectful.
2. Should the student add the suggested line about bringing family members? Justify the decision.
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Adding the line can be justified if space allows, because it fits the relational tone the group wants and may encourage attendance among readers who make health decisions with family. However, it introduces information not in the source, so the student should flag it to the group as an adaptation rather than present it as translation. It should not displace the essential facts: free checks, Saturday, no appointment. If space is tight, the family line could replace a less essential flourish rather than be added on top. The decision should be explained openly so the group can approve or reject it, which models professional translation practice and shows awareness that additions carry responsibility.
3. What would a strong explanation to the group include?
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The explanation should identify the source text's purpose and audience, then show how each key line was handled and why. It should name the idioms that could not be translated literally, explain the register chosen and why it suits a community health poster, and distinguish faithful information from adapted persuasion. Any addition should be marked as an addition with a reason, and any omission should be justified. The student should also note what could not be carried over, such as a slogan's rhythm, and how that loss was compensated. This transparency lets the group judge the work and demonstrates the cultural and linguistic understanding the task assesses, rather than presenting a translation as a neutral copy.