Translation and Development: A Proposal for Establishing Terminology Bank in Hausa Language

Citation: Samaila JIBRIN & Abdullahi MOHAMMED (2020). Translation and Development: A Proposal for Establishing Terminology Bank in Hausa Language. Yobe Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (YOJOLLAC), Vol. .8 Department of African Languages and Linguistics, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria. ISSN 2449-0660

TRANSLATION AND DEVELOPMENT: A PROPOSAL FOR ESTABLISHING TERMINOLOGY BANK IN HAUSA LANGUAGE

Samaila JIBRIN

&

Abdullahi MOHAMMED

Abstract

Translation has been a voyager of knowledge throughout history. It is still serving that purpose and would continue to do so, into an unforeseeable period into the future. Several vistas of knowledge and information have opened up with the advent of the computer and internet culminating in the new catch phrase of “globalization.” The need for new terms to convey knowledge and ideas into Hausa language is very pertinent for the development of the language and Nigeria at large. This paper would propose ways of establishing terminology bank for diverse fields of study for the benefit and development of knowledge most especially in the fields of; Agriculture, Security, Commerce, Health, Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Politics, Geology, and Ecology because of the immense contribution they make to the development of nations in the 21^st century. During the research, a qualitative technique method of research was adopted in order to collect data from libraries archives and individual discussions in conducting the research. The research also uses a random selection procedure for the selection of terms used by individuals in their books or speeches. Finally, the data analysis for the research, were done in such a way so as to determine simpler and consistent Hausa terms that can easily be used, for future acceptable translation by the generality of people.

1.0 Introduction

The role of translation in the dissemination of knowledge, throughout the history of language development is enormous. The enormity of its distribution which covers both time and space is unquantifiable. Therefore, to localize or isolate the issue of translation will amount to going back to very beginning of history. For the purpose of this work, translation will only be looked at contextually, from the view point of advances made in the development of knowledge and information in the developed and developing nations.

Translation in the words of Catford (1978) is an operation performed on languages: a process of substituting a text in one language for a text in another.

In this regard, translation simply means the gradual process of exchange of text in one language for a text in another language, which generally required the use of two languages. Sarvi (2008, P.13) Sees the role of translation as an aspect of bilingualism, and as a cross cultural activity, which helps in the exchange of human feelings, inclinations, ideas, and knowledge which makes people learn by means of language. Hence, not every knowledge is in every language, and for that reason, there is a need for transfer of such knowledge from one language to another, most especially in the development of science and technology.

The effectiveness and consistency in translation of terminologies is further enhanced if central terminology banks are established for diverse disciplines. Scholars of translation are always facing the problem of choice of method of conducting translation which is either using the literal translation or the free translation method which is most at times abused due to inherent deficiencies. These deficiencies are borne out of lack of knowledge of the information being translated or of the assumption that every bilingual is a potential translator in either of the language she/he is proficient. But this paper would dwell on the revised Bloom classification of factual knowledge, which generally emphasize on the knowledge of terminology which hinges on specific details and elements of the subject matter, as prerequisite for a good translation. Equally, the paper emphasizes the call by Yakasai (2012, P.1) which proposed that translation in the mother tongue allowed the translator to easily translate some aspects of the language culture such as phonology and riddles, rhetoric’s and other aspects of language literatures. In the view of Yakasai (2012), such form of translation usually propagates and transform the idle of different terms in Hausa language, and as such therefore, the need for terminology bank to be used to adopt the best terms for usages in translation activities.

2.0 What is Terminology Bank?

The concept terminology is viewed differently by several scholars and laypeople. Translation is a very wide discipline that encompasses almost all disciplines. Rufai (2003, p. 9) stresses the absolute need for terminological development in Hausa language, thus;

Terminological development becomes imperative in a language when it is faced with the problem of new and alien concepts for which it has no expressions. It may struggle to find their equivalents, or falling that it may to other means including borrowing.

Terms have wide usage and cut across disciplines such as in the field of medicine where the effort of laypeople falls short of extract knowledge. For example, “iodine as an element, without the requisite scientific knowledge of it, can be confused with its tincture used in treating cuts and bruises. Likewise, the word “syringe” which is the name of a needle used for injection, is phonologically translated into Hausa as “sirinji”.

In his quest for convenient modalities for translation, (Schubert, 2009) lace technical translation in communication and terminology development as interrelated fields thus:

Technical translation is a type of communicative activity which can be modeled in four dimensions, viz the technical content, the linguistic form, the technical medium and the work processes. The relationship between the content and its linguistic expression is the traditional object of linguistic in general and several specialized disciplines such as translation studies, technical communication studies and terminology.

This scholar emphasize that technical translation has wide area of influence which include terminology development and management as a mean of easing the process of translation in every discipline.

The fact that terms depict information, the perspective of the translator is often reflected in the naming process. On the interrelationship between terms and concepts for translation process, Roche (2009, p. 323) opines that, terms and concept definitions are separate but connected since the meaning of a term is related to a concept. Factual knowledge should prevail in the processes of inherent quest for a terminology bank to aid translation, else erroneous translation would manifest.

3.0 Role of Terminology Bank to a Hausa Language Translator

The versatility of every language depends on its ability to communicate ideas and information without much difficulty to the comprehension of the listeners. The effectiveness of teaching in mother tongue has been corroborated over the years. The effectiveness of mother tongue education in teaching and learning requires the provision of learning material in Hausa language. Rendering the translation of core science subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Health Science, Agricultural Science and Geography into Hausa Language would be an arduous task. In order to reduce the difficulty associated with translating for instance science and technology terms, into Hausa language, a discipline based terminology bank is desirable. In this regard Alberts, (2010) expatiates on terminology as an aspect of language development thus;

Terminology, therefore, is a strategic resource and has an important role in a country regarding the functional development of languages and their users. Effective economic, scientific and technological transfer and assimilation of knowledge and skills amongst subject specialists and laypeople, and the communication skills of the citizens of a country are developed through the use of correct terminology. Although terminological activities are not always cost-effective, they are of invaluable cultural, social, historical, functional, academic and scientific importance.

For any language to develop and be capable of being a vehicle of information and ideas it must be able to adopt and create terminologies, Cluver (1996, p. 2-36), views language development as different stages of development viz:

Language Selection: - the selection of a specific variety (e.g dialect) for development.

Language codification: - the development of a writing system, documentation of the existing vocabulary and grammar, development of spelling and orthographies and standardizing the language.

Language elaboration: - the expansion of the functions of the language so that it can operate beyond its traditional domains (home, family, community) as working language in the public domains (government offices, court of law, etc.).

Language spread: - the development of the language as a language for teaching and learning (domain of education for primary school level, secondary school level and tertiary level), and a language of communication (e.g media) and

Language modernization: - general terminology development in all spheres of the working environment, examples: economy, science and technology (i.e. the expression of abstract concepts).

At each stage of the development of a language a particular demand needed to be satisfied for the service of humanity. The peak of language development is its ability to convey certain abstract terms which are observable in daily affairs of life. In this regard, the absolute societal expectation is to have an up-to- date information that can galvanize the society and at the same time spread the language frontiers. This paper is in tandem with the aspect of language modernization which was suggested by Cluver (1996), which proffer the use of distinct terminologies to express some words or concept in a particular field of study.

4.0 Research Methodology

The paper adopts a qualitative method in order to collect data from archives, books, library and other literatures. The research uses the general selection procedure for the collection of data and a random selection of Hausa terms use within Hausa cultures, literature and language terms for the research analysis. The semantic analysis of this work is put together by relating the typology of Hausa lexical terms in relations to their level of phrase, clauses and names and their related meanings. The research used a selected and consistently used lexical items as terminologies, by the society. Finally, the research also used the data from the work of Jinju (1990) for reference in the research. For ease of usage as terminology, Jinju (1990) extracted some Hausa terms from subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geography and History and conceive their various technical meanings. The purpose of this method is to ease translation process and also to encourage the use of designated terms as a modern method in translation process.

5.0 Data Presentation and Analysis

The paper presented some examples of selected Hausa terms and their equivalent technical meaning in Jinju (1990, p. 69) which is a giant stride of taking Hausa language to the stage of modernization. The work depicts some English terminology that can practically be used for the purpose of translation into Hausa language terms. These terms can be tested in some subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and History, Politics and Security.

Moreover, Jinju (1990, p. 69) also made a giant stride of taking Hausa language to the stage of modernization, through translating English terms into Hausa language, certain subject such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Geography and History, Politics and Security. This lofty effort by the scholar, was not sustained, neither did the publication serve as a staple for the extraction of terminologies, which have benefited from the rigors of usage over time. In his treatise he translated certain terminologies in subjects such as:

a. Mathematics

S/N	English Term	Hausa Term
1.	Derivation	Ishtiƙaƙi/Tsirarwa
2.	Infinite	Marar ƙarshe
3.	Fraction	Qasaru
4.	Numerator	Surar ƙasaru
5.	Logarithm	Alƙwarismi
6.	Representation	Misaltawa
7.	Motion	Motsi
8.	Cube	Muka’abi
9.	Hexagonal prism	Maharuɗi mai gefe shida
10.	Deficient number	Adadi naƙisi

Source: Jinju (1990)

b. Physics

S/N	Physics	Fiziqa
1.	Reflection	Akastawa
2.	Mechanical energy	Attakar makanika
3.	Solar energy	Attakar rana
4.	Atomic Physic	Fiziƙar zarra / atom
5	Calorimeter	Ma’aunin zafi
6.	Nucleus	Cibiya
7.	Horoscopy	Ilimin duba taurari
8.	Nebular theory	Hasashen sadima
9.	Deviation	Bauɗewa
10.	Space research	Binciken sarari

Source: Jinju (1990)

c. Chemistry

S/N	English	Hausa
1.	Carbon	Gawayi
2.	Phosphorous	Farar wuta
3.	Sulphur	Salfa
4.	Iron	Ƙarfe
5.	Zinc	Tutiya
6.	Manganese	Manganis
7.	Iodine	Aidin
8.	Maltose	Sukarin malti
9.	Potassium	Kanwa
10	Copper	Tagulla

Source: Jinju (1990)

The above tables show the scholar’s absolute effort to use some designated terms to translate some key words in the areas of science subjects such as Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Although this process may not be without some imperfections. The imperfection would have been addressed if it were subjected to usage. But such procedures can aid in simplifying the translation process and techniques of a language. In another development, the prospects of translation, especially in the individual mother tongue, according to Yakasai (2012, p. 1) is to allowed the translator to easily translate some aspects of the language culture such as proverbs, riddles and rhetoric. Such modality of translations can usually aid the quest for an idle terminology bank that can simplify the process. This paper is therefore, advocating for the use of some selected, simple and unique Hausa terms that can be useful in daily Hausa translation. For convenience and effectiveness, the selected terms should not in any way, alien to Hausa language, literature and culture. Considering the scholars of translation central and perpetual problem associated with both free of literal translations, Musa (2003, p. 50-55) observed that the two methods can be adopted for convenience, and hence the ultimate objective, is to get a closest natural equivalent of the term, and its function must also be considered. Again, by coining a new word which is referred to as neologism to get the closest natural equivalent of a word or a certain term in translation, Musa (2003) also implore the translator to coin a stylistic device foregrounded by strangeness and unexpectedness for the purpose of new word formation. It is through the observance of such procedures, the two main aims of the translation, which are first accuracy and second economy, can be achieved.

6.0 Procedures for Establishing Terminology Bank for Hausa Language

Divergent views, poor understanding and deficient knowledge of processes and procedures in different disciplines amongst translators, has given rise to inconsistencies and sometimes erroneous translations. The errors committed by translators in either print or electronic media have the capacity to spread without being corrected. These uncorrected errors set a bad precedence on Hausa readers or listeners knowledge. Therefore, any effort made towards correcting such wrong impressions may confuse learners or listeners.

In this regard, Terminology bank serves as rallying point for translators who embark on translation in disciplines that they are not conversant with their terminologies. Terminology bank therefore, provides a means for ensuring consistency in the use of terms amongst translators and also reduces misconceptions and misinformation associated with technical translations.

Establishing a terminology banks for learners in diverse discipline in Hausa language which is the mother tongue and lingua franca for large population of speakers from Nigeria and other African nations, would improve learning and literacy acquisition in Hausa land. It can also serve as a guide for teachers and students of translation.

This paper, therefore, supports the unique language planning advocacy by Bamgbose (1991, p. 109) which is a perception of language problems requiring a solution, and such problems may include choice of language for specific purposes in a multilingual situation, expansion of vocabulary to cope with the use of language in new domains or orthographic reform. One other essential step for language development, according to Bamgbose (1991), is to ensure that the language itself is modified to conform with the demands made on its functions, such as vocabulary expansion which includes technology creation and standardization of variants of existing term.

 

Equally, this paper also proposes the utilization of these seven vital procedures for the purpose of establishing terminology bank for Hausa language in the following sequence:

Step 1: Plan for Terminology Project

At this stage a preliminary need assessment would be conducted in order to identify stake holders, and determine disciplines to develop its terminologies. The scope of the project would also be determined by the finances at disposal.

Step 2: Identify Terminographers

Qualified terminographers, who would identify areas in Hausa language from existing literature of target subjects or disciplines in source language (SL).

Step 3: Set up the Terminology

The terms and concepts are extracted from existing literature and their definitions are provided. These terms and relevant information are discussed with subject specialists to confirm the suitability of the contents.

Step 4: Test Terminology Bank Content

After the source Language (SL) terms and relevant information have been finalized. The information in the terminology bank is also discussed with collaborators and subject specialists before its finalization. The information is tested by users based on content use and scenario in Hausa Language.

Step 5: Monitoring and Control of Hausa Terminology Bank

At this stage, all the terms generated would be monitored and controlled with a view to ascertaining their precision and reliability.

Step 6: Publication of Hausa Terminology Bank based on Discipline

At this stage, collated Hausa terminologies can therefore be published for public consumption. This publication can also be done in virtual sense, where an online portal is established and maintained.

Step 7: Periodic Update and maintenance of the Hausa Terminology Bank

Entries can be periodically maintained and updated to cater for dynamism of terminologies which has to do with the dynamism of technologies in different disciplines.

The following process is basically for the improvement and development of our three Nigerian languages (Hausa| Igbo and Yoruba) or rather any developing Nigerian languages. Hence, this paper is essentially a proposal for determining a terminology reservoir for Hausa language development.

7.0 Recommendations

Considering the diversity and the contributions of translation to the development of Hausa language and its people, the following recommendations are therefore proffered:

1. Federal Government should constitute a translation and terminology sub- committee under National Educational Research Council (NERDC) for the purpose of establishing terminology banks by discipline.

2. Tertiary Institution that offers courses in translation should institute research procedures in Hausa translation and terminological items.

3. Federal Ministry of Education should include translation in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools so as to introduce pupils at an early age to the basic skills in English-Hausa translation.

4. For the purpose of reaping the benefits of mother tongue education, Hausa language term bank should be established for all primary and secondary schools language learning.

5. Modalities should be put in place to certify whether translators possess the requisite knowledge and qualification to practice as translators, so as to prevent unqualified translators from practicing the profession.

6. Government should create a unit in the ministry of information which is saddled with the responsibility of fashioning out some conducive Hausa terminologies to be used for a day-to-day effective Hausa translation.

7. Hausa translator in print and electronic media outfits should be subjected to constant training for their staff on new and existing terminologies in Hausa language.

8. That individual Hausa to English translators can adopt any method of translation for convenience, and hence the ultimate objectives, is to get a closest natural equivalent of the term, and its function must also be considered.

8.0 Conclusion

The effectiveness of any translation exercise is dependent on how it carries along the understanding of the reader or listener in the target Language. The difficulty faced by translators, is hinged on absence of equivalent terms in the Target Language (TL) that can be used whenever the need arises. The existence in public domain of a compendium of terminologies in different disciplines where Hausa language lacks such terminologies would greatly assist Translators and the language in general.

This paper therefore, proposes procedures for the creation and establishment of a viable terminology bank, which if considered and finally accepted would be a general manual for the Hausa language translators.

The ease with which translator lay their hands on equivalent terms in the areas of science and technology, Information and Communication Technology or any other discipline, the easier it would be for the teaching and learning of those disciplines in the mother tongue Hausa children.

It is hope that paper would serve as pedestal for government to adopt for the achievement of one of the lofty goals of the Millennium Development Goals.

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