Conceptions of Translation in Republican Era

There are two approaches on the structure of human language.

First approach;

The human societies are the product of different historical and social conditions This difference seen in language that reflects the perceptions of world in that communities.

This approach, assumes that non of the languages in the world resembles to each other, because each language's words and the sentences which are composed by these words and their meaning patters has a unique organization itself.

Second view;
Because the language is the product of the human brain, and because the pattern of the human brain would not change from person to person, there is no main difference in the languages which reflect the perception of the people in this world.

In this approach, it is defended that;even if a meaning which is formed in its own organization seems cannot be translated in another language, when closely investigated, there is a way to transfer it.

First view: totally differentPrefers to depend on the text

Second view: no main differencePrefers to use the closest meanings.

In the republican era, both of the approaches are seen.

The first and most extensive translating movements which was developed in this period began in 1940 with the establishment of Translation Office.

This office was firstly governed by Nurullah Atac and than it was governed by Sabahattin Eyuboglu.These two names influenced the perception of translation in the Republican Period.

According to Atac; Translating is the ability to tell the things in mother tongue which are told in foreign language.Sentences are important rather that the words. (pg 270)
However, Eyuboglu would rather to stick on the shape of the text while translating.

Orhan Bruian opposes Atac's understanding of translation. He thinks that Eyuboglu's translations are more trustable. The interesting thing is that Atac is agree with Burian about this. (pg272)

In fact, as Vedat Gunyol indicates Atac misunderstood Eyuboglu. Because he was also worried about how to transfer the feelings while translating. His translations are also clear and smooth as if it is written in Turkish.

In fact the main difference between these two translator is that Eyuboglu reflects his own perspective while translating but Atac is more neutral.

Guzin Dino also compliments the translations of Eyuboglu. (pg. 273) Biceminin ozelliklerinden biri, dusuncenin en gelismisbilgi ve kavramlarini, en sussuz, en basit konusma dilinde dile getirmesi ....

Erhan also adopts the same approach. (pg273)

kavramlardan terimlerden kacindik, bunlar Avrupa'nin ve Avrupa felsefesinin Eflatun'a ekledikleri luzumsuz bir suru kaliptir (Erhan)