Challenges of Intermediary Translation: Analyzing Inaccuracies in the Armenian Translation of Nansen’s Work ‘Armenia and the Near East’

Abstract

Intermediary translation is a mode of translation that involves the usage of an intermediate language. In this process, the original source language is translated into an intermediate language, which is then translated into the final target language. This approach is used when the translator is not proficient in both the source and target languages, but is proficient in the intermediate one. In this case, an intermediate language can be used as a “bridge” to facilitate the translation process. However, intermediary translation also has its drawbacks. One major issue is that it can lead to inaccuracies in the final translation. When using an intermediate language, there is a risk of losing some of the semantic nuances and subtleties of the original text. This can result in a translation not entirely faithful to the original meaning. The case under study are the translations of F. Nansen’s work Armenia and the Near East. Through a comparative analysis of the English, German and Armenian versions some significant inaccuracies were revealed.

Keywords

• intermediary translation
• source language
• intermediate language
• target language