Abstract:
Translation has been identified as a challenging task. It is even more difficult for the students whose
proficiency level is low in the target language (TL). In addition translation is a two way process which
requires adequate proficiency in both Source Language (SL) and Target Language (TL). Thus this study
is an analysis of the common translation errors made by undergraduates when translating from Tamil
to English. The objective of the study is to find out the translation errors made by trilingual
undergraduates of South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, when translating from Tamil to English. For
the purpose of collecting data, students were given four different types of short passages in Tamil to be
translated into English. The sample comprised of 24 undergraduates reading for a special degree in
Trilingual studies in the department of Languages in Faculty of Arts and Culture at South Eastern
University of Sri Lanka. Accordingly 7 students from 2nd year, 14 students from 3rd year and 3 students
from 4th year were selected for this study. Quantitative and descriptive methods were used to analyse
the data. The findings of the study indicated that low proficiency level of students in English language
is a major cause for the translation errors because students struggle to translate due to their inability to
produce grammatically correct sentences. In addition difference between SL and TL is also identified
as a challenge that hinder the process of translation. Moreover linguistic errors and translation errors
have been identified as the most frequent errors students make when translating. Eventually
recommendations in the light of findings are also discussed in this paper which will help the students
overcome the common translation errors.
