Translation practices and the nation development: a critical study based on Sri Lanka

Abstract

Translation is democratizing knowledge. There is a serious demand for Translation and translators in Sri Lanka. There is a considerable lack of good translators. When compared to the contemporary Translation work done in other countries, Sri Lanka is yet to enrich it. In Sri Lanka the Translation practices are not meeting the current demand. Compared to the global trend, today it is not in sufficient to the nation development. There are some contemporary Translation practices, but those are not to the level of expectation. Regarding Translation practices in Sri Lanka there are very few competent translators to meet the needs of the nation. Sri Lanka's multi-lingual and multi-ethnic context, demands more Translation works. In the field of economic, science and information technology. Translations have lost their quality and the public awareness. Unless this situation is remedied, Sri Lanka will be so behind the rest of the world in popular access to disciplinary knowledge, as well as to suffer internally due to the lack of communication between and among its multiple ethnic groups. This research is not a mere attempt to compare both the quality and quantity of Translation in Sri Lanka but it attempts to identify the contribution of Translation practice for the nation development. And the research deals with the social harmony and peace, science and technology and economic development referring the Translation practices. Trans I at ion is a human activity, which enables human beings to exchange ideas and thoughts. Translation acts as a bridge in linking language based communities. Through the Translation the social, cultural and linguistic values are being transferred from one language to another. Translation is an activity of enormous importance in the modern world and it is a needed subject not only to linguists, language teachers and professional translators but also to those who work for social harmony and peace. It is used as an important tool for the development of human race. And the importance of Translation has been thought and practiced from ages. The Translation has become an indispensable necessity all over the world in all movements of life such as academically, administratively, politically, economically, socially and culturally.lt is found through the research that 'The Quality and Quantity of Translations are not satisfactory and sufficient to manage the great demand in the field of Translation for the nation development'. Therefore, it is suggested that the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has to pay more attention on the field of Translation in Sri Lanka. And it is suggested that, the government of the socialist republic of Sri Lanka has to establish a National Translation Mission to encourage the Sri Lankan translators, enrich the knowledge and the national integrity and nation development.