Translation as an aid to enhance Students’ Writing Skills at University Level

Abstract

This study aims to identify the role of translation in the enhancement of writing skills of English language learners in general, and translation in particular at Universities. Translators need good writing skills to perform well in their jobs. Good writing skills are needed in each of the three main stages of a translation, namely, decoding the source text, transferring linguistic and cultural elements and meanings into the target language and encoding the text into the new language and context. Writing skills are extremely important for students who are studying in the university to become professional translators. For this, you need to know your mother tongue language perfectly: grammar, vocabulary, style. Translation into the native language implies that the source text (ST) is the ‘foreign’ element to work on and, in this case, ‘the translator runs into the problem of analysis. On the other hand, translating into L2 means that the target text will be the foreign element to deal with and ‘here, the translator runs into the problem of synthesis. Many scholars and researchers agree upon the fact that translating from L2 into L1 is more reliable and natural practice due to a better linguistic and cultural competence in L1. In both cases, it enhances students writing skills in L1 and L2.