Translation

I was approached again to translate books from English to Malay. I have a Diploma in Translation acquired in 1994 from the Association of Translators, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka but translation work is not my cup of tea. In my working life I have only one experience translating a book and it was such a labourious work to me. I know that some competent translators find it so easy to do it but not me. I am not that competent in English and Bahasa Melayu to make translation a smooth process. So I turned down a few offers. To me it is more interesting to write my own books where I can put in my own ideas, thought, principles and concepts as well as my feelings and reactions. In translation, I have to understand and read the idea of the writers first and then find the suitable words in Malay to make it appropriate and right to convey the meaning.

I found a book by Robert D. Myrick, PhD entitled Developmental Guidance and Counseling - A Practical Approach, in which a chapter was devoted on Peer Helping or Peer Facilitators Programs. At that time I was actively involved in promoting Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya program (PRS) in our country and this book would help the counsellors as well if translated in Malay. In June 17 - June 23 1992, I attended the 6th Annual National Peer Helpers Conference in Loyola University, Chicago, USA representing Malaysia for the first time, where I met Prof. Dr. Robert Myrick himself. I proposed to him to translate his book into Malay and he was delighted and introduced me to his publisher who was there at that time.

Picture taken at the National Peer Helpers Conference in Chicago, 1992 with Prof. Dr. Robert Myrick (centre) and Dr. Barbara Varenhorst.

When I returned to Malaysia, I wrote to Dewan Bahasa requesting to translate the book. When all legal aspects of translating a foreign book were cleared I began the process of tranlating. It took me more than a year to do it but unfortunately about 10% of the translation was not completed as I fell sick at that time. So the last few pages were translated by Dewan Bahasa as the dateline was due. Though the English is quite simple, it was quite tedious for me. Anyhow, I am proud to be able to translate this book. I was fortunate also for meeting him personally as he was one of those people who were active in Peer Helping in US. For clarification, Bob Myrick and Bob Bowman (Bob Myrick's ex PhD student) are two different people where Bob Bowman became our PRS module consultant in 1991. Bob Bowman also wrote several books on peer helping. At the Conference in Chicago, I met several well-known personalities, mostly university professors, who believed and actively involved in peer helping, among whom I met Barbara Varenhorst whose book and articles I used as my references.

When the book was finally published and came to the market, I was excited but my excitement was shortlived. I found the translated title was misleading. Dewan Bahasa changed it to Perkembangan Bimbingan dan Kaunseling : Pendekatan yang Praktis whereas I have translated it as Bimbingan dan Kaunseling Perkembangan: Pendekatan Praktikal. The book didn't discuss the history and the develoment of Guidance and Counselling but about the different concepts and approaches in guidance and counselling which are developmental in nature. The translated title did not reflect the contents. I was upset. Actually DBP could find another suitable word in Malay to reflect the original title if my idea was not acceptable but not changed the meaning. So, a letter of complaint was sent ot the Director of DBP and until now I don't see the book anymore on the shelves. Maybe it has become an old book but that is a pity as it could be used as reference materials for counsellors, teachers and others who are interested.

So, that is my one and only experience in translating books. For those who enjoy and are competent in translating, congratulatuons and I hope you continue to do it so that more readers in Malay will benefit. Now, I am making an effort to translate Hypnosis scripts which are harder as the right and perfect words must be used to make hypnosis effective. I am doing my hypnosis sessions in Malay sometimes. I know I'll improve as I go along but it is quite a struggle for me right now. I hope my translated version in Malay will be published and used by LCCH one day.

Ahmad Bazli, my other Malay clinical hypnotherapist, we have to work harder!