A Brief History of Translation: Part I

Posted by Alex on June 30, 2009 under History | Be the First to Comment

Believe it or not, the practice of translation has a rather interesting history. The word translation derives from the Latin work translatio which means “to transfer” or “carrying across.” The most recognized icon for the practice of translating is the Rosetta Stone.

The Rosetta Stone is an Ancient Egyptian artifact which was used in the advancement of the understanding of hieroglyphic writing.  The stone is made up of three translations of one single passage. The stone was created in 196 BC  and ultimately discovered by the French in 1799. The Rosetta Stone contributed greatly in the efforts to decipher the principles of hieroglyph writing. The text on the stone has been revealed to be a decree from Ptolemy V, the 5th ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty. The decree repealed taxes and included instructions on how to erect statues in temples.

More to come…!