Quoting and Translating in Historical Research - A Justification

The ultimate concern of a historian is the possibility of gaining the knowledge of events and actions (in the course of time) which are no longer available for direct inspection. These happening have been preserved in material (as archival, written, archaeological etch.) and immaterial (oral tradition) forms. A historian is therefore charged with the task of piecing this event and actions together for an understanding of the theme to which he/she is engaged. Through the descriptive and expository approach, this paper puts forth the inescapable techniques by which a historian can accomplish his/her essential function. It is found that the historian is the ultimate determinant of historical outcomes. The paper concludes that the techniques discussed herein are necessary precondition for the worthiness or otherwise of any historical discourse and should therefore be keenly observed.