summary of translation theories

7/27/2019 Summary of Translation Theories

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LINGUISTIC THEORIESOF TRANSLATION

Language Universals v. Linguistic Relativism Science of translation Equivalence Semantic and communicative translation Korrespondenz and quivalenz Translation shifts Discourse and register analysis

Equivalence Roman Jakobson (1959/2000) > Equivalence in difference is the cardinal

problem of language and the pivotal concern of linguistics

Discusses equivalence at level of obligatory grammar and lexicon, for example: gender aspect semantic fields

Equivalence at word levelBaker (1992) Chapter 2

Morphology lexical and syntactic Lexical Meaning

Propositional v. Expressive meaning Presupposed meaning Evoked meaning

dialect geographical, temporal, social Register field/tenor/mode of discourse

Semantic fields and lexical sets

Equivalence above word levelBaker (1992) Chapter 3

Collocation Collocational range and markedness Collocation and register

Collocational meaning Idioms and Fixed Expressions

Grammatical equivalenceBaker (1992) Chapter 4

Grammatical vs. Lexical categories The Diversity of Grammatical Categories:

Number Gender Person Tense and Aspect Voice Word Order


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Newmark (1981) Semantic / communicative translation at level of:

Transmitter/addressee focus Culture Time and origin Relation to ST Use of form of SL Form of TL Appropriateness Criterion for evaluation

Koller (1976/89)Korrespondenz and quivalenz

Denotative equivalence

Connotative equivalence Text-normative equivalence Pragmatic equivalence Formal equivalence

Vinay & Darbelnet (1977/2000)Translation shifts

Direct translation: Borrowing Calque Literal translation

Oblique translation Transposition Modulation Equivalence Adaptation

Function at the level of the lexicon, syntax and message

Linguistic theories and translation Most of these theories are considered linguistic and are useful for teaching

translation

Most translation occurs at the linguistic level at some stage of the process However, too much stress on linguistic levels can have negative effect at the

text level

HallidayFunctional-Systemic linguistics

Textual equivalenceBaker (1992) Chapter 5

Thematic and Information Structures Theme and Rheme Sentence analysis S Od Oi Cs Co Cp Adj Conj Disj

Information Structure: Given and New


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Word Order and Communicative Function

Textual equivalenceBaker (1992) Chapter 6

Cohesion Reference Substitution and Ellipsis Conjunction Lexical Cohesion

FOCUSONTHEFUNCTIONOFTHETEXT

Baker (1992) Chapter 7 - Pragmatic equivalence Reiss (1970s) Functional approach Holz-Mntarri (1984) Translational action

Vermeer (1970s) and Reiss & Vermeer (1984) Skopos theory Nord (1988/91) Text Analysis in Translation

Pragmatic equivalenceBaker (1992) Chapter 7

Coherence Presupposition Implicature

Grice's maxims of Quantity Quality Relevance Manner

Politeness

Reiss (1970s)Functional approach

Classification of texts as: 'informative 'expressive 'operative

'audiomedial'

Reiss (1971)Text types


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Reiss > Chesterman (1989)Text types and varieties

Holz-Mntarri (1984)Translational action

A communicative process involving: The initiator The commissioner The ST producer The TT producer The TT user The TT receiver

Reiss & Vermeer (1984)Skopos theory

Focuses on purpose or skopos of translation Rules

1. A TT is determined by its skopos2. A TT is an offer of information in a TC and TL concerning an offer of

information in a SC and SL3. A TT is not clearly reversible4. A TT must be internally coherent5. A TT must be coherent with the ST6. The five rules above stand in hierarchical order, with the skopos rule

predominating.

Comments on the rules


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1. Skopos theory focuses above all on the purpose of the translation. The purposeof the TT determines the translation methods and strategies in order to producea functionally adequate or appropriate result.What do we need to know in order to produce a functionally appropriatetranslation?

Why is an ST to be translated? What will the TT function be?

2. Rule 2 is important in that it relates the ST and TT to their function in theirrespective linguistic and cultural contexts. Knowing the function of the TT in its

TC is as important as knowing the function of the ST in the SC.3. What do we mean by irreversibility? The function of the TT does not always

match with the function of the ST.4. Rule 4 refers to internal textual coherence: the TT must be interpretable as

coherent with the TT receivers situation. In other words, the TT must betranslated in such a way that it is coherent for the TT receivers, given theircircumstances and knowledge. (Munday 79)

5. Rule 5 refers to intertextual coherence or fidelity rule: this means that there

must be coherence between the TT and the ST or, more specifically, between: the ST information received by the translator; the interpretation the translator makes of this information; the information that is encoded for the TT receivers.

In accordance with rule 6, i.e. the rule of hierarchical order, rule 4, i.e. intratextualcoherence, is more important than rule 5, i.e. intertextual coherence.

Advantages:Skopos theory allows the possibility of the same text being translated in different waysaccording to the purpose of the TT and the commission which is given to the

translator.Vermeer, who extends the validity of his Skopos theory explicitly to legal translation,provides as an example the translation of a will written in French. This may betranslated in at least two ways depending on the function it is required to perform inthe TC.If it were addressed to a foreign lawyer dealing with the case, it would need to betranslated literally, with a footnote or comment.If it appeared in a novel, the translator might prefer to find a slightly differentequivalent that works in the TL without the need of a formal footnote, so as not tointerrupt the reading process (cited in Munday: 80).Following Vermeers example, the Italian jurist Sacco provides the example of atranslation of a an English thriller book to Italian; in this case, the English wordsattorney and executor, for instance, can legitimately be translated into Italianrespectively with pubblico ministero and esecutore testamentario, although thesetranslations would sound inappropriate in a highly or medium specialized context. (theexample is reported in Garzone)

Criticisms:The main objection to Skopos theory, especially as far as its applicability to LSP textsis concerned, is that, at its extreme, this theory aims to the dethronement of the ST,which is an inadmissible idea in the perspective of legal translation where the ST issacred writ (Garzone).In fact, this objection also applies to literary texts (Munday).

In sum, in either case Skopos theory would not pay sufficient attention to the linguisticnature of the ST nor to the reproduction of microlevel features in the TT.These criticisms are tackled by another functionalist, Christiane Nord, with her modeloftranslation-oriented text analysis.


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Nord (1988/91)Translation-oriented Text AnalysisNords functional approach is more detailed than Vermeer and Reisss in that itincorporates elements of text analysis, which examines text organization at or abovesentence level.

1. The importance of the translation commission (or translation brief, as Nordterms it);

2. The role of ST analysis;3. The functional hierarchy of translation problems.

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