faculdade de letras da universidade do porto línguas e literaturas modernas

Elena Zagar Galvão - ITS - FLUP 2006Elena Zagar Galvão - ITS - FLUP 2006

Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do PortoLínguas e Literaturas Modernas

INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION STUDIES

Power Point 10

21 November21 November 2007


TAXONOMIES in TTAXONOMIES in T

Linguistic approach to the analysis of Linguistic approach to the analysis of translation processtranslation process

List of changes: Catford’s ‘shifts’ (1965) List of changes: Catford’s ‘shifts’ (1965) occuring when translating from one occuring when translating from one language into another or “departures from language into another or “departures from formal correspondence in the process of formal correspondence in the process of going from SL to TL”; going from SL to TL”;

Illusion of translation strategies Illusion of translation strategies Useful to describe translation as productUseful to describe translation as product


Vinay and DarbelnetVinay and DarbelnetAuthors of Authors of Stylistique comparée du français et de Stylistique comparée du français et de

l’anglaisl’anglais , 1958, containing probably the most , 1958, containing probably the most ‘famous’ taxonomy of modern TT. ‘famous’ taxonomy of modern TT.

Difference between strategy and procedure:Difference between strategy and procedure:-Translation strategy --> whole texts -Translation strategy --> whole texts (general (general

approach) approach) -Translation procedures --> sentences -Translation procedures --> sentences and and

smaller units of language (the unit of translation smaller units of language (the unit of translation is “the smallest segment of the utterance whose is “the smallest segment of the utterance whose signs are linked in such a way that they should signs are linked in such a way that they should not be translated individually” (lexicological unit; not be translated individually” (lexicological unit; unit of thought)unit of thought)


7 procedures7 procedures

Direct translation covers:Direct translation covers:

1.1. BorrowingBorrowing(e.g., glasnost; sometimes used for local (e.g., glasnost; sometimes used for local colour)colour)

2.2. CalqueCalque

(e.g., Compliments of the Season)(e.g., Compliments of the Season)

3. Literal Translation3. Literal Translation


Oblique translation covers:Oblique translation covers:

4. Transposition 4. Transposition (change of one part of speech (change of one part of speech for another/ no change in meaning; it can be for another/ no change in meaning; it can be obligatory or optional)obligatory or optional)

5. Modulation 5. Modulation (according to Vinay and Darbelnet (according to Vinay and Darbelnet ‘the touchstone of a good translator’)‘the touchstone of a good translator’)

6. Equivalence 6. Equivalence (used to translate idioms and (used to translate idioms and proverbs)proverbs)

7. Adaptation 7. Adaptation (used for cultural aspects; e.g. (used for cultural aspects; e.g. game of cricket – Tour de France)game of cricket – Tour de France)


Peter NewmarkPeter NewmarkA Textbook of Translation, 1988A Textbook of Translation, 1988

TRANSFERENCETRANSFERENCE ( (empruntemprunt, loan word, , loan word, transcription) transcription)

SL word is transferred to TL textSL word is transferred to TL text

e.g., in English: coup d'etát, ambiance; e.g., in English: coup d'etát, ambiance; NATURALISATION NATURALISATION

A transferred word is adapted to the TL A transferred word is adapted to the TL (pronunciation and morphology), (pronunciation and morphology),

e.g., in French: thatchérisme; in Port: Nova e.g., in French: thatchérisme; in Port: Nova Iorque, etc. Iorque, etc.


CULTURAL EQUIVALENT CULTURAL EQUIVALENT

Approximate translation, where a SL Approximate translation, where a SL cultural word/expression is translated cultural word/expression is translated by a TL cultural word considered by a TL cultural word considered equivalent to it.equivalent to it.

e.g., baccalauréat = '(the French) A e.g., baccalauréat = '(the French) A level', etc. [often used in translation level', etc. [often used in translation couplets] couplets]


FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENTFUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENT

Applied to cultural words, it requires the Applied to cultural words, it requires the use of a culture-free word thus use of a culture-free word thus generalising or neutralising the SL generalising or neutralising the SL word/expression.word/expression.

e.g., baccalauréat = French secondary e.g., baccalauréat = French secondary school leaving exam; Sejm = Polish school leaving exam; Sejm = Polish parliament, etc. [often used in translation parliament, etc. [often used in translation couplets] couplets]


MODULATIONMODULATION (Vinay and Darbelnet) (Vinay and Darbelnet) A variation through a change of viewpoint, A variation through a change of viewpoint, of perspective and very often of category of perspective and very often of category of thought.of thought.e.g., Não hesitou. - He acted at once e.g., Não hesitou. - He acted at once (positive for negative) (positive for negative) This intensifies the lack of flexibility of the This intensifies the lack of flexibility of the labour market . . . labour market . . . Destes factores resulta uma acrescida Destes factores resulta uma acrescida rigidez do mercado de trabalho. . . (shift rigidez do mercado de trabalho. . . (shift and modulation) and modulation) It's not totally worthless - Vale alguma It's not totally worthless - Vale alguma coisa (positive for double negative) coisa (positive for double negative)


SHIFT OR TRANSPOSITION SHIFT OR TRANSPOSITION Shift (Catford) or transposition (Vinay and Shift (Catford) or transposition (Vinay and Darbelnet) involves a change in the grammar/part Darbelnet) involves a change in the grammar/part of speech from SL to TL. of speech from SL to TL. e.g., it nevertheless has a perverse effect in that e.g., it nevertheless has a perverse effect in that it devaluates the vocational channels . . it devaluates the vocational channels . . este fenómeno tem efeitos perversos: este fenómeno tem efeitos perversos: desvalorização das vias profissionalizantes, desvalorização das vias profissionalizantes, Although it does not call into question . . . Although it does not call into question . . . Sem pretender de novo pôr em causa . . . Sem pretender de novo pôr em causa . . . The fact is that this is not possible at present The fact is that this is not possible at present unless the two establishments . . unless the two establishments . . Acontece que esta situação só é possivel se os Acontece que esta situação só é possivel se os dois establecimentos. . dois establecimentos. .


RECOGNISED TRANSLATION RECOGNISED TRANSLATION You should use the official or the generally You should use the official or the generally accepted translation of any institutional terms (or accepted translation of any institutional terms (or other). other).

COUPLETSCOUPLETS

Or triplets, etc, combine two or more translation Or triplets, etc, combine two or more translation procedures for dealing with a single problem. procedures for dealing with a single problem. They are particularly common for cultural words, They are particularly common for cultural words, where transference may be combined with a where transference may be combined with a functional or cultural equivalent, for example. functional or cultural equivalent, for example.

e.g., ele não tinha e.g., ele não tinha shoushou nenhum, respeito nenhum, respeito nenhum pelos antepassados ou pela famílianenhum pelos antepassados ou pela família


THROUGH-TRANSLATIONTHROUGH-TRANSLATION ( (CalqueCalque, loan , loan translation) translation)

Literal translation of common collocations, Literal translation of common collocations, names of organisations, the components names of organisations, the components of compounds (e.g. of compounds (e.g. superman/superman/ÜbermenschÜbermensch). Normally, ). Normally, through-t. should be used only when they through-t. should be used only when they are already recognized terms. (e.g., are already recognized terms. (e.g., international organisations like UNO/ONU, international organisations like UNO/ONU, etc.) etc.)

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