discourse analysis of argumentation from an english/arabic translation perspective

114 Pages·2008·0.83 MB·English

by  Thomas Hodge

DiscourseAnalysisof Argumentation
DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF ARGUMENTATION FROM
AN ENGLISH/ARABIC TRANSLATION PERSPECTIVE
Presented tothe facultyof the AmericanUniversityof Sharjah
College ofArts andScience
inpartial fulfilmentofthe
requirementsfor thedegree
MASTER OFARTS
by
SUMAYAADAMEISA
B.Sc.1983
Sharjah,UAE
June 2008
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DiscourseAnalysisof Argumentation
DISCOURSEANALYSISOF ARGUMENTATIONFROM
AN ENGLISH/ARABICPERSPECTIVE
SumayaAdam Eisa,Candidate forthe Masterof ArtsDegree
American Universityof Sharjah,2008
ABSTRACT
This thesis explores whether Arab translators translate argumentative discourse
adequately. The study examines the degree of awareness among translators of the
genre conventions embedded in the argumentative English source texts. As a
persuasive genre, counter-argumentation contains certain conventions used by the
media to persuade an ever more sophisticated readership. Untrained practitioners are
probably unaware of the determinant semiotics. Asa result, most translated editorials
and opinion columns often tend to lose their persuasive vigour.For its framework for
analysis, the study draws on rhetoric genre studies, critical discourse analysis and
discussionsof the translation of editorials/opinioncolumns fromsome serious western
press publications,namely the Economist,Financial Times, Project Syndicate website
and other sites, together with their translations in Majalat Al Majala, Al Khaleej
newspaper, and Project Syndicate translations respectively. The study reveals that
Arab translators often literally replace or transfer the equivalent meaning of
argumentative texts fromthe English intoArabic.They seem toconcentrate mostly on
aesthetic, rhetorical, semantic and eloquent aspects of the target language writing
rather than the underlying notions of argumentation of the source language. These
textual and intertextual practices are closely related to the other existing practices in
massmedia. The study thus, aims to uncover gaps inthe translation of argumentation
genre. In doing so,it seeks to addto the contrastive linguistic research that ismoving
beyond the text and into the context of the production and publication industry.
Therefore, the study calls for specialized media translation to revolutionize, not only
the translation of persuasive genres but writing tradition as a whole. Arab
commentators,translators,writers,and publisherstherefore need tobe genre awarefor
theirmessagesto getthrough.
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CONTENTS
1 .................................................................................................................. 1
2 DISCOURSEANALYSISOF ARGUMENTATIONFROM............... 2
3 ANENGLISH/ARABICPERSPECTIVE.............................................. 2
3.1 ABSTRACT............................................................................................. 2
3.2 CONTENTS............................................................................................. 2
3.3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........................................................................
3.4 DEDICATION.........................................................................................
4 CHAPTER ONE......................................................................................
4.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................
4.1.1 ImportanceoftheResearch Area....................................................................................
4.1.2 1.2.ConventionsofArgumentation................................................................................
4.1.3 1.3.SignificanceoftheStudy.........................................................................................
5 CHAPTER TWO.....................................................................................
5.1 Reviewof the Literature...........................................................................
5.1.1 2.1.SourceOrientedTranslationStudies........................................................................
5.1.2 TargetOrientedTranslationStudies................................................................................
5.1.3 Metatext/Metadiscourse inTranslation..........................................................................
5.1.4 TheNotionsofText,Register,DiscourseandGenrein theTranslationStrategy...........
6 CHAPTER THREE.................................................................................
6.1 Argumentation Studies.............................................................................
6.1.1 3.1.Overview..................................................................................................................
6.1.2 Argumentationin Arabic................................................................................................
6.1.3 Counter-argumentation...................................................................................................
6.1.4 MassMedia.....................................................................................................................
7 CHAPTER FOUR...................................................................................
7.1 Theoretical FrameworkandMethodology...............................................
7.1.1 TheAnalyticalMethodology...........................................................................................
7.1.2 IdentificationoftheArgumentativeText........................................................................
7.1.3 Analysisofthetranslation...............................................................................................
8 CHAPTER FIVE.....................................................................................
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8.1 Findingsand Discussion...........................................................................
8.1.1 Pre-suppositionoftheTransparent Model......................................................................
9 CHAPTER SIX........................................................................................
9.1 Conclusion...............................................................................................
9.1.1 Recommendations...........................................................................................................
10 REFERENCES........................................................................................
10.1 AppendixA..............................................................................................
10.1.1 ArgumentativeIndicators................................................................................................
10.1.2 Indicatorsoftheconfrontationstage:.............................................................................
10.1.3 Indicatorsthataccompany supports,orminor propositions:..........................................
10.1.4 Indicatorsofmultipleargumentationor(supports):........................................................
10.1.5 Indicatorstointroduceanargumentassuperfluous:......................................................
10.1.6 Indicatorsofenumeration:...............................................................................................
10.1.7 Indicatorsofinduction:...................................................................................................
10.1.8 IndicatorsofDeduction...................................................................................................
10.1.9 Indicatorstoaddanotherargumentto apreviousone:....................................................
10.1.10 Specificindicators:..........................................................................................................
10.1.11 UnconditionalconcessionIndicators..............................................................................
10.1.12 Argumentativerhetoricalquestions.................................................................................
10.1.13 Expressionsthatexpressanopinion...............................................................................
10.1.14 Expressionsthatrepresentsconjecture:...........................................................................
10.1.15 Indicatorsoftheconcludingstage:..................................................................................
10.1.16 Indicatorsannouncemaintaining ofastandpoint:...........................................................
10.1.17 Indicatorsthatannounce withdrawalordefeat:..............................................................
10.1.18 Indicatorsannouncerefusal ofsurrender.........................................................................
10.1.19 Fallacies...........................................................................................................................
10.2 AppendixB...............................................................................................
10.3 AModelfor Writing Editorials/Opinions.................................................
10.4 AppendixC...............................................................................................
10.4.1 ThroughArgumentation..................................................................................................
10.5 AppendixD..............................................................................................
10.5.1 ArabicEmphatics............................................................................................................
10.6 AppendixE...............................................................................................
10.6.1 Additionalexamplesofflawed translation......................................................................
10.7 AppendixF...............................................................................................
10.7.1 ArabicandEnglishArticlesCitedintheThesis..............................................................
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10.8 VITA........................................................................................................
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TABLES
Table Page
1â¸ExampleofThrough-ArgumentativeText 19
2â¸TheTransparent-Model 32
3â¸Differentiation betweentheProtagonistandAntagonist 36
4â¸Theuseofemphaticsasconjunctions 38
5â¸Theuseofsuccessiveemphatics 39
6â¸Identificationofsuccessivemini-supports 40
7â¸HighlightingMarkedness 41
8â¸Explicatingassertivetools 41
9â¸Implicitcounterargument 43
10⸠Implicitadversative andconcessivetools 46
11⸠TranslationofExpressivess 47
12⸠Theliteraltranslationofemphatics 49
13⸠Moreexamplesofemphatics’literaltranslation 51
14⸠Thetranslationofofcourse 51
15⸠AModelforwritingeditorials/opinions 75
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Writing an MA thesis isnot easy. During the time of writing, I have received support
frommany people.In particular,I am profoundlyindebted tomysupervisor,Professor
Basil Hatim, the thesis advisor who has been very generous with his time and
knowledge. Professor Hatim gave me advice both in person and through email. I
would also like to extend thanks to Dr. Said Faiq, Committee member, Dr. Gavin
Picken, Committee member and Professor Fatima Badry, Director of CAS Graduate
Programs, and those who extended help in different ways. I am also grateful to the
College of Arts and Science of the American University of Sharjah. Finally, but not
least, thanks go to my whole family who have been an important and indispensable
sourceof spiritual support.
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DEDICATION
I lovemyfamily.Thisthesisisdedicated tothem.
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