Translation and Language: Linguistic Theories Explained (Translation Theories Explained)

174 Pages·2003·27.02 MB·English

by  Peter D. Fawcett

TranslationTheoriesExplained
Translation Theories Explained is a series designed to respond to the
profound plurality of contemporary translation studies. There are many
problems to be solved,many possible approaches that can be drawn from
neighbouring disciplines, and several strong language-bound traditions
plaguedby the paradoxical fact that some ofthe key theoretical texts have
yet to be translated.
Recognizing this plurality as both a strength and a potential shortcoming,
the series provides a format where different approaches can be compared,
theirvirtuesassessed,and mutual blindspotsovercome. Therewill also be
scope for introductions to specific areas oftranslation practice. Students
and scholars may thus gain comprehensive awareness ofthe work being
done beyond local or endemic frames.
Most volumes in the series place a general approach within its historical
context,givingexamplestoillustratethe main ideas, summarizingthe most
significant debates and openingperspectives for future work. The authors
have been selected not only because of their command of a particular
approach but also in view of their openness to alternatives and their
willingness to discuss criticisms. In every respect the emphasis is on
explainingthe essentialpointsasclearlyand asconciselyaspossible,using
numerous examplesand providingglossariesofthe main technical terms.
Theseriesshouldproveparticularlyusefultostudents dealingwithtranslation
theoriesforthefirst time, toteachersseekingtostimulatecriticalreflection,
and to scholars looking for a succinct overview ofthe field's present and
future.
AnthonyPym
SeriesEditor

Translation and Language
Linguistic Theories Explained
PeterFawcett
STjEROME
PllKL ISHlNG
Manchester,UK& Northampton,MA
Firstpublished 1997by
St.JeromePublishing
2MapleRoad West,Brooklands,Manchester,M23 9HH,UnitedKingdom
Fax[phone]. Email:[email protected]
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Reprinted 2003
ISBN1-900650-07-X
ISSN1365-0513
Copyright©PeterFawcett 1997
All Rightsreserved, includingthoseoftranslationinto foreign languages.Nopart
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Printedand boundinGreatBritainby
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CoverdesignbySteveFieldhouse,Oldham,UK ([phone])
Typeset by DeltaTypesetters,Cairo, Egypt
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Acataloguerecordofthis bookisavailablefrom the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Fawcett,PeterD.
Translationand language :linguistic theoriesexplained/ Peter
Fawcett.
p.em,- (Translationtheoriesexplained, ISSN 1365-0513)
Includesbibliographicalreferences.
ISBN I-900650-07-X(paperback:alk.paper)
I. Translatingand interpreting. I.Title.II. Series.
P306.F362003
4I8'.02-dc2I
2003004768
Contents
Foreword
1. Introduction
Atroubledrelationship
Langue/parole j....
Signifier/signified 5
Paradigmaticand syntagmatic:wordsets and collocations 6
Sociolinguisticsandpragmatics 9
2. Sub-WordComponents 11
Sound 11
Morphemes 14
Componentialanalysis 17
j..... Semantics 19
Semanticfields 19
Word relations 21
Connotation 23
Wordmeaningand translation 25
4. TranslationTechniques 27
Russianapproaches(Shveitserand Retsker) 27
Translationas 'analogy' 27
Translationas 'adequacy' 28
Concretization 29
Logicalderivation 30
Antonymictranslation 31
Compensation 31
The viewfrom Canada(Vinayand Darbe1net) 34
Borrowing 34
Calque 35
Literaltranslation 36
Transposition 37
Modulation 37
Equivalence 38
Adaptation 39
An Americanmodel(Malone) 41
Matching:SubstitutionandEquation 41
Zigzagging:DivergenceandConvergence 43
Recrescence:AmplificationandReduction 45
Repackaging:DiffusionandCondensation 47
Reordering 49
Critique 50
5. Equivalence 53
Catfordandtextualequivalence 54
Nida and dynamicequivalence 56
Komissarov'ssharpandfuzzyequivalence 60
6. Beyondthe Word 64
Generativegrammar 65
Shveitser:translationandrewritingrules 67
Maloneandbridgebuilding 69
7. Beyondthe Sentence:ContextandRegister 72
Context 72
Communicativeeventandregister 74
Register 75
Registerand language user 75
Registerand languageuse 77
Registerinpractice 80
8.TextStructure 85
Theme/rhemeandfunctionalsentenceperspective 85
Cohesion 90
Cohesionthroughrepetition 91
Cohesionthroughellipsis 92
Cohesionthroughreference 94
Parataxisand hypotaxis 96
Coherence 98
Translation as text 100
9.Text Functions 101
Languagefunctions 101
Textfunctions and types 104
Reiss andthe monofunctionalapproach 104
The multifunctionalapproach 108
Function-alteringtranslation 112
Overt and covelttranslation 113
10.Sociolinguistics 116
11.Pragmatics 123
Presupposition 123
Speechacts 126
Implicature 130
12.Psycholinguistics 135
Relevancetheory 135
Translationstrategies 139
ConclusionandPerspectives 144
Glossary 146
Bibliography 153

Foreword
This book is about the love-hate relationship between linguistics and
translation theory. Many linguists have no interest in translation theory,
and some translation theorists are increasingly declaring that linguistics
hasnothingtooffertheirdiscipline.The authorofthisbookdoesnot entirely
share this sceptical attitudetowards linguistics; he does not see linguistics
asthegrand liberatororthegreatoppressoroftranslationstudies;hebelieves
ratherthat there aremanythingsintranslationwhichcan only bedescribed
and explainedby linguistics. Further,atranslatorwho lacks atleast abasic
knowledge oflinguistics issomebodywho is workingwithan incomplete
toolkit.
Since what might be called the 'heroic age' oflinguistically-oriented
translationstudiesextendedfrom themid-1950stothe mid-1980s,itisonly
right that these classic texts receivetheir due attentioninthesepages. How
ever,inspite ofthescepticismalludedtoabove,there iscontinuedand even
renewed interest in linguistic approaches to translation studies. We shall
thus also look at these more recent developments, especially in the later
chapters.
Inrelationtosome ofthesedevelopments,theauthormay seem totake
asceptical attitude. But that should betaken not ashostility so much asan
indication thatthese approacheshave notyetmadetheir pointconvincingly,
and that more research needs to bedone.
Indeed, a phrase encountered frequently and with variations in these
later chaptersis:'littleisknown aboutthis asyet'. Therearemanyareas of
translation studies where much more linguistic research is needed. There
has been a tendency for translation theorists to make a proposal and then
pass on, leavingthe groundlargelyunbroken. Otherresearchershave toget
outtheirspadesand start digging. Onehope,therefore,isthatthis bookwill
pointthe way to such areas.
In an introductory book ofthis length it is not possible to cover all
aspects ofthe relationshipbetweenlinguisticsandtranslationtheory.Ihave
neverthelesstried tocoverinreasonabledetail those areas which have been
central tothesubjectand giveatleast amentiontoothers,whichthe reader
can follow upthrough the bibliography.
All translationsofquotations are my own.