The Concept of Function of Translation and its Application to Literary Texts

Target ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roda P. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Functional Approach ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Language Functions ◽  
Concept Of Function

Abstract Many translation theorists have adopted a functional approach to translation in an attempt to guide and explain the difficult choices a translator must make. This paper argues that it is the function of the translation, and not the functions of language or the function of the source text, that is the translator's guiding force. Having defined the function of translation as the application or use which the translation is intended to have in the context of the target situation, various functions that a literary translation may serve are examined. Finally, using the criteria of functions of language, functions of (source) text and functions of translation, an attempt is made to show that the type and degree of coincidence between the formal manifestations of the functions of language in the source text, the function of the source text and the translation depend on the precise function of the latter.

scholarly journals THE CONCEPT OF FIDELITY IN COMICS TRANSLATION

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Erico Assis
Keyword(s):  
Literary Translation ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Reading Process ◽  
Fair Share ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Topological Relations ◽  
Page Layout ◽  
Translation Fidelity ◽  
Linguistic Sign

The long-discussed – and frequently dismissed – concept of translation faithfulness or translation fidelity, though usually applied to literary texts, has its fair share of applications when considered for comics translation. In literary translation, non-linguistic portions such as illustrations are often considered addenda or “paratexts” relative to the main, linguistic text. Comics, by its turn, present a certain set of features which single them out as a form that demands a new concept of “text” and, therefore, of translation fidelity. The comic-reading process, as pertaining to cognitive apprehension, implies interpretative accords that differ from the ones in purely linguistic texts: each and every element of the comics page – non-linguistic (mainly imagetic) signs, linguistic signs, panel borders, typography and such – are intertwined and should be perceived in regards to its spatial and topological relations. This approach to understanding comics is based on Groensteen (1999) and his concepts of arthrology, spatio-topia, page layout, breakdown and braiding. As for translation fidelity, we rely on authors such as Berman (1984), Guidere (2010) and Aubert (1993). On comics translation, Zanettin (2008), Rota (2008) and Yuste Frías (2010, 2011) are of particular interest. Based on various concepts of fidelity – supported by samples of translated comics with varied degrees of fidelity to the source text – we discuss the different grounds of source-text fidelity, target-reader fidelity and source-author fidelity in the following instances: linguistic sign fidelity, imagetic sign fidelity, spatio-topia fidelity, typographic fidelity and format fidelity.

scholarly journals “Metaphoric Displacement” – a Reliable Guide in Literary Translation

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (1-2 (2)) ◽  
pp. 106-110
Author(s):  
Seda Gasparyan
Keyword(s):  
Functional Approach ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Special Importance

The article addresses the issues related to the translation of literary texts. The author places a special emphasis on the importance of the functional approach and suggests the principle of “metaphoric displacement” as the best way to achieve adequate literary translation. The article attaches special importance to the translation of lexical units especially to that of polyphonic words.

scholarly journals On Re-instantiation of Literary Dialects: A Systemic Functional Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 706
Author(s):  
Jing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Translation Studies ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
New Development ◽  
English Translations ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
New Perspective

With the developments in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), the functional approach to translation studies (TS) has offered new perspective into understanding how translation can be viewed as the re-instantiation of Source Text (ST) in another language system as Target Text (TT).In literary texts, language variations such as literary dialects have long been considered challenges in translation, but literary dialects are also believed to be “valued” linguistic elements since non-standard language such as dialects are socially related and may trigger linguistic stereotypes among readers. In tune with the new development in SFL, the current research focuses on the English translations of dialects in Li Jieren’s Si Shui Wei Lan (死水微澜) which is rich in Sichuan dialects and are with linguistically varied voices. The purpose of this article is threefold: firstly, to briefly present the linguistic features of ST, revealing author’s intentional arrangement in his choices of dialects; secondly, with case studies to compare and discuss the translators’ choices in re-instantiating dialects from the perspective of coupling and commitment; finally, to offer suggestions for translating literary dialects. This paper argues that SFL helps translators pinpoint the linguistic features that are valued in ST and inform translators of alternative renderings. This paper adopts a descriptive approach to the triplet on how translators re-coupled and re-committed the language variations in the ST into TT, and it serves as a manifestation of how SFL applies to TS from a new angel.

scholarly journals Shakespeare in anger or about the strategies of rendering invective in literary translation

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Strong Influence ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Word Formation ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Main Task ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Negative Appraisal ◽  
Xixth Century ◽  
Linguistic Units ◽  
Global Strategies

The article deals with the specifics of reproducing invective from William Shakespeare’s tragedy “King Lear” in Ukrainian translations by Panteleimon Kulish, Panas Myrny, Maksym Rylsky and Wassyl Barka. The research offers a communicatively-oriented approach to defining invective as an insulting expression construed on the basis of a negative appraisal of an addressee by a speaker. This approach expands to the maximal degree the range of possible means of expressing invective by including some stylistic devices and basically any linguistic units with connotations of a negative appraisal. As a result, the translator’s main task is to ensure pragmatic effect of an insult by preserving its negative appraisal and a concomitant emotive charge. At the same time invective’s unconventional character may require the translator’s additional attention as to preserving its semantic and structural specificity. The article demonstrates how historically the Ukrainian strategies of translating Shakespeare’s works were formed under the cultural influence of French (classicistic) and Russian (academic) traditions but not without the influence of Ukrainian own (travesty) tradition characterized by particular attention to employing rich colloquial resources of the Ukrainian language. The research allowed to single out three local strategies of translating Shakespeare’s invective within corresponding global strategies of translating his plays. All the analyzed translations were made under the strong influence of artistic and aesthetic views of the translators all of whom are established Ukrainian writers and / or poets. The XIXth century translations made at approximately the same time by Kulish and Myrny, implement the strategy that can be charactrerized as realistic-populist. Its main features are attentive attitude towards the source text and prevalence of Ukrainian colloquial means of expressing insult. Rylsky’s translation made on the grounds of neoclassicism is marked by the functional approach to reproducing invective with simultaneous omission of Shakespeare’s individual and archaic obscene expressions. In his translation, Rylsky gives preference to literary means of insult. Instead, Barka’s translation made on the grounds of neobarocco is of a formal-semantic character, though the translator somewhat overindulges in his own creative word-formation and thus ruins the balance of conventional and unconventional means of expressing invective in the source text.

scholarly journals Literêre vertaling as kruiskulturele kommunikasie: Kortonnen dozen van Tom Lanoye in Afrikaans

Literator ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-52
Author(s):  
M. Erasmus
Keyword(s):  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Cross Cultural Communication ◽  
System A ◽  
Short Novel ◽  
Foreign Culture ◽  
Literary System ◽  
Opening Up

Literary translation as cross-cultural communication: Kartonnen dozen by Tom Lanoye in Afrikaans Literary texts are more frequently translated from Afrikaans into Dutch than vice versa. The translation of the popular Flemish writer Tom Lanoye's short novel Kartonnen dozen by Daniel Hugo is indeed one of the very few examples of the latter. In this article I explore, inter alia, the politics of translation which may underlie this imbalance; literary translation as a way of "opening up" a foreign culture; the ideology of translatability. To establish whether Hugo's translation may be seen as adequate, and thus as functioning effectively within the Afrikaans (target) literary system, a comparative analysis is made of the two texts (i.e. Kartonnen dozen and Kartondose) in respect of certain textemes which I regard as imperative for the target text to convey the intention of the source text. In conclusion, I voice my opinion on a literary translation such as Kartondose and its role in the endeavour of decolonisation to resist globalisation.

Compensation and the Brief in a Non-Literary Translation

Target ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Role Play ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Crucial Aspect ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Frequent Use

Abstract Compensation as a device for dealing with loss in translation is often discussed with regard to literary translation where stylistic effects are assumed to be of greater importance than in non-literary modes. This paper builds on previous work firstly by exploring in detail the problem of author intention that appears to underlie the notion of effect. The discussion then extends into non-literary modes of translation where the translation specifications known as the Brief determine to a large extent the decisions taken by the translator. The author argues that the Brief introduces a crucial aspect into the decision-making process that not only allows for the possibility of compensation in non-literary texts but also influences the scope and type of compensation that would be deemed appropriate. Detailed examples are provided by a French source text featuring the frequent use of metaphor. Alternative translations are suggested in relation to two possible Briefs, which are presented as pedagogical devices in a translation 'role play'.

scholarly journals Literary Translation as Language Contact: A Pilot Study on the Finnish Passive

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leena Kolehmainen ◽  
Helka Riionheimo
Keyword(s):  
Oral Language ◽  
Language Contact ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Corpus Linguistic ◽  
Previous Contact ◽  
Contact Situation

This article approaches literary translation from a contact-linguistic perspective and views translation as a language contact situation in which the translator “moves” between the source and target language. The study touches upon the possible linguistic effects of the source text on the translated text and relates the translation-mediated cross-linguistic influence to other language-contact situations. The study investigates the use of Finnish passive in a corpus of literary texts consisting of Finnish translationsfrom Estonian and German and comparable non-translated Finnish literary texts. The translated texts are compared with non-translated ones by using corpus-linguistic tools, and the results are related to a previous contact-linguistic study on the use of the Finnish passive in spoken interviews of Finnish migrants in Estonia. The main objective is to test methodological tools that could be used for this kind of comparative purposes.In addition, the study approaches the question whether translation as a type of language contact affects the use of the Finnish passive in a similar way as an oral language contact situation. All in all, the study shows that there are some features that differentiate the investigated literary translations from non-translated Finnish texts but the evidence is not unambiguous. The article discusses the possible reasons for the mainly non-conclusive results of the analysis and points out factors that should be taken into account in future studies, such as the size of the sub-corpora and the possibly biased text or genre specific stylistic characteristics. The methodology clearly has to be adjusted and more in-depth methods developed in order to acquire a fuller picture of the Finnish passive in literary texts and to confirm what is author, translator, genre or source-language specific in the use of the Finnish passive.

scholarly journals Translation Studies Today: Old Problems and New Challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-327
Author(s):  
Vadim V Sdobnikov
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Translation Studies ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Main Element ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Interdisciplinary Science ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Cultural Turn

The article presents a review of the key trends in modern Translation Studies (TS) made after thorough analysis of the most fundamental works written in various fields of TS. The review proves that not only the range of problems within TS is now more diversified, which is related to many changes in the nature of translation activity, but Translation Studies are an interdisciplinary science now and uses data from neighboring disciplines. Specific “turns” have occurred in Translation Studies, and new paradigms of translation investigation have emerged. The most important phenomena in Translation Studies include “cultural turn” and the so called “anthropocentric turn” that has given birth to communicative-functional approach to translation. This approach implies “plunging” into the communicative situation of translation, and its analysis aimed at realizing the goal of translation by the translator/interpreter. It allows a more precise formulation of tasks solved by translators in both traditional types of translation (literary translation, religious translation, interpreting) and relatively new kinds of translation activity (audiovisual translation, localization). The article proves that translation proper is the main element of any activity performed by translators while any translation activity implies cultural adaptation of the text to the perception of the source text audience. The principal feature of Translation Studies is being practice-oriented, and their focus on the study of objective laws of translation activity. It enables translation scholars to understand peculiarities of various types of translation and to realize the essence of translation as a human activity.

TRANSLATION AS MENTAL INTERPRETATION ACTIVITY IN LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (28) ◽  
pp. 43-53
Author(s):  
Svitlana Gruschko
Keyword(s):  
Literary Criticism ◽  
Literary Work ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Literary Translation ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Cultural Dimension ◽  
Cultural Communication ◽  
Original Text ◽  
Cross Cultural Communication ◽  
Cross Language

In the article the phenomenon of translation is regarded as mental interpretation activity not only in linguistics, but also in literary criticism. The literary work and its translation are most vivid guides to mental and cultural life of people, an example of intercultural communication. An adequate perception of non-native culture depends on communicators’ general fund of knowledge. The essential part of such fund of knowledge is native language, and translation, being a mediator, is a means of cross-language and cross-cultural communication. Mastering another language through literature, a person is mastering new world and its culture. The process of literary texts’ translation requires language creativity of the translator, who becomes so-called “co-author” of the work. Translation activity is a result of the interpreter’s creativity and a sort of language activity: language units are being selected according to language units of the original text. This kind of approach actualizes linguistic researching of real translation facts: balance between language and speech units of the translated work (i.e. translationinterpretation, author’s made-up words, or revised language peculiarities of the characters). The process of literary translation by itself should be considered within the dimension of a dialogue between cultures. Such a dialogue takes place in the frame of different national stereotypes of thinking and communicational behavior, which influences mutual understanding between the communicators with the help of literary work being a mediator. So, modern linguistics actualizes the research of language activities during the process of literary work’s creating. This problem has to be studied furthermore, it can be considered as one of the central ones to be under consideration while dealing with cultural dimension of the translation process, including the process of solving the problems of cross-cultural communication.

scholarly journals Strategies to Overcome Translation Losses in the Novel “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck to Achieve Adequacy in Translation

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-32
Author(s):  
Konul Khalilova ◽  
Irina Orujova
Keyword(s):  
John Steinbeck ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Source Text ◽  
Grapes Of Wrath ◽  
Thought Patterns ◽  
Translation Techniques ◽  
Current Article ◽  
The Given ◽  
Different Levels

The current article involves the issues of losses, gains, or survivals contributing to literature in the process of translation. It represents a thorough study based on the novel “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck from English and, respectively, its translation into Azerbaijani by Ulfet Kurchayli. It investigates the problematic areas or challenges emerging from the source-text discrepancies. Furthermore, this article also concentrates on the issue of cultural non-equivalence or the losses occurring in translating English literary texts into Azerbaijani. The paper identifies the translation techniques adopted by the translator of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Adopting certain techniques rather than others has led to many losses on different levels. The translator’s important role as a cultural insider is also emphasized. The wide gap, distance, or the differences between the cultures, languages, and thought patterns of the English and Azerbaijani language speakers are the main factors resulting in various losses in the process of translation. Coping with these extra-linguistic constraints is harder than the linguistic ones as the translator has no choice in the given situations, deleting these elements from the TT or replacing them with elements that do not fit the context. This article aims at determining translation losses and gains, defining ways that the translator employs for compensating losses, through the analysis of John Steinbeck’s style in The Grapes of Wrath. The article concludes that there are some situations where the translation of a certain text from the SL into the TL embraces alteration in the whole informational content of the text, in the form of expressions or words.

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