INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION THEORY By Lê Thị Giao Chi, M.A., M.Ed.

Course aims & objectives  Upon completing the course, participants will be able to: – Know their role as interpreters/ translators – Have increased self-awareness and confidence – Use I/T techniques and skills – Understand the ethics of the profession of I/T – Recognize non-verbal communication – Understand cultural situations – Solve problem situations – Use specialized terminology in some areas – Control I/T assignments with confidence

What is translation?  Translation is – the replacement of textual material in one language (source language) by equivalent textual material in another language (target language) (JC Catford) –the process of conveying messages across linguistic and cultural barriers. (Ian Tudor) One swallow can not make a summer

What is translation?  Translation is –rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text. (Peter Newmark) – During the past year, we sold dolls How may this sentence be translated?

During the past year, we sold dolls  CEO  Board of Management  Marketing Manager  Potential customers  Sales Manager  Sales staff

 To illustrate that time is relative, Einstein observed that to a person sitting on a hot stove, two minutes could feel like two hours; to the young man with a pretty girl, two hours could seem like two minutes.

Why is it necessary and how it should be?

Identify whether the following statements tell you what, why, or how.  Translation is the replacement of textual material in one language (source language) by equivalent textual material in another language (target language) (JC Catford)  The translation should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original work. (Tytler)  The translator must have a perfect understanding of his author’s message and material (Cary)

Identify whether the following statements tell you what, why, or how.  The translator should not translate word for word, and should beware of Latinism and use idiomatic language (Cary) –We are like chalk and cheese (We are totally different) –Bad workman often blames his tools. –Every dog has his days  Translation is the process of conveying messages across linguistic and cultural barriers. (Ian Tudor)

What, why, or how?  Translation is rendering the meaning of a text into another language in the way that the author intended the text. (Peter Newmark)  The translator should strive after a smooth, and elegant, unpretentious and even style (Cary)  The translator should have complete mastery of both source and target language

What, why, or how?  No individual can know all the languages in use. Still people want to read what people of a different culture write, and understand what they say.  Communication within one speech community is not enough. Certainly there exist situations where individuals are unable to understand the words and expressions of other people. This phenomenon creates a barrier to understanding whenever one tries to communicate across time and space.

What, why, or how?  Translators are required to undertake assignments, which range from simple items, such as birth certificates and driving licenses, to more complex written material, such as articles in specialized professional journals, business contracts and legal documents.  The style and manner of writing should be the same with that of the original. (Tytler)

What, why, or how?  There should be professionals who undertake the task of rendering the message from one language into another so that more people can have access to such knowledge.  The translation should have all the ease of the original composition (Tytler)

What? How? Why?

Actors in the translation process L1C1 Author L1C1 Reader L1C1 Translator L2C2 Reader

The dynamics of translation (P.N.) TEXT The truth (facts of the matter) TL readership TL norms TL culture TL setting SL setting SL culture SL norms SL writer Translator

The dynamics of translation (P.N.) TEXT The truth (facts of the matter) TL readership TL norms TL culture TL setting SL setting SL culture SL norms SL writer Translator

Consider …?  The translation theory is concerned with the choices and decisions, not with the mechanics of either the SL or the TL  Choices/decisions  the relation between thought, the choices of meaning and language, i.e. Expression Ex.- To bring one’s legs together (khép chân l ạ i) - Nàng thích lu ồ n tay vào mái tóc tôi She would love to dig her fingers into my hair. - I offered my handshake (Tôi cho cái b ắ t tay c ủ a tôi *) Tôi đã b ắ t tay/ Tôi chìa tay ra b ắ t

Pre-translation considerations  Reading the text  Understand what it is about  Analyze it from the translator’s point of view  Requires both general and close reading  Anatomy of burglary  Why Africa goes hungry  The process of aging  Nightmare of the monster cities  Underground cities  Slaves of the screen

Pre-translation considerations 2. The intention of the text/SL writer  SL writer’s attitude to the subject matter (individual aspects/ writer’s intent) Ex:“During the past year we have already sold 20,000 dolls” Sales manager in a sales report? Marketing manager?  Same entity/reality described in different ways by different writers  distinct cultural aspects of the TL 3. The intention of the translator  Usually identical with that of SL writer  Translating for whom (groups of experts, less educated readership, etc.)

Pre-translation considerations 4. Text styles - Narrative: a dynamic sequence of events with emphasis on verbs, verb nouns or phrasal verbs - Description: static with emphasis on liking verbs, adjectives, adjectival nouns - Discussion: a treatment of ideas, with emphasis on abstract nouns (concepts), verbs of thought, mental activity (consider, argue, etc), and logical argument - Dialogue: with emphasis on colloquialisms and phaticisms

Pre-translation considerations 5. The readership –Assess the readership’s or audience’s level of education, class, age, or sex –Decide on the degree of formality, generality (specificity), and emotional tone of your expression when working on the text. 6. The quality of writing –Judged in relation to the author’s intention and/or the requirements of the subject matter –If the text is well-written  consider every nuance of the author’s meaning –A badly-written text with several redundancies and poor structures needs your correction of the text before translating.

Identify the text style of each of the following fragments of text 1. It is my opinion that too many people are controlled by television. The reason for this is that they become addicted and only sit at home and watch it. 2. A few years ago, I spent a week in the Dominican Republic. The week was over and I was at the airport ready to leave when I discovered, to my dismay, that I had forgotten one of my suitcases at the hotel.. 3. Oh, we got married last year. We live in Birmingham now. Look, why don’t you come up and visit us some time? Pat would love to see you again. 4. The film is set in America, and tells the story of a young man, who runs a lonely, isolated motel with his elderly mother. They live in a large, old house next to the motel, but although we often hear their conversations we never see the mother in person …

Stylistic scales (scale of formality)  Officialese “The consumption of any nutriments whatsoever is categorically prohibited in this establishment.”  Official“The consumption of nutriments is prohibited.”  Formal“You are requested not to consume food in this establishment.”  Neutral“Eating is not allowed here.”  Informal“Please don’t eat here.”  Colloquial“You can’t feed your face here.”  Slang“Lay off the nosh.”  Taboo“Lay off the fucking nosh.”