An Overall Model of Translating Ian Mason Heriot Watt University

The Indeterminacy of Meaning  Models of communication  Models of translation

The ‘Conduit Metaphor’  “linguistic expressions are vessels or conduits into which thoughts, ideas or meanings are poured, and from which they can be transmitted… [and then] extracted exactly as they were sent” Green 1989: 10

The code model

SENDER→MESSAGE→RECEIVER encodes de-codes LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

A model based on assumptions

PRODUCER text-world RECEIVER PRODUCER text-world RECEIVERmodel intends infers intends infers assumptions assumptions CONTEXT CONTEXT TEXTUAL RECORD TEXTUAL RECORD

SL/TL Transfer  the translator as receiver and producer  the commissioner  the editor/reviser  the publisher  intended receivers of the translation

The translation process SL textual record CommissionerTRANSLATOR Assumptions Editor/Revisor/ Publisher TL textual record assumptions TL Receivers assumptions TL Receivers

Contexts Translator TL users SL users

The Hatim & Mason approach CONTEXTSTRUCTURETEXTURE “top-down” and “bottom-up” processing

Context  of situation (Communicative: Use and user)  of intention (Pragmatics)  of signs (Semiotics)

Structure  ‘plans’ towards ‘goals’  dominant rhetorical purpose  text type focus –narration –description –exposition –argumentation –instruction

Texture  lexical choice  syntactic arrangement  transitivity  modality  cohesion

The communicative dimension of context  User variables –Geographical/historical/social dialect –Standard/non-standard dialect –Idiolect  Use variables –Field –Mode –Tenor

Field and Tenor: an example Tax Return Guide (UK) “This guide is to help you fill in the enclosed Tax Return form; it has no binding force and does not affect your right of appeal… If you need any help or more information I shall be glad to give it, or you can ask for general guidance at any other tax office. Always bring your tax papers with you when you call.”

Alternative version “The Guide provides information relative to completion of the enclosed Tax Return… Further information may be obtained by writing to Inland Revenue. Alternatively, enquirers may seek information at any tax office. In this case, it is advisable to have all tax papers available…”

Mode Mode Speaking spontaneously monologue dialogue Non- spontaneously reciting Speaking from writing Writing

Mode To be read As if spokenAs if thought To be spoken To be spoken as if not written

The pragmatic dimension of context  Use of language to get things done  “Watch out!” as a TEXT above all performs an ACTION  J. Austin (1960) How to Do Things with Words

The Speech Act 1. Locutionary Act 2. Illocutionary Act 3. Perlocutionary Act

Illocutionary Force  As a standard of translation equivalence  Involves consideration of READERS and their PURPOSES

An example from interpreting Situation: A murder has taken place on board a Russian ship, which then puts in to port in an English coastal town. A man is arrested. The police interview the crew as witnesses, assisted by interpreters. They hear three different versions of one utterance:

 “Ya tebya uroyu” (lit. I’ll dig you) –“I’ll get you” –“I’ll kill you” –“I’ll stitch you up” Krouglov (1999)

Receivers’ interest:  Does it count as a death threat?

The semiotic dimension of context  Signs acquire shared meanings within communities;  Words acquire connotations within cultures;  Cultural beliefs and values emerge from shared/repeated use

Example  ‘Multiculturalism’  ‘Integration’  ‘Assimilation’

Example  Jihad –‘Holy war’ –In Arabic/Islam: personal struggle against evil; religious duty –In English/the West: violence; terrorism

Intertextuality  We recognise entities (word, texts) because we have met them before;  A text is made up of elements of previous texts;  Text users have their own intertextual history;  Communities develop their own socio-textual practices.

Socio-textual practices  Genres (language used in relation to particular social occasions)  Discourses (language used to express the values and attitudes of social institutions)  Text types (formats used for rhetorical purposes)

Examples  Genres: the birth certificate, the legal contract  Discourses: military discourse (‘collateral damage’, ‘friendly fire’…), environmentalism (‘sustainable’, ‘carbon footprint’…)  Text types: the counter-argument (‘Of course… However…’)