Introduction to Translation Genre and Text Types 2 March 2010

Introduction to Translation Wazzup man? Hi there! Hello. How are you?

Introduction to Translation Text “a verbal record of a communicative event” (Brown & Yule 1983:6).

Introduction to Translation Register “appropriate type of language selected for different situations or contexts” (Hatim and Mason 1990: 46) Difference between a high and low level of formality (Hale 1997)

Introduction to Translation Register according to Halliday Field (the what and why of the communication) Tenor (the who of the communication; i.e. relationship between speaker/writer and hearer/reader) Mode (the how of the communication; the textual features which realise the features of the situation)

Introduction to Translation Genre A (loose) set of features that makes a particular group of texts distinctive in terms of style

Introduction to Translation Function of Texts description, narration, exposition, argumentation, instruction (Hatim & Mason) referential, expressive, appellative, phatic (Nord) Informative, expressive, operative (Reiss)

Introduction to Translation Text Typology (Reiss) informative: texts aimed at imparting information; they are content-centred (news) expressive: texts aimed at expressing feelings or thoughts of author: form-centred (novel) operative: aimed at persuading: behaviour-centred (advertisement)

Introduction to Translation For informative texts, the CONTENT is the most important thing (accuracy) For expressive texts, the FORM is often more important: poetry, for example For operative texts, the EFFECT on reader is most important: advertisements, for example, have the primary goal of selling a product.

Introduction to Translation Functionalist Approach “focusing on the function or functions of texts and translations” (Nord 1997:1) Translation as an activity, embedded in theory of human action Text Typology (Reiss) Skopostheorie (Vermeer) Translational Action (Holz-Mänttäri) Hypertext (Pöchhacker)

Introduction to Translation Focus on agents (individuals playing roles) initiator (person who needs TT) commissioner (person who asks the translator to produce a TT for a particular purpose and addressee) translator ST producer TT user Addressee TT message receiver

Introduction to Translation “Each text is produced for a given purpose and should serve this purpose. The Skopos rule thus reads as follows: translate/interpret/speak/ write in a way that enables your text/translation to function in the situation in which it is used and with the people who want to use it and precisely in the way they want it to function (Vermeer, cited in, and translated by, Nord 1997:29)

Introduction to Translation Ask yourself what is the main (and secondary) function(s)? Informative? Expressive? Operative? what means are used to accomplish that function? what is the genre? what are the conventions of this sort of text in the source culture? does the text follow those conventions? what is the translation brief/skopos? does the skopos demand any shifts in genre or function? how can you accomplish such a shift, or how can you maintain the function of the original?

Introduction to Translation Conventions direct forms of address slang requests and recommendations slogans Claims lists questions rhyme evaluative adjectives and nouns quoting of authoritative voices appeals to emotions

Introduction to Translation idiomatic expressions proverbs allusions puns parallel structures wordplays pairs alliteration repetition for emphasis foreign words ambiguity reference to historical or technical achievement

Introduction to Translation Example 2 Genres can be mimicked Look at paratext (Genette) Title page (Dracula, by Bram Stoker) signals that this is a novel, not just a collection of journals and letters