Research Methods in T&I Studies I Text Analysis for Professional T&I and T&I Research 6 October 2009

Research Methods in Translation and Interpreting Studies Acquiring a suitable metalanguage and a basic understanding of how language works are necessary for:  reflecting and commenting on own professional practice (improving professional performance)  analysing translations / interpretations produced by others as part of a research project (acquiring research skills)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies Evolution of Text Analysis in Translation and Interpreting Studies  Linguistic Approaches  Cultural ‘Turn’  Does a Dichotomy really exist?  CDA  Sociological approaches

Text Analysis in T&I Studies Functionalist Approaches to Translation and Interpreting Studies  Skopostheorie  Translatorial Action

Text Analysis in T&I Studies 1950s-1970s  Linguistics as a role model in T&I Studies  Prescriptive  Simplistic in Approaches to Meaning  Clear guidelines to address Lack of equivalence at word level Culture-specific items Difficult syntax Non-matching of grammatical categories (e.g. Gender)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies “Translation may be defined as follows: the replacement of textual material in one language (SL) by equivalent material in another language” (Catford 1965:20)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies Since 1980  Descriptive  What actually happens in translation and interpreting rather than what should happen  Meaning as diffuse, unstable and culturally constructed  Language use as mediated (culturally, ideologically, cognitively)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies Focus of a modern linguistic approach  Not deliberate, conscious manipulation (womanhandling)  Detailed linguistic analysis (vocabulary, structures, theme/rheme)  Information flow, cohesion, linguistic politeness mechanisms, norms of turn-taking in conversation  Realistic view of translators and interpreters as agents

Text Analysis in T&I Studies 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)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies 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

Text Analysis in T&I Studies “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)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies All models and perspectives on language have strengths and weaknesses Ambiguity is inherent in language Language categories are defined partially on structural and partially on functional grounds Exceptions prove the rule

Text Analysis in T&I Studies As a result:  Develop sensitivity to the way language works  Learn to recognize when language ‘rules’ and ‘patterns’ are being deliberately flouted to create specific effects

Text Analysis in T&I Studies One thing‘s sure and nothing‘s surer The rich get rich and the poor get..... Heinz Spicy Pepper Sauce Advert (in Cook 1992:140)  Delicious with Chinese, with Italian, with French, with caution

Text Analysis in T&I Studies Features of language that can be manipulated  Linear quality  Patterning  Embeddedness in extra-linguistic reality  Meaningfulness  Reflexivity  Arbitrariness

Text Analysis in T&I Studies “Madam Chairman, Madam Chairperson, Madam Chairwoman, Madam Chairlady, Madam Chair (response from addressee in interpreting assignment: I’d rather you called me a man than a piece of furniture, Viaggio 1996:189)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies References Baker, Mona (2000) ‘Linguistic Perspectives on Translation’, in Peter France (ed.) The Oxford Guide to Literature in English Translation, Oxford: Oxford University Press, (Short Loan Collection) Cook, Guy (1992) The Discourse of Advertising, London & New York: Routledge. Garzone, Giuliana (2000) ‘Textual Analysis and Interpreting Research’ The Interpreters’ Newsletter 10, [last accessed ]. Holz-Mänttäri, Justa (1984) Translatorisches Handeln. Theorie und Methode [Translatorial Action. Theory and Method], Helsinki: Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia.

Text Analysis in T&I Studies References (cont.) Nord, Christiane (1997) Translating as a Purposeful Activity, Manchester: St. Jerome. Pöchhacker, Franz (1994) Simultandolmetschen als komplexes Handeln [Simultaneous Interpreting as complex action], Tübingen:Gunter Narr. Reiss, Katherina (1971) Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Übersetzungskritik [Possibilities and limits of translation criticism], München:Hueber. Reiss, K. and Vermeer, H.J. (1991) Grundlegung einer allgemeinen Translationstheorie [The Foundation of a General Translation Theory], (= Linguistische Arbeiten 147) (2nd edition), Tübingen:Niemeyer. Viaggio, Sergio (1996) ‘The Pitfalls of Metalingual Use in Simultaneous Interpreting’, The Translator 2(2):