Research Methods in Translation and Interpreting Studies Text Analysis for Professional T&I and T&I Research 2 October 2007

Research Methods in Translation and Interpreting Studies  Aquiring 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 produced by others as part of a research project (aquiring research skills)

Text Analysis in T&I Studies  Evolution of Text Analysis in Translation and Interpreting Studies Linguistic Approaches Cultural ‘Turn’ Overcoming the Dichotomy  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  Differences from cultural paradigm Not deliberate, conscious manipulation (womanhandling) Detailed linguistic analysis (vocabulary, structures, theme/rheme) Realistic view of translators and interpreters as agents

Text Analysis in T&I Studies  Corpora in T&I Studies: What distinguishes translations from original texts? Third code Degree of Homogenity Type/Token Ratio (measure of variety of vocabulary) Lexical Density (measure of redundancy)

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 recognise 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 24 September 2007]. Holz-Mänttäri, Justa (1984) Translatorisches Handeln. Theorie und Methode, 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, Tübingen: Gunter Narr. Reiss, Katherina (1971) Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Übersetzungskritik, München: Hueber. Reiss, K. and Vermeer, H.J. (1991) Grundlegung einer allgemeinen Translationstheorie (= Linguistische Arbeiten 147) (2nd edn), Tübingen: Niemeyer. Viaggio, Sergio (1996) ‘The Pitfalls of Metalingual Use in Simultaneous Interpreting’, The Translator 2(2):