An Introduction to Translation Studies: An Overview
intan pradita
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Abstract
This study aims to observe the development of translation studies through three concepts of descriptive translation studies; product-based, process-based, and functionalbased translation studies. The readers are introduced to some famous translation scholars including their view of translation studies. At the further discussions, this study lets the readers to acknowledge the main issues on translation studies, focusing on the debate of equivalence versus variations in intertextual texts analysis. Some tendencies of variations, such as different grammar and sentence structure, diglossia leakage, and pragmatic consideration are also presented to present to what extent variations occur during investigation processes. Therefore, regarding those tendencies, this study is closed by the description of Matthiessen's proposals about points of consideration to construct a parameter to measure meaning variations. This study may help those who are interested to conduct translation researches and help them by giving options of which theories is beneficial to their analysis.
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Disciplinary identity depends on how the disciplinary research object is conceived of. If translation studies is a discipline studying translation and translating, it is natural that it can define its identity at the intersection between translation and translating. This intersection is translation process. The need for an epistemological description of translation process arises form the need to make the process describable or to find a possibility of its optimum description. To do this translation studies needs an elementary model of translation process that would ensure the comparability of di¤er-ent translations and describability of translation culture. New interest in the evaluation of translation quality and in the linguistic nature of translation brings along the necessity to reconceptualize di¤erent trends in translation studies. Translation studies is on the verge of a new self-description, and the language and attitudes of this self-description should derive from a systemic understanding of the research object of translation studies.
TRANSLATION STUDIES: AN OVERVIEW
The article briefly outlines the main schools and approaches that make up the current landscape of Translation Studies. The purpose of this paper is to offer an introduction to translation theory for those who are beginning their studies in this field or whose knowledge of Translation Studies is tangential. The article starts with a few preliminary matters, such as the question of what Translation Studies is and how the discipline has been mapped out. Then it moves on to examine the theoretical considerations that have been developed since the second half of the 20 th century, with special attention being paid to the most recent decades. In this section, which is devoted to theoretical considerations, I will review some of the fundamental issues from a) theories of equivalence and comparisons between languages; b) functionalist theories; c) discursive approaches; d) polysystem theory, descriptive studies and norms; e) cultural studies; f) philosophical theories; g) latest contributions to the field of Translation Studies; and h) interdisciplinary and integrating approaches.
The analysis of the translated text: propositions for an operational protocol
2011
The aim of this essay is to outline an operational protocol with which to carry out an analysis of the translated text. The starting point will be the selected texts (linked to the three fundamental procedures: linguistic transposition, cultural transposition and recuperation of the otherness). Then the differing levels of the discourse that the translated text foments (the critical point of view of the translator who is fluent in the original language; the point of view of the reader of the translated foreign language texts, who is not necessarily acquainted with the language of the original text. Finally the relationship that the translated text has with the original, taking into consideration textual and intertextual signifiers that the translation itself creates.
Theoretical Foundations of Translation Studies
International Journal of English Linguistics, 2016
Epistemologies of translation are a complicated subject that is beyond the scope of this article. As such, only the critical points have been addressed in this paper. One key epistemological issue is the analysis of discourse in any science. In this article, four scenarios of translation studies have been discussed. An underlying concept in translation studies is the issue of fidelity in translation. In this paper, the trajectory of this concept is analyzed in brief. It is followed by a reflection on two fundamental concepts of source oriented (Sources) and target oriented translation approaches, as they occupy a particular position in the translation. The last section of the article investigates dichotomies in the field of translation studies, including the theory of the action, the untranslatability versus translatability, art versus science, and etc. In this paper, we try to study theoretical principles of translatology. So we consider four important speeches of Jean Rene Ladmiral: Prescriptive translatology, Descriptive translatology, Productive translatology, scientific translatology and then we consider faithfulness in translation. Ladmiral suggests two concepts for fidelity in translation: The source oriented (sources) and target oriented. These two concepts are the fundamental concepts in translatology. In the next step the translation science is investigated in various languages such as English, German and at last in French. Finally, we take a look at binary concepts: Theory vs. action, Translatability vs. untranslatability, Art vs. Science. This paper is in epistemology scope of translation and does not have pedagogical aspect, in other words, it is a function-oriented translation.
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Exploring Translation Theories
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Translation as Interpretation
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Current Insights on Translation Studies
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This paper proposes current insights on translation studies which essentially cover two subject matters. Firstly, it provides classifications toward the abundant definitions of translation as stated by translation scholars. Secondly, it gives broader view that translation act is not merely concerned with lingual or commonly bilingual expressions as assumed by many people in general or even translation scholars who still have outdated view. In providing classification toward the abundant definitions of translation, it was found that basically all of the definitions stated by translation scholars can be classified into three categories: as a process, a product and a phenomenon. Having explored further, it turns out that most translation scholars define translation as a process. The outdated or traditional paradigm in viewing translations is disputed by the concept of translatics. This concept gives a broader insight that translation is not merely involving two different languages in terms of bilingual translation in form of lingual expressions but also involving non-lingual expressions in terms of semiotic-based communication.
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Linguistica Antverpiensia, New Series – Themes in Translation Studies, 2021
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Journal of King Saud University - Languages and Translation, 2011
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An analysis of a translated literary text requires a critical approach which should be as objective as possible. Even though quantitative methods (such as corpus analysis) are accurate and provide the researchers with specific data, they do not account for richer pragmatic layer of the literary texts to a satisfactory extent. Qualitative methods which may also be used to discuss pragmatics of a text are, however, greatly based on the analysts’ judgement. In order to achieve acceptable level of objectiveness, the qualitative method of translation’s analysis must therefore be formalized to a certain extent. In my research I intended to create a framework which would make it possible to detach the analyst from the text. In order to achieve this goal, I eventually decided to deconstruct both the translated text and the source text into a set of pragmatic variables, which can be then subject to comparative analysis. In this paper I present my framework and introduce my first attempt to at least partially formalize the pragmatic approach to translation. I also present a number of case studies with the application of this framework.
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A translator‘s viewpoints about the accuracy, acceptability, and readibility of translation are assumed to affect the translation process and products. The purpose of this study was, therefore, (1) to prove the relationship among the three things, namely translator‘s viewpoints, translation processes, and translation quality and (2) to figure out if there was any mismatch. To confirm the translator‘s viewpoints, the researcher conducted an interview with the translator. Furthermore, to verify the effect of the translator‘s viewpoints on the process, the translator was assigned to translate a given text and to be interviewed as soon as the translator finished doing the assignment. Finally, the translation products especially their accuracy, acceptability, and readibility were analyzed in order to know their relationship with the two things previously mentioned. The result showed that translator‘s viewpoints really matched translation process and, in the following turn, matched the pr...
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