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 surerThe 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, 20-26. (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, http://www.openstarts.units.it/dspace [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): 179-198.