Elena Zagar Galvão - ITS - FLUP 2006 Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto Línguas e Literaturas Modernas INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION STUDIES Power

Elena Zagar Galvão - ITS - FLUP Elena Zagar Galvão - ITS - FLUP 20062006

Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do PortoLínguas e Literaturas Modernas

INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION STUDIES

Power Point 617 October 2007


Read the following ST and translate it into Read the following ST and translate it into your language.your language.

A well-known scientist (some say it was Bertrand Russell) once

gave a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the

earth orbits around the sun and how the sun, in turn, orbits

around the centre of a vast collection of stars called our galaxy.

At the end of the lecture, a little old lady at the back of the

room got up and said: `What you have told us is rubbish. The

world is really a flat plate supported on the back of a giant

tortoise.' The scientist gave a superior smile before replying,

`What is the tortoise standing on?’ ‘You're very clever, young

man, very clever,' said the old lady. `But it's turtles all the way

down!‘ (fromfrom A Brief History of Time A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, 1988) by Stephen Hawking, 1988)


Target text Target text ((back-translated from Greekback-translated from Greek):):

Alice in Wonderland was once giving a lecture about Alice in Wonderland was once giving a lecture about astronomy. She said that the earth is a spherical planet in astronomy. She said that the earth is a spherical planet in the solar systemthe solar system which orbits around its centre the which orbits around its centre the sun, and that the sun is a star which in turn orbits around sun, and that the sun is a star which in turn orbits around the centre of the star system which we call the Galaxy. At the centre of the star system which we call the Galaxy. At the end of the lecture the Queen looked at her angrily and the end of the lecture the Queen looked at her angrily and disapprovingly. `What you say is nonsense. The earth is disapprovingly. `What you say is nonsense. The earth is just a giant playing card, so it's flat like all playing cards,' just a giant playing card, so it's flat like all playing cards,' she said, and turned triumphantly to the members of her she said, and turned triumphantly to the members of her retinue, who seemed clearly satisfied by her explanation. retinue, who seemed clearly satisfied by her explanation. Alice smiled a superior smile, `And what is this playing Alice smiled a superior smile, `And what is this playing card supported on?' she asked with irony. The Queen did card supported on?' she asked with irony. The Queen did not seem put out, 'You are clever, very clever,' she replied, not seem put out, 'You are clever, very clever,' she replied, `so let me tell you, young lady, that this playing card is `so let me tell you, young lady, that this playing card is supported on another, and the other on another other, and supported on another, and the other on another other, and the other other on another other other ...' She stopped, the other other on another other other ...' She stopped, out of breath, ‘The Universe is nothing but a great big pack out of breath, ‘The Universe is nothing but a great big pack of cards,' she shrieked.of cards,' she shrieked.


Portuguese text (published by Gradiva in 2000; the Portuguese text (published by Gradiva in 2000; the information online does not specify the name of the information online does not specify the name of the translator)translator)Part of this book is available at Part of this book is available at http://www.gradiva.pt/capitulo.asp?L=2027http://www.gradiva.pt/capitulo.asp?L=2027

Um conhecido cientista (segundo as más línguas, Bertrand Russell) Um conhecido cientista (segundo as más línguas, Bertrand Russell)

deu uma vez uma conferência sobre astronomia. Descreveu como a deu uma vez uma conferência sobre astronomia. Descreveu como a

Terra orbita em volta do Sol e como o Sol, por sua vez, orbita em Terra orbita em volta do Sol e como o Sol, por sua vez, orbita em

redor do centro de um vasto conjunto de estrelas que constitui a redor do centro de um vasto conjunto de estrelas que constitui a

nossa galáxia. No fim da conferência, uma velhinha, no fundo da nossa galáxia. No fim da conferência, uma velhinha, no fundo da

sala, levantou-se e disse: «O que o senhor nos disse é um disparate. sala, levantou-se e disse: «O que o senhor nos disse é um disparate.

O mundo não passa de um prato achatado equilibrado nas costas de O mundo não passa de um prato achatado equilibrado nas costas de

uma tartaruga gigante.» O cientista sorriu com ar superior e uma tartaruga gigante.» O cientista sorriu com ar superior e

retorquiu com outra pergunta: «E onde se apoia a tartaruga?» A retorquiu com outra pergunta: «E onde se apoia a tartaruga?» A

velhinha então exclamou: «Você é um jovem muito inteligente, mas velhinha então exclamou: «Você é um jovem muito inteligente, mas

são tudo tartarugas por aí a baixo!»são tudo tartarugas por aí a baixo!»


Another translation found at:Another translation found at:http://fisica.nletras.com/viewtopic.php?http://fisica.nletras.com/viewtopic.php?p=1548&sid=dd87963dbbead2ba67a9ba92fa9p=1548&sid=dd87963dbbead2ba67a9ba92fa9ad482ad482

«Um conhecido cientista ( alguns dizem que foi «Um conhecido cientista ( alguns dizem que foi Bertrand Russel ), deu uma vez uma conferência Bertrand Russel ), deu uma vez uma conferência sobre astronomia. Descreveu como a terra orbita sobre astronomia. Descreveu como a terra orbita em redor do centro de um vasto conjunto de em redor do centro de um vasto conjunto de estrelas chamada a nossa galáxia. No fim da estrelas chamada a nossa galáxia. No fim da conferência, uma velhinha, no fundo da sala, conferência, uma velhinha, no fundo da sala, levantou-se e disse: “ O que o senhor nos disse é levantou-se e disse: “ O que o senhor nos disse é um disparate. O mundo não passa de um prato um disparate. O mundo não passa de um prato achatado equilibrado nas costas de uma achatado equilibrado nas costas de uma tartaruga gigante”. O cientista sorriu com ar tartaruga gigante”. O cientista sorriu com ar superior, antes de responder com uma pergunta: superior, antes de responder com uma pergunta: “ E a tartaruga está em cima de quê?”. A “ E a tartaruga está em cima de quê?”. A velhinha então exclamou: “ Você é um jovem velhinha então exclamou: “ Você é um jovem muitíssimo inteligente, mas são tudo tartarugas muitíssimo inteligente, mas são tudo tartarugas por aí abaixo!”»por aí abaixo!”»


HistoriaHistoria del tiempodel tiempo (del Big Bang a los agujeros negros), (del Big Bang a los agujeros negros), trans. from English by Miguel Ortufio, Barcelona: Editorial trans. from English by Miguel Ortufio, Barcelona: Editorial Crítica.Crítica.

Un conocido científico (algunos dicen que fue Un conocido científico (algunos dicen que fue Bertrand Russell) daba una vez una conferencia Bertrand Russell) daba una vez una conferencia sobre astronomía. En ella describía cómosobre astronomía. En ella describía cómo Tierra Tierra giraba alrededor del Sol y cómo éste, a su vez, giraba alrededor del Sol y cómo éste, a su vez, giraba alrededor del centro de una vasta giraba alrededor del centro de una vasta colección de estrellas conocida como nuestra colección de estrellas conocida como nuestra galaxia. Al final de la charla, una simpática galaxia. Al final de la charla, una simpática señora ya de edad se levantó y le dijo desde el señora ya de edad se levantó y le dijo desde el fondo de la sala: «Lo que nos ha contado usted fondo de la sala: «Lo que nos ha contado usted no son más que tonterías. El mundo es en reelid no son más que tonterías. El mundo es en reelid una plataforma plana sustentada por el una plataforma plana sustentada por el caparazón de una tortuga gigante». El científico caparazón de una tortuga gigante». El científico sonrió ampliamente antes de replicarlei «¿ y en sonrió ampliamente antes de replicarlei «¿ y en qué se apoya la tortuga?». «Usted es muy qué se apoya la tortuga?». «Usted es muy inteligente, joven, muy inteligente — dijo la inteligente, joven, muy inteligente — dijo la señora —. ¡Pero hay infinitas tortugas una debajo señora —. ¡Pero hay infinitas tortugas una debajo de otra!».de otra!».


Roman Jakobson, 1959Roman Jakobson, 1959

““all cognitive experience and its all cognitive experience and its classification is conveyable in any classification is conveyable in any existing language”existing language”

ANDAND

only poetry “by definition is only poetry “by definition is untranslatable”untranslatable”

WHY?WHY?


CLASSICAL DICHOTOMYCLASSICAL DICHOTOMY

SENSE/SENSE/ FORM/FORM/CONTENTCONTENT STYLESTYLE

SenseSense can be translated; can be translated; formform cannot cannotWhen form contributes to sense or When form contributes to sense or

becomes merged with it (as in poetry, becomes merged with it (as in poetry, songs, ads, puns, etc.), songs, ads, puns, etc.), untranslatability comes into play. untranslatability comes into play. (Hatim (Hatim

and Munday, 2004: 10)and Munday, 2004: 10)


Translation theoryTranslation theorybefore the 20th centurybefore the 20th century

• The ‘literal’ (word-for-word T) vs. The ‘literal’ (word-for-word T) vs. ‘free’ (‘sense-for-sense T) debate.‘free’ (‘sense-for-sense T) debate.- a debate that has emerged over - a debate that has emerged over and over again “with different and over again “with different degrees of emphasis in accordance degrees of emphasis in accordance with differing concepts of language with differing concepts of language and communication” (Susan and communication” (Susan Bassnett)Bassnett)- circular debate (George Steiner)- circular debate (George Steiner)


Famous translators who helped Famous translators who helped introduce/maintain this introduce/maintain this

dichotomydichotomy• Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC

Roman orator, politician and philosopherRoman orator, politician and philosopher

from from De OratoreDe Oratore, 55 BC, 55 BCI decided to take speeches written in Greek by I decided to take speeches written in Greek by

great orators and to translate them freely . . .great orators and to translate them freely . . .

From From De optimo genere oratorumDe optimo genere oratorum, 46 BC, 46 BCI did not hold it necessary to render word for I did not hold it necessary to render word for

word, but I preserved the general style and word, but I preserved the general style and force of the language.force of the language.


Quintus Horatius, Flaccus (Horace), 65-Quintus Horatius, Flaccus (Horace), 65-8 BC8 BC

Roman poet.Roman poet.

Extract from the Extract from the Epistula ad PisonesEpistula ad Pisones, , also known as also known as Ars PoeticaArs Poetica (usually (usually dated around 10 BC)dated around 10 BC)

Do not worry about rendering word Do not worry about rendering word for word, faithful translator, but for word, faithful translator, but render sense for sense.render sense for sense.


What was word-for-word T What was word-for-word T in Roman times?in Roman times?

Each Greek word was replaced Each Greek word was replaced by its closest grammatical/lexical by its closest grammatical/lexical counterpart in Latin, since the ST counterpart in Latin, since the ST and the TT were read side by and the TT were read side by side.side.


Hieronymus (Saint Jerome), Hieronymus (Saint Jerome), 345-419(420), Church father, 345-419(420), Church father, translator, and historiantranslator, and historianExtract from Extract from the “Letter to Pammachius”, also known as the “Letter to Pammachius”, also known as De De

optimo genere interpretandioptimo genere interpretandi, probably , probably written between 405 and 410written between 405 and 410I admit and confess most freely that I have I admit and confess most freely that I have not translated word for word in my not translated word for word in my translations of Greek texts, but sense for translations of Greek texts, but sense for sense, except in the case of the Scriptures in sense, except in the case of the Scriptures in which even the order of the words is a which even the order of the words is a mystery. Cicero has been my teacher in this.mystery. Cicero has been my teacher in this.


Literal vs free Literal vs free Form vs contentForm vs content

• Western tradition (Cicero, St. Jerome)Western tradition (Cicero, St. Jerome)• Oriental tradition: Oriental tradition:

China (Hung and Pollard) China (Hung and Pollard) the Arab world: Baghdad centre of the Arab world: Baghdad centre of translation (Baker)translation (Baker)

NB: the terms used to describe the oriental T NB: the terms used to describe the oriental T traditions are influenced by classical traditions are influenced by classical western European T discourse.western European T discourse.


T of the Bible and of other T of the Bible and of other religious and philosophical texts religious and philosophical texts (e.g. Plato’s dialogues) dominates (e.g. Plato’s dialogues) dominates the scenethe scene• Danger of heresyDanger of heresyThe case of the French humanist Etienne The case of the French humanist Etienne

Dolet, 1509-1546 (burnt at the stake)Dolet, 1509-1546 (burnt at the stake)• Martin Luther’s T of the New Testament Martin Luther’s T of the New Testament

(1522) and the Old Testament (1534) into (1522) and the Old Testament (1534) into East Middle German; he followed St East Middle German; he followed St Jerome and used sense-for-sense.Jerome and used sense-for-sense.Accused of having altered the Scriptures in Accused of having altered the Scriptures in his T, he wrote his T, he wrote Sendbrief von DolmetschenSendbrief von Dolmetschen (1530) to defend himself.(1530) to defend himself.


1100 years after St Jerome1100 years after St Jerome

Luther translated the Bible into Luther translated the Bible into the language of the ordinary the language of the ordinary people of a German region, thus people of a German region, thus emphasizing the importance of emphasizing the importance of the TL and the TT readership.the TL and the TT readership.


Fidelity, Spirit, TruthFidelity, Spirit, Truth

• End 17th century: fidelity comes to mean End 17th century: fidelity comes to mean faithfulness to the meaning rather than faithfulness to the meaning rather than the words used in the original.the words used in the original.

• Spirit: in Latin, spiritus is inspiration, Spirit: in Latin, spiritus is inspiration, creative energy; for St. Augustine it creative energy; for St. Augustine it means the Holy Spirit; for St. Jerome, it means the Holy Spirit; for St. Jerome, it means both.means both.

• 12th century: truth comes to be seen as 12th century: truth comes to be seen as contentcontent


Attempts at systematization: Attempts at systematization: setting out ‘prescriptions’ (how to setting out ‘prescriptions’ (how to produce a successful T)produce a successful T)

• (Dolet, 1540: 5 principles)(Dolet, 1540: 5 principles)• John Dryden, 1631-1700. English John Dryden, 1631-1700. English

poet, dramatist, critic and translator poet, dramatist, critic and translator (metaphrase, paraphrase*, imitation) (metaphrase, paraphrase*, imitation) (ITS, p.25)(ITS, p.25)

• Alexander Fraser Tytler, 1747-1814Alexander Fraser Tytler, 1747-1814Essay on the Principles of TranslationEssay on the Principles of Translation, , 1790 (3 laws in order of importance: 1790 (3 laws in order of importance: keep ideas, style/form, fluency)keep ideas, style/form, fluency)


Romanticism: early 19th Romanticism: early 19th centurycentury

• Friedrich Schleiermacher, 1768-1834.Friedrich Schleiermacher, 1768-1834.

German philosopher and translator.German philosopher and translator.

Über die verschiedenen Methoden Über die verschiedenen Methoden des Übersetzensdes Übersetzens, 1813, 1813

- Dolmetscher (commercial texts)- Dolmetscher (commercial texts)

- Übersetzer (scholarly, artistic texts)- Übersetzer (scholarly, artistic texts)


Alienating or naturalizing?Alienating or naturalizing?

““What of the genuine translator, who wants to What of the genuine translator, who wants to bring those two completely separated persons, his bring those two completely separated persons, his author and his reader, truly together, and who author and his reader, truly together, and who would like to bring the latter to as correct and would like to bring the latter to as correct and complete an understanding of the orginal as complete an understanding of the orginal as possible without inviting him to leave the sphere of possible without inviting him to leave the sphere of his mother tongue? What roads are open to him? In his mother tongue? What roads are open to him? In my opinion there are only two. Either the translator my opinion there are only two. Either the translator leaves the author in peace, as much as possible, leaves the author in peace, as much as possible, and moves the reader toward him. Or he leaves and moves the reader toward him. Or he leaves the reader in peace, as much as possible, and the reader in peace, as much as possible, and moves the author toward him.” 1813moves the author toward him.” 1813

Schleiermacher chooses the first method.Schleiermacher chooses the first method.


Schleiermacher’s influence on Schleiermacher’s influence on modern translation theorymodern translation theory

• Equivalent effect (Nida)Equivalent effect (Nida)

• Katarina Reiss (texttypologie)Katarina Reiss (texttypologie)

• Laurence Venuti (domestication vs Laurence Venuti (domestication vs foreignization)foreignization)

• George SteinerGeorge Steiner

• Walter BenjaminWalter Benjamin


Main pointsMain points

• Diad: literal / free debate (circular)Diad: literal / free debate (circular)

• How to translate the Bible dominated How to translate the Bible dominated Tth for over a thousand yearsTth for over a thousand years

• The translator’s preface The translator’s preface (fragmentation)(fragmentation)

• Dryden: triad (some systematization)Dryden: triad (some systematization)

• Foreignization / domesticationForeignization / domestication

Documents

Elena Zagar Galvão - ITS - FLUP 2006 Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto Línguas e Literaturas Modernas INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION STUDIES Power