TranslatingTranslating the regime.the regime.Portuguese Propaganda in English Portuguese Propaganda in English

during Salazar’s dictatorship during Salazar’s dictatorship

Isabel ChumboIsabel Chumbo

Polytechnic Institute Bragança - PortugalPolytechnic Institute Bragança - PortugalTarragona, 20 October 2006Tarragona, 20 October 2006

OutlineOutline

BackgroundBackground ObjectivesObjectives HypothesesHypotheses Why translateWhy translate DataData MethodologyMethodology ExamplesExamples Possible conclusionsPossible conclusions

BackgroundBackground

Censorship Censorship

a wide variety of a wide variety of mechanisms the state mechanisms the state under Oliveira Salazar under Oliveira Salazar used to repress the used to repress the press, publishers, press, publishers, authors and organizers of authors and organizers of public events, among public events, among other entitiesother entities..

Oliveira Salazar (1932-68)Oliveira Salazar (1932-68)

Marcelo Caetano (1968-74)Marcelo Caetano (1968-74)

Propaganda Office (Secretariado da Propaganda Nacional Propaganda Office (Secretariado da Propaganda Nacional – SPN)– SPN)

Objective Objective of the researchof the research

Macro-levelMacro-level: To investigate the : To investigate the importance Salazar’s regime attributed importance Salazar’s regime attributed to translations, mainly from Portuguese to translations, mainly from Portuguese into English in the 1930s and 1940s. into English in the 1930s and 1940s.

Micro-level:Micro-level: To analyze a set of To analyze a set of Salazar’s speeches in order to see Salazar’s speeches in order to see whether self-censorship is applied in whether self-censorship is applied in the translations.the translations.

Self-censorship in translation Self-censorship in translation happens when the translator is happens when the translator is influenced by the external and influenced by the external and internal constraints of working internal constraints of working under pressure.under pressure.

This behavior can be conscious or This behavior can be conscious or unconscious. unconscious.

HypothesesHypotheses

a) Translators working for the SPN a) Translators working for the SPN practice self-censorship;practice self-censorship;

b) Images on Portugal in the b) Images on Portugal in the translations are more positive than translations are more positive than the ones in the Source Text.the ones in the Source Text.

Why translate?Why translate?

Translation as a way of promoting a positive image of the country and the leader

International Exhibitions, tourism

Ideology

External propaganda was important due to political attitudes (colonies, etc)

DataData

Doctrine and ActionDoctrine and Action, a compilation of , a compilation of Salazar’s main speeches (23), mainly Salazar’s main speeches (23), mainly on national and international politicson national and international politics

The original texts in The original texts in DiscursosDiscursos The original translations (manuscript)The original translations (manuscript) Paratexts (letters, documents, Paratexts (letters, documents,

introductions to the speeches)introductions to the speeches)

MethodologyMethodology

Hypothesis 1 – text comparison in Hypothesis 1 – text comparison in search for omissions and additions search for omissions and additions self-censorship self-censorship

Hypothesis 2 – categorization of the Hypothesis 2 – categorization of the ideological shifts in the translationideological shifts in the translation virtual virtual image ofimage of Portugal abroad Portugal abroad

ExamplesExamples

PortuguesePortuguese TranslationTranslation ProcedureProcedure““Vamos abstrair de

serviços idênticos noutros países, dos exaltados nacionalismos que os dominam, dos teatrais

efeitos a tirar no tablado internacional. Tratemos

do nosso caso…”

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Omission of criticismOmission of criticism

“… aquele outro soube duma criança que foi encontrada morta”

“… another may find a child weeping by the

wayside”

Omission of realityOmission of realityEuphemismEuphemism

“… é preciso que alguém tenha a preocupação

constante de contrapor ao facto singular a

universalidade dos factos”

“But it is necessary for someone to present

things to us in their true perspective”

AdditionAddition

Speech: “Propaganda Nacional”/ “National Speech: “Propaganda Nacional”/ “National Propaganda”Propaganda”

Possible conclusionsPossible conclusions

the role of translations was relevant the role of translations was relevant in the materialization of the regime’s in the materialization of the regime’s propaganda outside Portugalpropaganda outside Portugal

translators used omissions or translators used omissions or additions as a result of self-additions as a result of self-censorshipcensorship (conscious?) (conscious?)