Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
1. Question 1:
How old is translation?
- Answer: since the dawn of civilization
Page 2
2. Question 2:
When was the first dictionary created?
- Answer: 6000-10000 years ago
Page 3
3. Question 3:
What is the world's best selling and most
translated book of all time?
- Answer: the Bible
Page 4
4. Question 4:
What is the name of a special tower in the Bible?
- Answer: the Babel
Page 5
5. Question 5:
When was the first School of translators established?
- Answer: 12-13th century
Page 6
6. Question 6:
- What is the most popular religion in the world?
- Answer: Christianity
Page 7
INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY OF
UNIT 1
Translation Theory 1
CONTENTS
I. Definitions of Translation
II. Historical overview of Translation Practice
III. A Quick look at Translation Studies
Translation Theory 1
Page 9
I. Definitions of translation
The term TRANSLATION itself has several meanings:
Translation Theory 1
Page 10
I. Definitions of translation
Translation is the replacement of textual material in one
language by equivalent textual material in another
language (Catford, 1965)
Translation Theory 1
Page 11
I. Definitions of translation
Translation
is
the replacement
of
a
representation of a text in one language by a
representation of another equivalent in a
second language. (Hartman & Stock - 1972)
Translation Theory 1
Page 12
I. Definitions of translation
Translation involves the rendering of a source language
(SL) text into the target language (TL) so as to ensure
that: (1) the surface meaning of the two will be
approximately similar and (2) the structure of the SL will
be preserved as closely as possible, but not so closely
that the TL structure will be seriously distorted (McGuire,
1980).
Translation Theory 1
Page 13
I. Definitions of translation
Translation is a craft consisting in the attempt to replace a
written message and/or statement in one language by
the same message and/or statement in another
language" (Newmark, 1981).
Translation Theory 1
Page 14
I. Definitions of translation
Translation consists in reproducing in the receptor language
the closest natural equivalent of the source language
message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of
style. (Nida & Taber- 1974)
Translation Theory 1
Page 15
I. Definitions of translation
Translation, consists of (1) studying lexicon, grammatical
structure, communication situation, cultural context of the
source language text, (2) analyzing it in order to determine
its meaning, and then (3) reconstructing this same meaning
using the lexicon and grammatical structure which are
appropriate in the receptor language and its cultural context
(Larson,1984)
Translation Theory 1
Page 16
I. Definitions of translation
Translation, as the process of conveying messages across
linguistic and cultural barriers, is an eminently
communicative activity, one whose use could well be
considered in a wider range of teaching situations than may
currently be the case (Tudor, in Duff - 1989)
Translation Theory 1
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Translation Theory 1
Page 25
Translation Theory 1
Page 26
2. A brief history
Although the practice of translating is long established, the study of the field
developed into an academic discipline only in the second half of the
twentieth century.
In academic circles, translation was previously relegated to just a
language- learning activity.
A split has persisted between translation practice and theory
The study of translation began through such approaches as comparative
literature, translation workshops and contrastive analysis.
Translation Theory 1
Page 27
3. Scope of research
James S. Homess The name and nature of translation
studies is considered to be the founding statement for the
field". Crucially, Holmes put forward an overall framework,
describing what translation studies covers. The objectives of
the "pure" areas of research are:
+ the description of the phenomena of translation (descriptive
translation theory);
+ the establishment of general principles to explain and
predict such phenomena (translation theory).
Page 28
3. Scope of research
According to Newmark (1988), in a narrow sense: translation theory is
concerned with the translation method appropriately used for a certain
type of text.
In a wider sense, translation theory is the body of knowledge about
translating.
Translation theory includes the following things:
+ identify and define a translation problem
+ indicate all the factors that have to be taken into account in solving the
problem
+ list all the possible translation procedures
+ recommend the most suitable translation procedures, and the most
appropriate translation
Page 29
References:
Morry, S. The translator's handbook. (1999). Maryland: Schreiber
Publishing
Munday, J. (2008). Introducing Translation Studies (2nd ed). USA,
Canada: Routledge.
Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. UK: Prentice Hall
International Ltd.
Page 30
LECTURE 1
INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION STUDIES
Key points
-
Already in the early 1980s Susan Bassnett (Translation Studies) stated in quite clear terms: No
introduction to Translation Studies could be complete without consideration of the discipline in
an historical perspective (1980, 39); and again, a few pages later: The history of Translation
should therefore be seen as an essential field of study for the contemporary theorist (1980, 75).
On the same lines,
Antoine Berman (1984, 12): The construction of a history of translation is the first task of a
modern theory of translation.
1. Definitions of translation
The term TRANSLATION itself has several meanings. It can refer to:
-
The general subject field, the PRODUCT (the text that has been translated)
The process of translation between 2 written languages involves the translator changing an
original written text (Source Text ST) into another written text (Target Text TT)
-
Translation is the transformation of a speech product in one language into that of other
language keeping the content (or meaning) unchanged (L.S. Barkhudarov, 1975)
Translation involves the rendering of a source language (SL) text into the target language
(TL) so as to ensure that: (1) the surface meaning of the two will be approximately similar
and (2) the structure of the SL will be preserved as closely as possible, but not so closely that
the TL structure will be seriously distorted (McGuire, 1980).
Translation is a craft consisting in the attempt to replace a written message and/or statement
in one language by the same message and/or statement in another language" (Newmark,
1981).
Translation is the process of changing speech or writing from one language (the Source
Language) into another (the Target Language), or the target-language version that results
from this process (Richards et al - 1992)
Translation consists in reproducing in the receptor language the closest natural equivalent of
the source language message, first in terms of meaning and secondly in terms of style. (Nida
& Taber- 1974)
One of the earliest dictionaries was discovered in the ancient town of Ebla, in the Middle
East, dating back anywhere between 6,000 and 10,000 years, to the dawn of civilization.
2.1.
The history of translation begins with religion and eventually leads into secular culture.
The Hebrew Bible was created around 1000 years ago (1300 -300 B.C).
In order to disperse the Bible around the Middle East to people who spoke languages other
than Hebrew, the original Hebrew text had to be recited and written in different languages.
Thus, several translations of the Bible emerged.
The Bible is the most translated book in the world, having been translated into over 2000
languages and dialects.
2.2.
-
The sacred scriptures of Buddhism were translated from Sanskrit into Chinese by the Chinese
monks and pilgrim to India.
2.3.
-
The great discovery of the New World by Columbus and other discoveries might have never
occurred without the transmission of knowledge and science that took place in Toledo in
those years. The modern world as we know it today might not exist.
2.4.
-
The European colonists who settled this continent had little need for translation, and soon
developed an insular attitude still reflected to this day.
2.5.
Translation in this century has seen some good times and some bad times.
As the twentieth century came to a close, two linguistic phenomena became dominant. The
first is the growing incursion of American English into nearly all the languages of the world,
mostly because of American pop culture and high tech. The second is the reemergence of
national languages throughout the world.
What is clear at this time is that linguistic diversity as well as a growing influence of one
international language, namely English, should characterize the beginning of the next
century.
As the twenty-first century begins to unfold, translators are standing on the threshold of a
new golden age for translation. Translators play a critical role in shaping history and helping
civilization make the translation into the next age.
3. Translation Studies - Core reading 2 Text 2 " Introducing translation studies" P7-P9;
Core reading 3 Text 3 "A textbook of translation" P9 10
3.1. What is translation studies ?
-
In the English speaking world, this discipline is now generally known as "translation
studies", thanks to the Dutch-based US scholar James. S. Holmes. He describes this new
discipline as being concerned with "the complex of problems clustered round the
phenomenon of translating and translations".
Translation studies has become prominent thanks to two factors. Firstly, there has been a
proliferation of specialized translating and interpreting courses at both undergraduate and
postgraduate level. Secondly, there has also been a proliferation of conferences, books and
journals on translation in many languages. International organizations have also prospered.
From being a little-established field a relatively short time ago, translation studies has now
become one of the most active and dynamic new areas of research.
3.2. A brief history
Although the practice of translating is long established, the study of the field developed into
an academic discipline only in the second half of the twentieth century.
In academic circles, translation was previously relegated to just a language- learning activity.
The study of translation began through such approaches as comparative literature, translation
workshops and contrastive analysis.
3.3.
-
Scope of research
According to Newmark (1988), in a narrow sense: translation theory is concerned with the
translation method appropriately used for a certain type of text.
+ recommend the most suitable translation procedures, and the most appropriate translation
References:
Morry, S. The translator's handbook. (1999). Maryland: Schreiber Publishing
Munday, J. (2008). Introducing Translation Studies (2nd ed). USA, Canada: Routledge.
Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. UK: Prentice Hall International Ltd.
Case study 1:
The book "Charting the future of translation history" writes "In spite of the progress made so far, particularly
in keeping with current trends in the humanities and the social sciences, the history of translation is still
largely viewed essentially as the straightforward documenting of past translating practices and theories, how
these relate to the present, and how they can help us chart the course to the future. In this regard, translation
history is often appraised as a subdiscipline of translation studies, mainly secondary in nature, and
translation historians as mere archivists whose main task is to record and document the various trends and
discourses that hold sway within the ever-expanding discipline of translation studies (p45-46).
Discuss the idea in the above paragraph.
Case study 2:
The book "In other words" writes: "Throughout its long history, translation has never really enjoyed the kind
of recognition and respect that other professions such as medicine and engineering enjoy" (p2)
Do you agree or disagree with the above statement. Give reasons to support your view.