Polysystem Theory in Translation Studies

The arrangement of the parts of a sentence, where the first element is the theme or topic.

The use of grammatical and lexical connections to link different parts of a text and create coherence.

A feature of translation that involves explicitly stating information that is only implied in the source text. This is often done to maintain clarity and coherence in the target language.

A thematic analysis of the source text to reveal the underlying structure and meaning. This involves examining the grammatical and lexical choices made by the author.

A process of adapting the source text to the requirements of the target language, including adjusting the thematic structure, information flow, and cohesion.

A linguistic feature that deviates from the usual or expected pattern, highlighting its importance or significance.

The practice of directly copying the word order of the source text into the target text, often resulting in awkward or unnatural translations.

A type of sentence structure where a clause is introduced by the phrase "What... is...", like "What I meant to say was..."

A branch of translation studies that systematically analyzes translations to identify patterns and norms.

A methodology for analyzing translations that focuses on identifying relationships between segments of the source text (ST) and the target text (TT).

Translation shifts that are considered necessary due to linguistic or cultural differences between the source and target languages.

Translation shifts that are not considered essential but are made due to the translator's choices or the target culture's norms.

The idea that translations are shaped by the social and literary systems of the target culture, including its norms, values, and expectations.

Recurring patterns and practices that emerge from the analysis of translation data.

The process of analyzing multiple pairs of similar texts to build a comprehensive understanding of how translation norms operate within a specific genre, period, or other context.

The idea that no translation can ever perfectly capture all aspects of the source text.

A translation strategy that aims to make the translated text seem like it was originally written in the target language, minimizing its foreignness.

The prevailing view of translation as a secondary and derivative form of writing, where the translator's work is hidden and the translated text is perceived as the original.

A translation strategy that emphasizes the foreignness of the source text, bringing its unfamiliar features to the forefront in the translated version.

The tendency of translation to be judged based on its fluency and transparency, leading to the perception that it is not truly a translation but rather a 'original' text.

Schleiermacher's concept of translation that aims to preserve the foreignness of the source text by bringing the reader closer to the author's world.

The practice of carefully choosing texts for translation that are likely to be easily domesticated, fitting within the target language's literary canons.

The prevailing view of translation as a derivative and secondary form of writing, where the translator's work is hidden and the translated text is perceived as the original.

The concept that translator's aim to produce a fluent and idiomatic translated text, creating an illusion of transparency and making the translation read like an original text.

In contemporary translation studies, feminist approaches aim to challenge traditional power structures and reframe how textual authority is understood.

Cultural studies brings diverse perspectives, including gender and culture, to translation. It allows us to analyze how language transfers within different historical and social contexts.

Postcolonialism examines the effects of colonialism on language, literature, and cultural identity. It analyzes power imbalances and resistance in colonized societies.

Spivak's critique highlights the potential for distortion when translating 'Third World' literature into English. She argues that such translations can erase the identities of marginalized voices.

Spivak uses the term 'translatese' to describe a standardized language that can homogenize and erase the individuality of voices from different cultures.

The translation of 'Third World' literature into English can sometimes perpetuate the dominance of Western perspectives and undermine the voices of marginalized writers.

Spivak argues that feminist translations should not simply impose Western feminist perspectives on non-Western literature, but rather strive to understand and represent diverse experiences.

The translation process can be seen as a political act that reflects and reinforces existing power relations.

Translation is not neutral, but shapes and is shaped by power imbalances, particularly in colonial contexts.

The struggle for dominance between different literary systems, like the clash between classical and romantic styles.

Western translation studies often overlooks power imbalances between languages and relies on flawed assumptions about language and meaning.

The process of translating a text can enrich the original text itself by highlighting its unique qualities.

The process of translating in colonial contexts contributes to a discourse of colonial domination within Western philosophy.

A metaphorical description of the different relationships a source text can have with its translations, including echoes and reflections.

The original text retains some unexpressed meaning even after being translated, adding to its complexity and richness.

The power of colonial discourse can be undermined by cultural hybridity, creating a 'third space' where colonized voices can interact and challenge existing power structures.

In postcolonial translation, the translator is not simply a mediator between languages, but an active participant in cultural overlaps and difference.

The process of a translator incorporating a foreign text's energy and style into their own work, potentially leading to imbalances in their creativity.

The act of balancing the influence of translated texts by engaging with the original text's unique characteristics and perspectives.

A theory of translation that rejects the notion of a translatable original and emphasizes the radical otherness of the source text, calling for a form of translation that emphasizes difference.

The theory of interpretation, especially of texts, that emphasizes the understanding of meaning within its historical and cultural context.

The process of translating a text involves a complex interplay of influences from the original text and the translator's own artistic sensibilities, leading to a unique outcome.

George Steiner's influential work that applies hermeneutics to the process of translation, recognizing the challenges and complexities of understanding and interpreting across languages.

A metaphorical description of the source text being 'enhanced' by translation – it's broadened and enriched by being shared with another culture.