Translation Criticism and Quality Assessment

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of translation criticism compared to translation quality assessment?

Assessing the accuracy of translations

Ensuring naturalness in translation

Evaluating artistic aspects of translations

Exploring ideological implications of translational choices (correct)

Which of the following best describes the three levels of analysis in the proposed model for translation criticism?

Descriptive, prescriptive, and interpretative

Textual, paratextual, and semiotic (correct)

Emotional, logical, and cultural

Formal, structural, and contextual

How does translation quality assessment (TQA) generally conclude its analysis of a text?

By exploring the socio-political impacts of the translation

By making value judgments about right and wrong (correct)

By investigating the historical context of the source text

By focusing solely on the paratextual elements

What major shift occurred in translation studies during the 1980s?

A shift from examining translation to exploring translation's functions Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT primarily associated with translation quality assessment (TQA)?

Metatextual analysis Signup and view all the answers

What concept is proposed to replace translational equivalence?

Norms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following issues is directly addressed by translation criticism in the new approach?

Power relations in translation Signup and view all the answers

How does the new model view the relation between prototext and metatext?

Through the lens of intertextuality Signup and view all the answers

What does translation criticism aim to explore regarding source texts?

Their effects in target societies Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of translation does the model emphasize when analyzing translational choices?

Ideological implications Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily questioned by the new insights in translation studies?

The nature of source and target texts Signup and view all the answers

What historical development is associated with the concept of intertextuality?

Literary studies in the 1930s Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the new approach to translation criticism?

An examination of translational choices and their implications Signup and view all the answers

What does Kristeva argue about the nature of a text?

A text is a permutation of texts that intersect and neutralize each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of overt intertextuality?

It features direct quotations and citations from other texts. Signup and view all the answers

How does Fairclough define texts in an intertextual chain?

They are part repetition and part creation, allowing for differences. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to an intertext when translated into another language?

It is de-contextualized and placed in a new socio-historical context. Signup and view all the answers

What do Bakhtin and Volosinov refer to when discussing intertextuality?

Interaction and connection between texts. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term intertextuality challenge regarding texts?

The uniqueness and originality of each text. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best differentiates covert intertextuality?

It relies on more complex relationships without direct quotes. Signup and view all the answers

In what way can an intertext relate to other intertexts?

Through both direct and indirect associations. Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the intertext that gets translated?

Prototext Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the prototext is true?

It triggers the production of the metatext. Signup and view all the answers

What does the metatext reflect?

A single interpretation of the prototext Signup and view all the answers

How many levels of intertextuality operate in translation?

Two Signup and view all the answers

What dual role does the prototext play at the local intralingual level?

It partly repeats and partly creates a new formulation of concepts. Signup and view all the answers

In what context does the metatext fail to be equivalent to the prototext?

The metatext is produced in a different socio-historical and intertextual context. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason the prototext is not considered the source of the metatext?

It produces different meanings over time. Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used to refer to the language of the prototext?

Protolanguage Signup and view all the answers

What ideological issue arises from the difference in book cover designs between the original and the Persian translation?

The translation is aimed at a different readership. Signup and view all the answers

What does the three-dimensional model discussed in the content analyze?

The intertextual relations and ideological implications in translations. Signup and view all the answers

Which level of analysis in the three-dimensional model pertains to aspects like footnotes and forewords?

Paratextual analysis Signup and view all the answers

In the content, what does the term 'metatext' refer to?

Visual and textual elements associated with a translation. Signup and view all the answers

How might the mentioned model be adapted for multimodal material?

By applying the same principles to films and games. Signup and view all the answers

What does CDA stand for as referenced in the content?

Critical Discourse Analysis Signup and view all the answers

What should translators consider according to the ideology discussed?

The potential biases introduced through translation choices. Signup and view all the answers

Which element is not included in the three levels of analysis of the model?

Sociocultural backgrounds Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does textual level analysis NOT focus on?

Narrative structure Signup and view all the answers

How can a translator's lexical choice impact the representation in a metatext?

By substituting cultural items from the prototext Signup and view all the answers

What is an obligatory shift in translation?

A shift due to a lack of correspondence between the protolangage and metalanguage Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about grammatical choices is true?

Grammatical choices can reveal ideological implications. Signup and view all the answers

What may cause optional shifts in translation?

Translator's stylistic or ideological choices Signup and view all the answers

What does Fairclough's definition emphasize about grammatical forms?

They describe happenings and relationships. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of lexical items, how can translations impact ideological significance?

By translating non-ideological items into ideologically significant items Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes optional shifts in translation?

They can be made for cultural or stylistic reasons. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Translation Criticism: A Three-Dimensional Model

Translation criticism differs from translation quality assessment (TQA). TQA focuses on value judgments, whereas translation criticism explores ideological implications of translational choices and how these represent target society identities.
The model examines the metatext, in relation to its corresponding prototext, across three levels: textual, paratextual, and semiotic.
The model uses intertextuality as the foundation for defining the relationship between the prototext and metatext to understand how translations function in target societies.
TQA and translation criticism both explore relationships between source and target texts, however, TQA is limited to textual boundaries and the ever-changing concept of equivalence. Translation criticism looks into the effects that translations have on target societies.
Translation criticism examines the source text's representation in target societies, its behavior, effects and the ideological implications it bears.
The model requires a rethinking of the relationship between prototext (source text) and metatext (target text) to understand how translations function in target societies. This is done by examining translational choices and ideological implications in relation to the original segments.

The Model

Translation criticism analyzes the relationship between the prototext (source text) and the metatext (target text) in relation to the target society.
The model utilizes three levels of analysis: textual, paratextual, and semiotic, using intertextuality and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to identify ideological implications.

Dimension I: Intertextuality

Intertextuality examines the relationship between a prototext and all its existing and possible metatexts and between the metatexts themselves.
This relationship cannot be limited to a simple equivalence notion, but rather a dynamic and interconnected network.
Two types of intertextuality exist: overt (quotations, citations) and covert (referencing, genre, discourse conventions).

Dimension II: Critical Discourse Analysis

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) examines power relations, ideologies, and identity in relation to translating texts.
CDA focuses on 'identities politics'; social change and language policies.
CDA helps unveil power relations and ideological implications of translations within their specific socio-historical context.

Dimension III: Translational Choices

Translational choices encompass various aspects of a translation, ranging from lexical and grammatical choices to translation strategies.
Choices may be influenced by considerations of readability, cultural context, and ideology.
Analyzing translational choices critically helps to identify their ideological implications. These implications are especially evident in repeated patterns within translations.

Methodology

Two types of translation criticism are identified: non-comparative and comparative.
Non-comparative criticism analyzes the metatext in isolation. Comparative criticism compares the metatext to its corresponding prototext.
Analysis of the metatext is carried out across three levels (textual, paratextual, and semiotic).

Levels of Translation Criticism

Textual Level: Examines textual elements such as words, grammar, and overt/covert meanings.
Paratextual Level: Analyzes elements outside the main text, like translator/editor's notes, prefaces, and comments.
Semiotic Level: Examines visual elements like book covers, illustrations, fonts and layout.

Lexical Choices

Translator's lexical choices are not random. They often follow established norms and patterns.
Substituting cultural items can affect readability but also impact representation.
Ideological implications may be present in apparently neutral lexical choices.

Grammatical Choices

Grammatical choices reflect the relationships, and spatial/temporal circumstances, reflected in a text.
Comparing grammatical choices in prototext versus metatext can reveal ideological implications and strategies.

Shifts in Agency, Passivization, Nominalization, Positive/Negative, Tense, and Coordination/Subordination

Various grammatical shifts can carry ideological implications. Shifts in agency, passive/active voice, nominalization, and positive/negative expressions alter the focus, perspective, and emphasis.
Tense changes alter the temporal and conceptual representation of an event or state of affairs.
Coordination and subordination patterns within a translation can reveal emphasis and relationships between components.

Choice of Translation Strategies

The variety of strategies used (literal, substitution, omission, addition, foreignization, etc.) influence the presentation of the source text in the target text.
Applying CDA to these strategies helps to unveil the ideological implications they carry.

Paratextual Level

Examines information accompanying the text (footnotes, prefaces, etc.). This data offers insight into the translator's perspective, historical/social context, and target audience.

Semiotic Level

Focuses on visual aspects of the translation (book cover, layouts, illustrations, etc.).
Semiotic analysis is crucial for understanding the representation, as the visual aspects can transmit messages and values.

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Description

This quiz explores the distinctions between translation criticism and translation quality assessment, including their analytical frameworks and historical developments. Test your understanding of the three levels of analysis in translation criticism and the major shifts in translation studies. Dive deep into the nuances that differentiate these concepts.