Translation Theory and Catford's Shifts

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Questions and Answers

What is the term used for a grammatical item expressed using a word in the target language?

Category shifts

Structural shifts

Intra-system shifts

Level shifts (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a type of category shift?

Class shifts

Structure shifts

Unit shifts

Lexical shifts (correct)

What type of shift involves changes in grammatical structures during translation?

Class shifts

Unit shifts

Structure shifts (correct)

Level shifts

Which translation shift describes changing the class of a word?

Class shifts Signup and view all the answers

When translating ' ‫” أﻓﻌﺎﻟﻲ ﻛﻠﮭﺎ ﻣﻘﺪرة ﻋﻨﺪه‬', which of the following is an example of a level shift?

All my actions have been preordained Signup and view all the answers

How is translation defined in the provided content?

An operation performed on languages, substituting a text in one language for a text in another. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the focus of translation?

An operation involving the substitution of written texts between languages. Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the process of translation from the definition given?

It is reliant on the mastery of both languages involved. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three fields of linguistics associated with translation according to Catford?

General linguistics, comparative linguistics, applied linguistics Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary action involved in translation according to the definition provided?

Substituting a text in one language for a text in another. Signup and view all the answers

How did Catford define General Linguistics?

A theory about how languages work Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is least aligned with the given definition of translation?

Translation can create original expressions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the fields of linguistics mentioned by Catford?

Sociolinguistics Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following contexts did Catford associate translation?

General linguistics, comparative linguistics, and applied linguistics Signup and view all the answers

What key aspect does general linguistics primarily focus on according to Catford?

The structure and function of languages Signup and view all the answers

What did Catford introduce in 1965 that significantly influenced translation theory?

The notion of translation shifts Signup and view all the answers

According to Leonardi's reference, what aspect is highlighted about Catford's work?

It contributed to the field of translation theory. Signup and view all the answers

What major aspect did Catford's translation shifts pertain to?

Linguistic changes during translation Signup and view all the answers

How is Catford's contribution to translation theory best described?

As a prominent theoretical framework Signup and view all the answers

In what year did Catford introduce his notion of translation shifts?

1965 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of translation shifts as described by Larson?

To recreate meaning suitable for the receptor language and culture Signup and view all the answers

According to Larson, what must be considered in the translation process?

The cultural context of the receptor language Signup and view all the answers

What does Larson imply about the relationship between lexicon and meaning in translation?

Meaning should be reconstructed using appropriate lexicon and grammar Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of translation does Larson's definition primarily focus on?

The equivalence of meaning in different languages Signup and view all the answers

In the process of translation shifts, what is reconstructed according to Larson?

The same meaning in the receptor language context Signup and view all the answers

What does the Arabic word 'كَيْف' translate to in English?

How then did it come that Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best exemplifies a change in the units of language?

The clause 'how then did it come that' translates from 'كَيْف'. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following language units includes 'words' as a part?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What does the Arabic sentence illustrate through its translation?

The complexity of translating phrases. Signup and view all the answers

In the translated sentence, what is the meaning of 'hatred, ugliness, and evil'?

Negative emotions or states Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Catford's Translation Shifts

Catford (1965) viewed translation as an operation on languages, a process of substituting one language text for another.
Translation theory is primarily a branch of linguistic theory, focusing on language interactions during translation.
Catford's general linguistic theory of translation posits that any translation theory must be rooted in a broader theory of language.

Level Shifts

Catford defined level shifts as instances where a source language (SL) element at one linguistic level has a target language (TL) equivalent at a different level.
Grammatical elements in the source language can be translated into lexical items in the target language, and vice versa.
Examples given in the text include the translation of "أفعالي كلها مقدرة عنده" (all my actions have been preordained by him), where the Arabic word "مقدرة" (preordained) is translated into the English grammatical structure "have been preordained."

Category Shifts

Catford's category shifts were categorized into structure, class, unit, and intra-system shifts
Catford's classification of translation procedures also aligns with the work of Vinay and Darbelnet, particularly in the area of 'transposition'.

Structure Shifts

Structure shifts involve alterations in grammatical structure (such as word order) within a sentence or clause.
The Arabic sentence "قال صديقي في شماتة" (My friend spoke gloatingly), showcases a word order shift, with the verb in the Arabic sentence preceding the subject, which is reversed in the English translation.

Class Shifts

Class shifts involve a change in part of speech without altering the meaning.
An example is the translation of the Arabic noun "الجدل" (argument) into the English verb "to argue."

Unit Shifts

Unit shifts involve alterations in the units of language.
Changes in the level of language from words to phrases, sentences or clauses are seen as unit shifts
For example, the Arabic phrase "كيف يخلق الكراهية والقبح والشر؟" (how then did it come that he created hatred, ugliness, and evil?) was translated into a longer clause, not a single word.

Intra-system Shifts

Intra-system shifts occur when the translation selects a non-corresponding term in the target language system.
These shifts are common in plural-singular, definite-indefinite, or gender-specific translations.
For example, the Arabic plural "براهين" (evidence) becomes the singular "evidence," in the English translation.

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Description

This quiz explores Catford's concepts of translation shifts, specifically focusing on level and category shifts. Understand the implications of these shifts and how they relate to translation as a linguistic operation. Perfect for students wanting to grasp the foundations of translation theory.