Functional Theories in Translation PDF

Functional Theories in Translation  -Functional theories from Germany in the 1970s–1980s mark a move away from linguistic/equivalence-based theories towards a consideration of text type Key Things we will learn in this chapter include: concepts - the classif...

Functional Theories in Translation  -Functional theories from Germany in the 1970s–1980s mark a move away from linguistic/equivalence-based theories towards a consideration of text type Key Things we will learn in this chapter include: concepts - the classification of texts into different types and genres. -How far translation differs according to text types/genres? -Are you going to translate an advert differently from an academic/scientific article? Functional Theories include: – Katharina Reiss’s early work on text type – The translatorial action model proposed by Justa Holz- Mänttäri – Hans J. Vermeer’s skopos theory, which centred on the purpose of the TT (how far translation is successful depends on the fulfillment of its purpose)  1. Reiss: Text type – Katharina Reiss’s work built on the concept of equivalence – For her, equivalence must be sought at the level of text rather than the word or sentence – Her functional approach aimed at reaching a systemic assessment of translations. – It borrows the three functions of language from German psychologist and linguist Karl Bühler (1879–1963) Informative Expressive Appellative Functional characteristics of text types and links to translation methods (translated and adapted from Reiss 1971/2000) Text type: Informative Expressive Operative Language Informative Expressive Appellative (making an function: (representing (expressing appeal to text receiver) objects and facts) sender’s attitude) Language Logical Aesthetic Dialogic dimension: Text focus: Content-focused Form-focused Appellative-focused TT should... Transmit referential Transmit aesthetic Elicit desired response content form Translation ‘Plain prose’, ‘Identifying’ method, ‘Adaptive’, equivalent method: explicitation as adopt perspective effect required of ST author  Characteristics of text types – The main characteristics of each text type are summarized by Reiss (1977/1989: 108–9) as follows. – – Informative text type’: Gives information, knowledge, opinions, etc. The language dimension used to transmit the information is logical or referential, the content or ‘topic’ is the main focus of the communication. – Expressive text type. ‘Creative composition’: the author uses the aesthetic dimension of language. The author or ‘sender’ is foregrounded, as well as the form of the message. – – Operative text type. ‘Inducing behavioural responses’: the aim of the appellative function is to appeal to or persuade the ‘receiver’ of the text to act in a certain way, for example to buy a product (if an advert), or to agree to an argument (if a political speech or a lawyer’s concluding statement). The form of language is dialogic and the focus is appellative. – Audio-medial texts, such as films and visual and spoken advertisements which supplement the other three functions with visual images, music, etc. – This is Reiss’s fourth type now commonly called ‘multimodal texts” – Following this diagram, a reference work (e.g. an encyclopedia, such as Wikipedia) would be the genre that is the most obviously informative text type; a poem is a highly expressive, form-focused type, and an advertisement is the clearest operative text type (attempting to persuade someone to buy or do something). – There can be some hybrid types, how? – Thus, a biography (e.g. of a major political figure such as Barack Obama) might be somewhere between the informative and expressive types, since it provides information about the subject while also partly performing the expressive function of a piece of literature. It may even have an appellative function in convincing the reader of the correctness (or error) of the subject’s actions. – Similarly, a personal webpage gives facts about the individual but also often presents a flattering portrait (expressive) – A religious speech may give information about the religion while fulfilling the operative function by attempting to persuade the audience to behave in a certain way. It too may have an expressive function as a piece of rhetoric. – What should a translator when he faces a hybrid text? – He should transmit the predominant function of the ST.  Translation methods according to text-type The TT of an informative text should transmit the full referential or conceptual content of the ST. The translation should be in ‘plain prose’, without redundancy and with the use of explicitation when required. So, the translation of an encyclopedia entry of, say, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, should focus on transmit- ting the factual content and terminology and not worry about stylistic niceties. The TT of an expressive text should transmit the aesthetic and artistic form of the ST, in addition ensuring the accuracy of information. The translation should use the ‘identifying’ method, with the translator adopting the standpoint of the ST author. So, the translator of James Joyce would need to try to write from the perspective of the author. In literature, the style of the ST author is a priority. The TT of an operative text should produce the desired response in the TT receiver. The translation should employ the ‘adaptive’ method, creating an equivalent effect among TT readers. So, the TT of an advert needs to appeal to the target audience even if new words and images are needed. Audio-medial texts require what Reiss calls the ‘supplementary’ method, supplementing written words with visual images and music  2- The translatorial action model (Justa Holz-Mänttäri) – The translatorial action model proposed by Justa Holz-Mänttäri takes up concepts from communication theory and action theory. – Her aim, among others, was to provide a model and produce guidelines that can be applied to a wide range of professional translation situations. – Translatorial action views translation as purpose-driven, outcome- oriented human interaction.  Roles and players Interlingual translation is described as ‘translatorial action from a source text’ and as a communicative process involving a series of roles and players (ibid.: 109–11), which are the ST producer: the individual(s) within the the initiator: the company the commissioner: the company who write(s) the or individual who needs individual or agency who ST, and who are not the translation; contacts the translator; necessarily involved in the TT production; the TT receiver: the final the TT user: the person the TT producer: the recipient of the TT – for who uses the TT – for translator(s) and the example, the students using example, a teacher using a translation agency or the textbook in the teacher’s translated textbook or a department; class or clients reading the rep using sales brochures; translated sales brochures. – Translatorial action focuses very much on producing a TT that is functionally communicative for the receiver (what is functionally suitable in the TT culture, rather than by merely copying the ST profile. ) – What is functionally suitable has to be determined by the translator, who is the expert in translatorial action and whose role is to make sure that the intercultural transfer takes place satisfactorily. – As far as terminology is concerned, a technical term in a technical ST may require clarification for a non-technical TT user – e.g. a medical term such as Thrombocytopenia could be rephrased as a reduced number of platelets in the blood. – In order to maintain cohesion for the TT reader, a single term will normally need to be translated consistently.