Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do PortoLínguas e Literaturas Modernas

INTRODUCTION TO TRANSLATION STUDIES

Power Point 15

5 Decem5 December 2007

According to Mary Snell-HornbyAccording to Mary Snell-Hornby(1995:14-25), there are two (1995:14-25), there are two

major schools of TS in Europe:major schools of TS in Europe:

ÜbersetzungswissenschaftÜbersetzungswissenschaft::TS: branch of TS: branch of Applied LinguisticsApplied Linguistics

GermanyGermany: first the Leipzig school : first the Leipzig school (Wills, Kade, Neubert); then Reiss (Wills, Kade, Neubert); then Reiss and Vermeer.and Vermeer.

Central Concept: Central Concept: Äquivalenz Äquivalenz (in EN: (in EN: equivalence)equivalence)

The Manipulation SchoolThe Manipulation School

TS: branch of TS: branch of Comparative LiteratureComparative LiteratureIt developed esp. in theIt developed esp. in the Netherlands and Israel Netherlands and Israel from from

the 1970s onwardsthe 1970s onwardsRepresentative scholars:Representative scholars:André Lefevere, José Lambert, Theo Hermans, André Lefevere, José Lambert, Theo Hermans,

Itamar Even-Zohar, Gideon Toury; (Susan Itamar Even-Zohar, Gideon Toury; (Susan Bassnett in England)Bassnett in England)

Central concept: Central concept: Translation is manipulation of the Translation is manipulation of the STST; literature is not studied in isolation but within ; literature is not studied in isolation but within its social, historical and cultural context.its social, historical and cultural context.

Focus on literary texts and description of Ts.Focus on literary texts and description of Ts.Translation is a text type in its own right Translation is a text type in its own right

Scholars compare and study traslations, not the Scholars compare and study traslations, not the process of translating.process of translating.

The Manipulation SchoolThe Manipulation School

The name Manipulation School The name Manipulation School comes from an anthology of essays comes from an anthology of essays published in 1985 and edited by published in 1985 and edited by Theo Hermans entitled Theo Hermans entitled The Manipulation of Literature: The Manipulation of Literature: Studies in Literary TranslationStudies in Literary TranslationIn the introduction, Hermans states,In the introduction, Hermans states, “From the point of view of the target “From the point of view of the target literature, all translation implies a literature, all translation implies a degree of manipulation of the source degree of manipulation of the source text for a certain purpose” text for a certain purpose”

Polysystem theoryPolysystem theory

The The Manipulation SchoolManipulation School draws on the draws on the ideas contained in Polystystem theory ideas contained in Polystystem theory developed by the developed by the Israeli scholar Itamar Israeli scholar Itamar Even-Zohar in the 1970sEven-Zohar in the 1970s (in his turn, (in his turn, influenced by the Russian formalists of the influenced by the Russian formalists of the 1920s and the Prague Structuralists). The 1920s and the Prague Structuralists). The papers he wrote between 1970 and 1977 papers he wrote between 1970 and 1977 were published in English translation in a were published in English translation in a single volume under the title single volume under the title Papers in Papers in Historical PoeticsHistorical Poetics in 1978. in 1978.

While in linguistically-oriented While in linguistically-oriented approaches to translation the central approaches to translation the central idea is “equivalence” (besides the idea is “equivalence” (besides the German school, see, for example, German school, see, for example, Baker’s Baker’s In Other WordsIn Other Words), here the ), here the focus is on focus is on description of the TT as a description of the TT as a manipulated textmanipulated text..

““Translation is seen as a text type in Translation is seen as a text type in its own right, as an integral part of its own right, as an integral part of the target culture and not merely as the target culture and not merely as the reproduction of another text.” the reproduction of another text.” (Snell-Hornby: 24)(Snell-Hornby: 24)

This This focus on the TTfocus on the TT results in an approach results in an approach which is fundamentally which is fundamentally DESCRIPTIVEDESCRIPTIVE (and not (and not prescriptive) and in a lack of interest in the prescriptive) and in a lack of interest in the process of translating. Rather, scholars in this process of translating. Rather, scholars in this school study translated texts as literary, school study translated texts as literary, historical, social and cultural facts. They historical, social and cultural facts. They compare different Ts of the same text compare different Ts of the same text (diachronically), study the reception of Ts in a (diachronically), study the reception of Ts in a specific culture, etc. Thus, their analyses specific culture, etc. Thus, their analyses belong more to the field of Comparative belong more to the field of Comparative Literature. However, the significant fact is Literature. However, the significant fact is that they examine that they examine translated texts / translated texts / literature in translation. literature in translation.

As Munday points out, this focus on As Munday points out, this focus on translated literature was extremely translated literature was extremely important, because literature in translation important, because literature in translation had been mostly neglected and considered had been mostly neglected and considered a mere “derivative, second-rate form.” a mere “derivative, second-rate form.” (p. (p. 109)109)

Polysystem theory resulted in the Polysystem theory resulted in the development of development of DTS (Descriptive DTS (Descriptive Translation Studies; Translation Studies; main scholar: the main scholar: the Israeli Israeli Gideon TouryGideon Toury, a younger colleague of , a younger colleague of Even-ZoharEven-Zohar),), a branch of TS which has been a branch of TS which has been “crucial in the past twenty years and which “crucial in the past twenty years and which aims at identifying norms and laws of aims at identifying norms and laws of translation.” translation.” (Munday:109)(Munday:109)

PolysystemPolysystem

Even-Zohar introduced the term to Even-Zohar introduced the term to refer to literature in a specific refer to literature in a specific culture/society as a set of literary culture/society as a set of literary systems, or polysystem, comprising systems, or polysystem, comprising both what are traditionally both what are traditionally considered canonized forms (“high” considered canonized forms (“high” forms such as epic poetry) and non-forms such as epic poetry) and non-canonized forms (“low” forms such canonized forms (“low” forms such as children’s literature, thrillers, as children’s literature, thrillers, popular fiction, all translated popular fiction, all translated literature, etc.).literature, etc.).

Russian formalists: culture as a Russian formalists: culture as a system of systemssystem of systems

Russian formalists viewed culture as a complex Russian formalists viewed culture as a complex “system of systems” composed of various “system of systems” composed of various subsystems such as literature, science and subsystems such as literature, science and technology.technology.

Thus, literature is regarded as one of the systems Thus, literature is regarded as one of the systems of culture, and a culture/society is the of culture, and a culture/society is the environment of a literary system.environment of a literary system.

The literary system and the other systems The literary system and the other systems influence each other.influence each other.

They interact in ways which are determined by They interact in ways which are determined by the logic of the culture to which they belong. In the logic of the culture to which they belong. In this system, there is a constant struggle for this system, there is a constant struggle for conquering a place in the conquering a place in the literary canonliterary canon. (André . (André Lefevere, 1992: pp. 11-14)Lefevere, 1992: pp. 11-14)

Who controls Who controls the “logic of the culture”?the “logic of the culture”?

In the case of literary systems, In the case of literary systems, control comes from inside and outside the control comes from inside and outside the system. system.

Control from the inside comes from Control from the inside comes from the professionals within the literary the professionals within the literary system: critics, publishers, reviewers, system: critics, publishers, reviewers, teachers, translators.teachers, translators.

Control from the outside comes from Control from the outside comes from ‘patronage’, i.e., the powers (institutions, ‘patronage’, i.e., the powers (institutions, persons, etc.) that control the reading, persons, etc.) that control the reading, writing and rewriting of literature. writing and rewriting of literature. (Lefevere, 1992:15)(Lefevere, 1992:15)

PATRONAGEPATRONAGE

Persons (Medici, Maecenas, etc.)Persons (Medici, Maecenas, etc.) Groups of persons: religious bodies, a Groups of persons: religious bodies, a

social class, a political party, a royal social class, a political party, a royal court, publishers, the media.court, publishers, the media.

They regulate literature (its writing, They regulate literature (its writing, but more often its distribution) but more often its distribution) through institutions such as through institutions such as academies, censorship bureaus, academies, censorship bureaus, educational establishments, etc.educational establishments, etc.

Even-Zohar: Even-Zohar: translated literature works as a systemtranslated literature works as a system

1.1. In the way the TC selects works for In the way the TC selects works for translation;translation;

2.2. In the way translation norms, In the way translation norms, behaviour and policies are behaviour and policies are influenced by other co-systems.influenced by other co-systems.

Polysystem: hierarchy of layersPolysystem: hierarchy of layersAt each given moment in history, the At each given moment in history, the layers composing the polysystem layers composing the polysystem interact, thus resulting in the interact, thus resulting in the evolution of the system itself. Usually evolution of the system itself. Usually what happens can be illustrated as what happens can be illustrated as follows:follows:

conservative lit.conservative lit. innovative lit.innovative lit.

innovative lit.innovative lit. conservative lit.conservative lit.

SYSTEMS within SYSTEMSSYSTEMS within SYSTEMS (Hatim and Munday, 2004:98) (Hatim and Munday, 2004:98)

““In any national language or literature, there has In any national language or literature, there has always been a dominant always been a dominant poeticspoetics (i.e. theories and (i.e. theories and practices which define literary creativity often in practices which define literary creativity often in peculiarly elitist, exclusive ways) and a hierarchy of peculiarly elitist, exclusive ways) and a hierarchy of canonized textscanonized texts (e.g., esteemed (e.g., esteemed discoursesdiscourses and and genresgenres). This has invariably meant that qualities ). This has invariably meant that qualities such as originality and aesthetic excellence are such as originality and aesthetic excellence are valued (. . .) in accordance with certain preconceived valued (. . .) in accordance with certain preconceived and highly subjective criteria. These yardsticks see and highly subjective criteria. These yardsticks see to it that at best only ‘second-order’ status is to it that at best only ‘second-order’ status is accorded to such ‘less worthy’ genres as children’s accorded to such ‘less worthy’ genres as children’s literature, popular fiction and translation.”literature, popular fiction and translation.”

There is thus a constant struggle for There is thus a constant struggle for domination aspired to by all systems, not domination aspired to by all systems, not only translation. But what is unique to only translation. But what is unique to translation is that the exercise of power translation is that the exercise of power tends to be easier to play out. Normally tends to be easier to play out. Normally involved here are major and minor involved here are major and minor cultures, languages, and even varieties cultures, languages, and even varieties and genres, incessantly vying for and genres, incessantly vying for recognition.recognition.

Example: Hebrew translations of Russian Example: Hebrew translations of Russian and German texts preferred by Russian and German texts preferred by Russian and German Jews. (and German Jews. (Hatim and Munday, Hatim and Munday, 1995:99)1995:99)

REWRITINGREWRITING

In this constant struggle for status, T can In this constant struggle for status, T can be seen as a form of rewriting (Susan be seen as a form of rewriting (Susan Bassnett and André Lefevere).Bassnett and André Lefevere).

Emphasis on the way translations Emphasis on the way translations interpret/rewrite ST.interpret/rewrite ST.

Rewriting as an act of manipulation of the Rewriting as an act of manipulation of the ST which is “purposefully designed to ST which is “purposefully designed to exclude certain readers, authors and exclude certain readers, authors and ultimately translators.” (Hatim and ultimately translators.” (Hatim and Munday, 2004:99)Munday, 2004:99)Example: Czech writer Milan Kundera Example: Czech writer Milan Kundera

What is the position of translated What is the position of translated literature within the polysystem?literature within the polysystem?

PRIMARY POSITIONPRIMARY POSITIONIt strongly contributes to shaping the center of It strongly contributes to shaping the center of the polysystem.the polysystem.

This happens in 3 situations:This happens in 3 situations:1.1. New/young lit. is taking shape and looks to New/young lit. is taking shape and looks to

older lits. for models;older lits. for models;2.2. A lit. is peripheral or weak and therefore A lit. is peripheral or weak and therefore

imports literary types. (smaller nation/region imports literary types. (smaller nation/region dominated by the culture of a larger dominated by the culture of a larger nation/region).nation/region).

3.3. Established models are no longer considered Established models are no longer considered enough or no specific model is dominant; in this enough or no specific model is dominant; in this situation foreign models assume primacy more situation foreign models assume primacy more easily.easily.

What is the position of translated What is the position of translated literature within the polysystem? (2)literature within the polysystem? (2)

SECONDARY POSITIONSECONDARY POSITION Peripheral system within the Peripheral system within the

polysystem;polysystem; No major influence on the central No major influence on the central

system;system; Conservative element: helps Conservative element: helps

maintain conventional forms and maintain conventional forms and literary forms of the target system.literary forms of the target system.

Translation strategies depend Translation strategies depend on the position of translated on the position of translated literature within the literature within the polysystem. polysystem.

NB: translated lit. is itself a NB: translated lit. is itself a system with primary and system with primary and secondary positions occupied secondary positions occupied by different texts.by different texts.

Hypothesis: position of translated Hypothesis: position of translated lit. within the polysystem is lit. within the polysystem is primary;primary;

Result: translators feel freer to Result: translators feel freer to break lit. conventions of the break lit. conventions of the TL/C; TT is often a more TL/C; TT is often a more “adequate” match of the ST.“adequate” match of the ST.

(which may in turn lead to (which may in turn lead to innovative TL models)innovative TL models)

Hypothesis: position of translated Hypothesis: position of translated lit. within the polysystem is lit. within the polysystem is secondary;secondary;

Result: translators will stick to TC Result: translators will stick to TC conventional models for the TT conventional models for the TT and translations will show lower and translations will show lower degree of ‘adequacy’.degree of ‘adequacy’.