An Overall Model of An Overall Model of TranslatingTranslating

Ian MasonIan Mason

Heriot Watt UniversityHeriot Watt University

The Indeterminacy of MeaningThe Indeterminacy of Meaning

Models of communicationModels of communication

Models of translationModels of translation

The ‘Conduit Metaphor’The ‘Conduit Metaphor’

““linguistic expressions are vessels or linguistic expressions are vessels or conduits into which thoughts, ideas conduits into which thoughts, ideas or meanings are poured, and from or meanings are poured, and from which they can be transmitted… [and which they can be transmitted… [and then] extracted exactly as they were then] extracted exactly as they were sent”sent”

Green 1989: 10Green 1989: 10

The code modelThe code model

SENDERSENDER →→ MESSAGEMESSAGE →→ RECEIVERRECEIVER

encodesencodes de-codes de-codes

LANGUAGE LANGUAGE

KNOWLEDGE KNOWLEDGE

A model based on assumptionsA model based on assumptions

PRODUCER PRODUCER text-worldtext-world RECEIVER RECEIVER

modelmodel

intends infersintends infers

assumptions assumptionsassumptions assumptions

CONTEXTCONTEXT CONTEXTCONTEXT

TEXTUAL RECORDTEXTUAL RECORD

SL/TL TransferSL/TL Transfer the translator as receiver and the translator as receiver and

producerproducer the commissionerthe commissioner the editor/reviserthe editor/reviser the publisherthe publisher intended receivers of the translationintended receivers of the translation

The translation processThe translation process

SL textual recordSL textual recordCommissionerCommissioner

TRANSLATORTRANSLATOR

Assumptions Assumptions Editor/Revisor/Editor/Revisor/PublisherPublisher

TL textual recordTL textual record

assumptions TL Receiversassumptions TL Receivers

ContextsContexts

Translator

TL usersSL users

The Hatim & Mason approachThe Hatim & Mason approach

CONTEXTCONTEXT

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

TEXTURETEXTURE

““top-down” and “bottom-up” top-down” and “bottom-up” processingprocessing

Context Context of situation (Communicative: Use and of situation (Communicative: Use and

user)user)

of intention (Pragmatics)of intention (Pragmatics)

of signs (Semiotics)of signs (Semiotics)

StructureStructure

‘‘plans’ towards ‘goals’plans’ towards ‘goals’ dominant rhetorical purposedominant rhetorical purpose text type focus text type focus

– narrationnarration– descriptiondescription– expositionexposition– argumentationargumentation– instructioninstruction

TextureTexture

lexical choicelexical choice syntactic arrangementsyntactic arrangement transitivitytransitivity modalitymodality cohesioncohesion

The communicative dimension of The communicative dimension of contextcontext

User variablesUser variables– Geographical/historical/social dialectGeographical/historical/social dialect– Standard/non-standard dialectStandard/non-standard dialect– IdiolectIdiolect

Use variablesUse variables– FieldField– Mode Mode – TenorTenor

Field and Tenor: an exampleField and Tenor: an example

Tax Return Guide (UK)Tax Return Guide (UK)

““This guide is to help you fill in the enclosed This guide is to help you fill in the enclosed Tax Return form; it has no binding force Tax Return form; it has no binding force and does not affect your right of appeal…and does not affect your right of appeal…

If you need any help or more information I If you need any help or more information I shall be glad to give it, or you can ask for shall be glad to give it, or you can ask for general guidance at any other tax office. general guidance at any other tax office. Always bring your tax papers with you Always bring your tax papers with you when you call.”when you call.”

Alternative versionAlternative version

““The Guide provides information The Guide provides information relative to completion of the relative to completion of the enclosed Tax Return…enclosed Tax Return…

Further information may be obtained Further information may be obtained by writing to Inland Revenue. by writing to Inland Revenue. Alternatively, enquirers may seek Alternatively, enquirers may seek information at any tax office. In this information at any tax office. In this case, it is advisable to have all tax case, it is advisable to have all tax papers available…” papers available…”

ModeMode

Mode

Speaking Writing

spontaneously Non-spontaneously

monologue

dialogue

reciting

Speaking from writing

ModeMode

Writing

To be read To be spoken To be spoken as if not written

As if spoken As if thought

The pragmatic dimension of contextThe pragmatic dimension of context

Use of language to get things Use of language to get things donedone

““Watch out!”Watch out!” as a TEXT above all as a TEXT above all performs an ACTIONperforms an ACTION

J. Austin (1960) J. Austin (1960) How to Do Things How to Do Things with Wordswith Words

The Speech ActThe Speech Act

1.1. Locutionary ActLocutionary Act

2.2. Illocutionary ActIllocutionary Act

3.3. Perlocutionary ActPerlocutionary Act

Illocutionary ForceIllocutionary Force

As a standard of translation As a standard of translation equivalenceequivalence

Involves consideration of READERS Involves consideration of READERS and their PURPOSESand their PURPOSES

An example from interpretingAn example from interpreting

Situation: A murder has taken place on Situation: A murder has taken place on board a Russian ship, which then board a Russian ship, which then puts in to port in an English coastal puts in to port in an English coastal town. A man is arrested.town. A man is arrested.

The police interview the crew as The police interview the crew as witnesses, assisted by interpreters.witnesses, assisted by interpreters.

They hear three different versions of They hear three different versions of one utterance:one utterance:

““Ya tebya uroyu” (Ya tebya uroyu” (lit.lit. I’ll dig you) I’ll dig you)

– ““I’ll get you”I’ll get you”– ““I’ll kill you”I’ll kill you”– ““I’ll stitch you up”I’ll stitch you up”

Krouglov (1999)Krouglov (1999)

Receivers’ interest:Receivers’ interest:

Does it count as a Does it count as a death threatdeath threat??

The semiotic dimension of contextThe semiotic dimension of context

Signs acquire shared meanings Signs acquire shared meanings within communities;within communities;

Words acquire connotations within Words acquire connotations within cultures;cultures;

Cultural beliefs and values emerge Cultural beliefs and values emerge from shared/repeated usefrom shared/repeated use

ExampleExample

‘‘Multiculturalism’Multiculturalism’ ‘‘Integration’Integration’ ‘‘Assimilation’Assimilation’

ExampleExample

JihadJihad– ‘‘Holy war’Holy war’

– In Arabic/Islam: personal struggle In Arabic/Islam: personal struggle against evil; religious dutyagainst evil; religious duty

– In English/the West: violence; terrorismIn English/the West: violence; terrorism

IntertextualityIntertextuality

We recognise entities (word, texts) We recognise entities (word, texts) because we have met them before;because we have met them before;

A text is made up of elements of A text is made up of elements of previous texts;previous texts;

Text users have their own Text users have their own intertextual history;intertextual history;

Communities develop their own Communities develop their own socio-textual practices.socio-textual practices.

Socio-textual practicesSocio-textual practices

GenresGenres (language used in relation to (language used in relation to particular social occasions)particular social occasions)

DiscoursesDiscourses (language used to (language used to express the values and attitudes of express the values and attitudes of social institutions)social institutions)

Text typesText types (formats used for (formats used for rhetorical purposes)rhetorical purposes)

ExamplesExamples

GenresGenres: the birth certificate, the legal : the birth certificate, the legal contractcontract

DiscoursesDiscourses: military discourse : military discourse (‘collateral damage’, ‘friendly fire’…), (‘collateral damage’, ‘friendly fire’…), environmentalism (‘sustainable’, environmentalism (‘sustainable’, ‘carbon footprint’…)‘carbon footprint’…)

Text typesText types: the counter-argument : the counter-argument (‘Of course… However…’)(‘Of course… However…’)