polysystem theory and translation

8/10/2019 Polysystem Theory and Translation

1/16

Pol s stem theor and translation


2/16

OriginsRussian formalism in 1920s (esp. Roman

Literature: not as an isolated activity in ,

inherently) different from all the rest of the

, central and very powerful factor among the

Further developed by Even Zohar in 1970s


3/16

Systems

Semiotic phenomena,

i.e.,

sign

governed

culture, language, literature, society) could

if regarded as systems rather than

Zohar 1990: 9)na ys s o su stance rep ace y ana ys s o

relations


4/16

Polysystem I

A semiotic

system

can

be

conceived

of

as

a

, . , therefore, very rarely a uni system but is,

, tem, a system of various systems which

, using concurrently different options, yet

, members are interdependent (Even Zohar


5/16

Polysystem IIMakes explicit the conception of a system as

system as static, homogenous, ahistorical

mp as ses mu p c y

o

n ersec ons,

openness of system

Requires non e itist, open, non prescriptivist view of literature e.g. childrens literature, translated

, , . literary forms

to norms of taste, e.g. to study only masterpieces


6/16

Literary stratification

Canonised literature:

norms

and

works

are

circles within a culture and are preserved to

heritage (Even Zohar 1990: 15)on canon se terature: re ecte as

illegitimate, forgotten

in

long

run

Stratification is universalSubculture is needed to avoid etrification

of canon


7/16

Oppositions/tensions in system

Centre vs.

periphery

of

system eren erary genres v e or cen re pos on,

periphery can exert influence on centre

r mary vs.

secon ary

pr nc p es when repertoire is established and becomes

, , secondary (derivitive)

products, products are less predictable, so primary (innovative)

primary/secondary opposition does not necessarily overlap with canonicity/non canonicity


8/16

Institution, repertoire

Institution : all

factors

involved

in

maintaining

,

publishing houses, periodicals, clubs, media, , .

Repertoire : rules and materials that govern t e ma ng an use o any g ven pro uct e.g.

literary text,

writer,

publisher).

Idea

of

a

reperto re assumes t e ex stence o s are knowledge and values


9/16

Producers, consumers, market

Producers : those

who

produce

literary

, , ,

groups, social communities

Consumers:

irect or

in irect

consumption,

fragments through variety of sources. Groups o consumers, t e pu c

Market : the aggregate of factors involved with the selling and buying of literary products, e.g. bookshops, book clubs,

libraries, teachers


10/16

Translation in literary system I

Often in

accordance

with

secondarized

,

But translation can act as primary, when:

a literary polysystem has not yet taken shape, a young literature, in process of being established a iterature is eit er perip era an or wea or literature perceives itself as weak/inferior?)

ere are cr ses erary vacuums n sys em; new genres or ideas then brought in through translation


11/16

Translation as polysystem

Translated literature

will

not

necessarily

all

seen as stratified polysystem

Trans ation practice

wi

e in uence

y

position of translated literature in polysystem


12/16

Implications for study of translation I

Target orientation,

focus

on

translated

text

as

Recognition of existence of systemic

re ations ips

etween seeming y

iso ate

translated textsIncreased interest in principles of selection by

which the dominant poetics and institutions decide what gets translated and in what way


13/16

Implications for study of translation II

Increased interest

in

studying

when

and

why

norms of the target system or bring

Lack of interest in statements about what trans at on s ou e, re at ons p t s ou have with original, etc.; instead, examine ssues stor ca y , n terms o con t ons n

receiving culture at point in time


14/16

Implications for study of translation IIINot possible to understand translation by

anything which can tell us how translated

given culture at given point in time e.g. eva ua ve wr ng on rans a on: pre aces, reviews, reflective essays, sales figures


15/16

References and reading IDe Geest, Dirk (1992) The Notion of System: Its Theoretical

Importance and Its Methodological Implications for a Functionalist Translation Theory, in Harald Kittel (ed.) Geschichte, System, Literarische bersetzung/Histories, Systems, Literar Translations Berlin: Erich Schmidt . 32 45.

Even Zohar, Itamar (1990) Polysystem Studies, Tel Aviv: The Porter Institute for Poetics and Semiotics, and Durham: Duke

. , . Intranet

Hermans, Theo (1985) Introduction, in Theo Hermans (ed.) The Manipulation of Literature: Studies in Literary Translation , London & Sydney: Croom Helm.


16/16

References and reading IHermans, Theo (1999) Translation in Systems: Descriptive and

Systemoriented Approaches Explained , Manchester: St. Jerome Publishing.

Lefevere, Andr (1982) Mother Courages Cucumbers: Text, ,

Language Studies 12(4): 320; reprinted in Lawrence Venuti (ed.) (2000) The Translation Studies Reader , First edition,

, . .Lefevere, Andre (1992) Translation, Rewriting, and the

Manipulation of Literary Fame , London & New York: Routledge.Shuttleworth, Mark (1998) Polysystem Theory, in Mona Baker

(ed.) Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies, London & , . .

polysystem theory and translation

Documents