Theories
False Friend/Cognate
A word or expression that has a similar structure in SL and TL but a different meaning
The main goal of a translator
to accurately render the text from SL into TL
True or False: Translators should have a broad understanding of the cultures of their working languages
True
Challenges of literary translation
volume, recreating poetry, balance to remain true to ST while recreating a unique piece that evokes the same responses as the original.
Sequential bilingual
The process of learning one language first and then acquiring a second language later
Two translation strategies from Vinay and Darbelnet's Model
Direct (word-for-word) and Oblique (free) translation
No bias, no legal advice, disclose conflicts of interest
Equivalence: A donde te quieren mucho, no vengas a menudo
A constant guest is never welcome
Tone
Attitude or feeling conveyed by the writer or speaker through their language. It's like the emotional color of the piece. Tone can range from serious and formal to humorous and informal.
5 steps after completing your translation
Check accuracy, grammar, style, cultural references, proofread, formatting, client's instructions...
Catford's Translation Shifts
1) Shifts of level and 2) Shifts of categories
Translators' decisions
Ethics of people, not just text or cultures
Transfer Theory
Movement of models and norms between systems
Cultural Translation: transformation of cultural meanings
Transtextuality
The idea that a text is not a standalone piece but is influenced by and connected to other texts.
Process of preparing and formatting a translation document for final publication, ensuring that the translated text fits the original layout and design of the document.
Developed the theories if Formal v. Dynamic Equivalence
Eugene Nida
The Philosophy of Dialogue (Buber, Levinas, Berman)
Translation is a dialogical and ethical encounter with the Other
Translation approaches emphasizing respect for alterity (foreignness)
Transposition
An unavoidable grammatical change that occurs in the translation process from SL into TL (The Mexican border > La frontera con México (adj. replaced by noun)).
Untranslatability
A property of a text, or of any utterance, in one language, for which no equivalent text or utterance can be found in another language when translated.
True or False: Recurring CLI do not spread into original TL writing
False
Saussure's Signification Example
(Term, Signification, Value)
Term: Sheep
Signification: Animal
Value: Distinguished from "mutton" (the meat)
Jennifer Croft's argument on translator's visibility
Translators' names should be on book covers to get credit and be held accountable
Define Foreignization and Domestication
Foreignization → Preserves the authenticity of the source text (word-for-word, faithful, formal equivalent, alienating)
Domestication → Prioritizes cultural alignment with the target audience (sense-for-sense, free, dynamic equivalent, naturalizing)
The performative act of literary translation is an integral part of cross-cultural communication, the success of which depends on a balanced scheme that brings out all facets of cultural meaning.
Newmark's Balancing Act
CLI: Translations often show
Increased explicitness, reduced complexity, conservatism/normalization