Cogprints

A theoretical account of translation - without a translation theory

Gutt, Dr Ernst-August (1990) A theoretical account of translation - without a translation theory. [Journal (Paginated)]

Full text available as:

[img] HTML
110Kb

Abstract

In this paper I argue that the phenomenon commonly referred to as "translation" can be accounted for naturally within the relevance theory of communication developed by Sperber and Wilson (1986a): there is no need for a distinct general theory of translation. Most kinds of translation can be analysed as varieties of interpretive use. I distinguish direct from indirect translation. Direct translation corresponds to the idea that translation should convey the same meaning as the original. It requires the receptors to familiarise themselves with the context envisaged for the original text. The idea that the meaning of the original can be communicated to any receptor audience, no matter how different their background, is shown to be a misconception based on mistaken assumptions about communication. Indirect translation involves looser degrees of resemblance. I show that direct translation is merely a special case of interpretive use, whereas indirect translation is the general case. In all cases the success of the translation depends on how well it meets the basic criterion for all human communication, which is consistency with the principle of relevance. Thus the different varieties of translation can be accounted for without recourse to typologies of texts, translations, functions or the like.

Item Type:Journal (Paginated)
Keywords:relevance theory, direct translation, cognition, indirect translation, communication, translation theory, interpretive use, communicative clue, faithfulness
Subjects:Psychology > Cognitive Psychology
Linguistics > Pragmatics
Philosophy > Philosophy of Science
ID Code:2597
Deposited By: Gutt, Ernst-August
Deposited On:12 Nov 2002
Last Modified:11 Mar 2011 08:55

References in Article

Select the SEEK icon to attempt to find the referenced article. If it does not appear to be in cogprints you will be forwarded to the paracite service. Poorly formated references will probably not work.

Beekman, J. and J. Callow (1974) Translating the Word of God, vol. 1, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Bassnett-McGuire, Susan (1980) Translation Studies, Methuen, London.

Blakemore, Diane (1987) Semantic constraints on relevance, Blackwell, Oxford.

Chukovskii, K. (1984) The Art of Translation, (trl. & ed. Lauren G. Leighton), University of Texas Press, Knoxville.

Frawley, William (1984), 'Prolegomenon to a theory of translation'. In W. Frawley (ed.), Translation: Literary, linguistic and philosophical perspectives. Associated University Press, London, pp. 159-175.

Gutt, Ernst-August (1987a), 'What is the meaning we translate?' Occasional Papers in Translation and Text- linguistics no. 1, January 1987, pp. 31-58.

Gutt, Ernst-August (1988), 'From translation to effective communication'. Notes on Translation vol. 2, no. 1. pp. 24-40.

Gutt, Ernst-August (1989), Translation and relevance. University College London doctoral dissertation.

Gutt, Ernst-August (forthcoming), Translation and relevance. Blackwell, Oxford.

Hönig, Hans G. and Paul Kußmaul (1984), Strategie der Übersetzung. Narr, Tübingen.

House, Juliane (1981), A model for translation quality assessment. Narr, Tübingen.

Kade, O. (1968) Zufall und Gesetzmäßigkeit in der Übersetzung, VEB Verlag Enzyklopädie, Leipzig.

Krings, H.P. (1986) Was in den Köpfen von Übersetzern vorgeht, Gunter Narr Verlag, Tübingen.

Larson, Mildred L. (1984) Meaning-based translation: A guide to cross-language equivalence. University Press of America, New York.

Levy, Jiri (1969), Die literarische Übersetzung: Theorie einer Kunstgattung. Athenäum, Frankfurt.

Lyons, John (1969), Introduction to theoretical linguistics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Newmark, P. (1988) Approaches to Translation, Prentice Hall, Hemel Hempstead.

Nida, E.A. (1964) Toward a Science of Translating. With Special Reference to Principles and Procedures Involved in Bible Translating, E.J. Brill, Leiden.

Nida, E.A. and C. Taber (1969) The Theory and Practice of Translation, E.J. Brill, Leiden.

Picken, Catriona (1983), The translator's handbook. Aslib, London.

Reiss, Katharina and Hans J. Vermeer (1984), Grundlegung einer allgemeinen Übersetzungstheorie. Niemeyer, Tübingen.

Schulte, R. (1987) "Translation Theory: A Challenge for the Future", Translation Review, no. 23, (Special Theory Issue), 1987.

Snell-Hornby, Mary (1988) Translation Studies: An integrated approach, John Benjamins, Amsterdam.

Sperber, Dan and Deirdre Wilson (1986a) Relevance: Communication and Cognition, Blackwell, Oxford.

Sperber, Dan and Deirdre Wilson (1986b), 'Loose talk'. Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 1985/6, vol. 86, pp. 153-171.

Sperber, Dan and Deirdre Wilson (1987), 'Précis of Relevance: Communication and Cognition'. Behavioural And Brain Sciences vol. 10, pp. 697-754.

Steiner, George (1975) After Babel. Aspects of Language and Translation, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Wilson, Deirdre and Dan Sperber (1988a) "Representation and Relevance" in R.M. Kempson (ed), Mental Representations: The Interface between Language and Reality, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 133-153.

Wilson, Deirdre and Dan Sperber (1988b), 'Mood and the analysis of non-declarative sentences'. In J. Dancy, J. Moravcsik and C. C. W. Taylor (eds), Human agency: language, duty and value. Stanford University Press, Stanford, pp. 77-101.

Wilss, W. (1982) The Science of Translation. Problems and Methods, Gunter Narr Verlag, Tübingen.

Wilss, W. (1988) Kognition und Übersetzen. Zu Theorie und Praxis der menschlichen und der maschinellen Übersetzung. Max Niemeyer Verlag, Tübingen.

Metadata

Repository Staff Only: item control page