Translation Universals
Do they exist?
Editors
Translation universals is one of the most intriguing and controversial topics in recent translation studies. Can we discover general laws of translation, independent of the particularities of individual translations? Research into this is new: serious empirical work only began in the late nineties. The present volume offers the state of the art on the issue. It includes theoretical discussion on alternative conceptualisations and new distinctions around the basic concepts. Several papers test hypotheses on universals in the light of recent work in different languages, and some suggest new ones emerging from empirical work over the last two to three years. The book contributes to the search for generalities in translation, the methodological solutions available, and presents emerging evidence on the kinds of regularities that large-scale research is bringing forth. On a more practical level, the applicability of the hypotheses and findings to translator education is, as always, a concern for translation studies.
[Benjamins Translation Library, 48] 2004. vi, 224 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
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Introduction | pp. 1–11
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I. Conseptualising universals
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Probabilistic explanations in translation studies: Welcome as they are, would they qualify as universals?Gideon Toury | pp. 15–32
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Beyond the particularAndrew Chesterman | pp. 33–49
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When is a universal not a universal? Some limits of current corpus-based methodologies for the investigation of translation universalsSilvia Bernardini and Federico Zanettin | pp. 51–62
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II. Large-scale tendencies in translated language
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Corpora, universals and interferenceAnna Mauranen | pp. 65–82
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Untypical frequencies in translated language: A corpus-based study on a literary corpus of translated and non-translated FinnishSari Eskola | pp. 83–99
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Untypical patterns in translations: Issues on corpus methodology and synonymityJarmo Jantunen | pp. 101–126
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III. Testing the basics
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Translation-specific lexicogrammar? Characteristic lexical and collocational patterning in Swedish texts translated from EnglishPer-Ola Nilsson | pp. 129–141
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Explicitation: A universal of translated text?Vilma Pápai | pp. 143–164
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Explicitation of clausal relations: A corpus-based analysis of clause connectives in translated and non-translated Finnish children’s literatureTiina Puurtinen | pp. 165–176
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Unique items — over- or under-represented in translated language?Sonja Tirkkonen-Condit | pp. 177–184
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IV. Universals in the translation class
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What happens to “unique items” in learners’ translations? “Theories” and “concepts” as a challenge for novices’ views on “good translation”Pekka Kujamäki | pp. 187–204
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The fate of “The Families of Medellín”: Tampering with a potential translation universal in the translation classRiitta Jääskeläinen | pp. 205–214
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Author index | pp. 215–217
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Subject index | pp. 219–221
“[...] this collection offers an interesting and rewarding insight into this young discipline.”
Lea Cyrus, Münster Unversity, in Language Vol. 82:3 (2006)
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Subjects
Translation & Interpreting Studies
Main BIC Subject
CFP: Translation & interpretation
Main BISAC Subject
LAN023000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Translating & Interpreting