An activity theory approach to the contextualization mechanism of language use
Taking translation, pseudo-translation and self-translation as examples
Zhonggang Sang | Xi’an Jiaotong University
Contextualization is a widely-discussed topic in the field of linguistics. Although it is generally agreed that
contextualization is a dynamic process of interaction among the heterogeneous contextual factors, one still lacks a coherent
explanation of how the interactions enable a language user to construct a meaningful text/utterance. From an Activity Theory
perspective, language use can be termed as a rule-governed activity. The activity itself is the context of a subject’s
decision-making, and contextualization is nothing but the actualization process of a language use activity. During the process,
the subject strategizes her/his linguistic choice to build the textual outcome in light of the hierarchical text functions,
namely, the conventionalized and situational functions of prospective text (at the higher strata), which respectively embody the
social-cultural and situational factors constraining her/his actions, and the conventional function of textual tools (at the basic
stratum), a foremost factor conditioning her/his operation. When there are contradictions among these functions, the subject needs
to prioritize the one at a higher stratum. This can be exemplified by three typical cases of language use: translation,
pseudo-translation and self-translation.
Keywords: language use, contextualization, context, activity, actualization, Activity Theory, translation
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.An Activity Theory perspective on “context” and “contextualization”
- 3.Contextualization of a language use activity
- 4.Contextualization of three special language use activities – translation, pseudo-translation and self-translation
- 5.Conclusion
- Acknowledgements
-
References
Published online: 14 January 2020
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.16062.san
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.16062.san
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