The cognitive basis of translation universals
Sandra L. Halverson | University of Bergen, Norway
At present, there are few attempts to provide external explanations for the patterns subsumed under the heading of “translation universal”. In this paper, I discuss the possible cognitive basis for the patterns/processes that have been variously referred to as simplification/generalization, normalization, standardization, sanitization, and exaggeration of target language features. The framework that I adopt is that of cognitive grammar, and my claim is that all of the above arise from the existence of asymmetries in the cognitive organization of semantic information. I also propose that the converse case is true: cases involving a lack of conspicuous cognitive asymmetries will demonstrate the opposite effect in translated text. In closing, I place the argument in a larger perspective by adopting Croft’s (1990) scalar notion of generalization in a discussion of explanation in translation studies.
Keywords: translation universals, translation and cognition, translation and semantic networks, explanation in translation studies
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The cognitive organization of information
- 2.1Basic assumptions
- 2.2Semantic structure: Linguistic units, domains, access points, categories and schematic networks
- 2.2.1Linguistic units
- 2.2.2The semantic pole
- 2.2.3Integrated systems: Increasing structural complexity
- 2.3Asymmetry, cognitive salience and categorial prominence
- 2.3.1Asymmetry in the matrix: Specifications for lexical items
- 2.3.2Asymmetry in schematic networks: Prototypes and schemas
- 2.4Representation in the bilingual brain
- 2.4.1Organization: Lexical and semantic elements and their interconnections
- 2.4.2Translation tasks: Word-type effects
- 3.Cognitive organization and translation effects
- 3.1Bringing it all together
- 3.2Effects of high cognitive salience on translation
- 3.3Effects of low cognitive salience and low arc strengths on translation
- 4.Additional effects and origins of cognitive salience and asymmetry
- 4.1Asymmetry effects in second language acquisition (SLA)
- 4.2Origins of asymmetric structure
- 5.Conclusion
- 5.1Description, explanation and generalization
- 5.2Researching translation universals
- Acknowledgements
- Notes
-
References
Published online: 12 May 2004
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.15.2.02hal
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.15.2.02hal
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