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Article published In:
Target
Vol. 6:2 (1994) ► pp.177–193

Translating Allusions

When Minimum Change Is Not Enough [1] 1

| University of Helsinki

This paper presents a systematization of translation strategies for key-phrase allusions, in the form of a hierarchical decision process. Actual translatorial practice in Finland, judging by seven translations of novels, favours the strategy of minimum change. This low-effort strategy is useful when allusions are transcultural, but will often lead to flat translations and loss of connotations in the case of unfamiliar allusions, even resulting in a failure to convey the message, as evidenced by reader responses. Adoption of a more creative and reader-oriented translatorial role would offer a wider variety of translation strategies and lead to a decrease of "culture bumps" in translations.

Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1.Allusion
    • 1.2.Minimum Change
  • 2.Translation Strategies for Key-Phrase Allusions
    • 2.1.Lexicalized Allusions
    • 2.2.Standard Translations
    • 2.3.Guidance/External Marking
    • 2.4.Internal Marking
    • 2.5.Replacement by Preformed TL Item
    • 2.6.Reduction to Sense by Rephrasal
    • 2.7.Re-creation
    • 2.8.Omission
  • 3.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 1 January 1994
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.6.2.04lep
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