Contextual Frames Of Reference In Translation

Bible translation theory and practice rightly tend to focus on the actual text of Scripture. But many diverse, yet interrelated contextual factors also play an important part in the implementation of a successful translation program. The aim of this coursebook is to explore, in varying degrees of detail, a wide range of these crucial situational variables and potential influences, using a multidisciplinary approach to the task. Thus, in order to expand and enrich the field of vision, a progressive study of this complex process of intercultural, interlinguistic communication is carried out according to a set of overlapping sociocultural, organizational and situational cognitive orientations. These contextual factors provide a broader frame of reference for analyzing, interpreting and communicating the original Scriptures in a completely new, contemporary setting of transmission and reception. The three dimensions are then applied in a practical way to explore the dramatic "throne-room" vision of the Apostle John (Revelation 4-5) with reference to both the original Greek text and also a modern dynamic translation in Chewa, a southeastern Bantu language of Africa. A variety of exercises and assignments to stimulate critical and creative reflection as well as to illustrate the theoretical development of Contextual Frames of Reference is provided every step of the way. Not only is translation per se discussed, but the teaching and evaluation of translated texts and versions are also considered from several points of view in the final three chapters. An Appendix offers a foundational essay by Professor Lourens de Vries on the subject of primary orality and the influence of this vital factor in the crosscultural communication of the Bible.

Bible translation theory and practice rightly tend to focus on the actual text of Scripture. But many diverse, yet interrelated contextual factors also play an important part in the implementation of a successful translation program. The aim of this coursebook is to explore, in varying degrees of detail, a wide range of these crucial situational variables and potential influences, using a multidisciplinary approach to the task. Thus, in order to expand and enrich the field of vision, a progressive study of this complex process of intercultural, interlinguistic communication is carried out according to a set of overlapping sociocultural, organizational and situational cognitive orientations. These contextual factors provide a broader frame of reference for analyzing, interpreting and communicating the original Scriptures in a completely new, contemporary setting of transmission and reception. The three dimensions are then applied in a practical way to explore the dramatic "throne-room" vision of the Apostle John (Revelation 4-5) with reference to both the original Greek text and also a modern dynamic translation in Chewa, a southeastern Bantu language of Africa. A variety of exercises and assignments to stimulate critical and creative reflection as well as to illustrate the theoretical development of Contextual Frames of Reference is provided every step of the way. Not only is translation per se discussed, but the teaching and evaluation of translated texts and versions are also considered from several points of view in the final three chapters. An Appendix offers a foundational essay by Professor Lourens de Vries on the subject of primary orality and the influence of this vital factor in the crosscultural communication of the Bible.

This book presents the state-of-art research in ETS by illustrating useful corpus methodologies in the study of important translational genres such as political texts, literature and media translations. Empirical Translation Studies (ETS) represents one of the most exciting fields of research. It gives emphasis and priority to the exploration and identification of new textual and linguistic patterns in large amounts of translation data gathered in the form of translation data bases. A distinct feature of current ETS is the testing and development of useful quantitative methods in the study of translational corpora. In this book, Hannu Kemppanen explores the distribution of ideologically loaded keywords in early Finnish translation of Russian political genres which yielded insights into the complex political relation between Finland and Russia in the post-Soviet era. Adriana Pagano uses multivariate analysis in the study of a large-scale corpus of Brazilian fiction translations produced between 1930s-1950s which is known as the golden age of Latin American translation. The statistical analysis detected a number of translation strategies in Brazilian Portuguese fictional translations which point to deliberate efforts made by translators to re-frame original English texts within the Brazilian social and political context in the first three decades under investigation. Meng Ji uses exploratory statistical techniques in the study of recent Chinese media translation by focusing three important media genres, i.e. reportage, editorial and review. The statistical analysis effectively detected important variations among three news genres which are analysed in light of the social and communicative functions of these news genres in informing and mobilising the audience in specific periods of time in Mainland China.

Moreover, many items in the reference lists are hyperlinked to the TSB, where the user can find an abstract of a publication. All articles (between 500 and 6000 words) are written by specialists in the different subfields and are peer-reviewed. Last but not least, the usability, accessibility and flexibility of the "HTS" depend on the commitment of people who agree that Translation Studies does matter. All users are therefore invited to share their feedback. Any questions, remarks and suggestions for improvement can be sent to the editorial team

The notion of voice has been used in a number of ways within Translation Studies. Against the backdrop of these different uses, this book looks at the voices of translators, authors, publishers, editors and readers both in the translations themselves and in the texts that surround these translations. The various authors go on a hunt for translational agents’ voice imprints in a variety of textual and contextual material, such as literary and non-literary translations, book reviews, newspaper articles, academic texts and e-mails. While all stick to the principle of studying text and context together, the different contributions also demonstrate how specific textual and contextual circumstances require adapted methodological solutions, ending up in a collection that takes steps in a joint direction but that is at the same time complex and pluralistic. The book is intended for scholars and students of Translation Studies, Comparative Literature, and other disciplines within Language and Literature.