Approaches to translation

Peter Newmark

Contents

Part one: Aspects of Translation Theory

1.The theory and the craft of translation

2.What translation theory is about

3.Communicative and semantic translation I

4.Thought, speech, and translation

5.Communicative and semantic translation II

6.The translation of proper names and institutional and cultural terms

7.The translation of metaphor

8.The translation process and synonymy

9.Translation and the metalingual function of language

P3.

In the pre-linguistics period of translation, they make no attempt to distinguish types or quality of texts (which are mainly Biblical or literary), and while they are strong on theory, they are short on method and practical examples. They show a gradual transition from a natural or free treatment towards a literal analysis, if not translation, of the original, but there is no development of a theory, and many of the writers were not aware of each other’s work.

2.Translation Theory

1.Translation theory’s main concerns is to determine appropriate translation methods for the widest possible range of texts or text-categories.

The theory demonstrates the possible translation procedures and the various arguments for and against the use of one translation rather than another in a particular context. Note that translation theory is concerned with choices and decisions, not with the mechanics of either the source language (SL) or the target language (TL).

2.Translation theory attempts to give some insight into the relation between thought, meaning, and language; the universal, cultural, and individual aspects of language and behavior, the understanding of cultures; the interpretation of texts that maybe clarified and even supplemented by way of translation.

P20.

The practical problems: the translator’s first task is to understand the text, so it is the business of translation theory to suggest some criteria and priorities for this analysis. First, the intention of a text.

Secondly, the intention of the translator.

Tirdly, the reader and the setting of the text.

Fourthly, the quality if the writing and the authority of the text.