Target-international Journal of Translation Studies 

About: Target-international Journal of Translation Studies is an academic journal published by John Benjamins Publishing Company. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Translation studies & Source text. It has an ISSN identifier of 0924-1884. Over the lifetime, 857 publications have been published receiving 12047 citations.

The Pivotal Status of the Translator's Habitus

Abstract: The paper explores the possibility of nudging theory away from the properties of systemic constructs towards the main focus of translation norms, i.e., the translator. The current model of DTS could be reframed, or 'translated' in a topological sense, by giving it a slightly different slant on the assumption of a translating habitus understood as: (culturally) pre-structured and structuring agent mediating cultural artefacts in the course of transfer. A discussion of the translator's endorsement of subservience is included, followed by a brief genealogy of the concept of habitus. A prospectus for future research in product analysis and the acquisition of translatorial competence is also sketched out.Resume: Le versant theorique de la traductologie descriptive met habituellement l'accent sur les fonctions systemiques des grandes unites culturelles lors des operations de transfert. Mais qu'advient-il lorsque l'angle d'observation resitue l'agent porteur de ces operations, le traducteur, au centre du processus de transformation? Les dimensions a la fois structurees et structurantes de l'habitus du traducteur, l'allegeance assumee par ce dernier au regard des autorites etablies, les consequences d'un tel recadrage tant pour l'analyse comparative que pour les processus d'acquisition sont ici tour a tour abordees. L'ebauche d'une genealogie conceptuelle de la notion d'habitus complete cette contribution.

The Translator's Voice in Translated Narrative

Abstract: When we read translated narrative, the original Narrator's voice is not the only which comes to us. The Translator's discursive presence in the translated text becomes discernible in certain cases, e.g. when the pragmatic displacement resulting from translation requires paratextual intervention for the benefit of the Implied Reader of the translated text; when self-reflexive references to the medium of communication itself are involved; when 'contextual overdetermination' leaves no other option. The ways in which the Translator's discursive presence manifests itself are demonstrated on the basis of different translations of the Dutch novel Max Haveiaar (1860).Resume: Les recits traduits ne reproduisent pas seulement la voix narrative de l'original: la presence discursive du traducteur lui-meme s'y manifeste de plusieurs manieres: lorsque le deplacement pragmatique occasionne par la traduction requiert une intervention paratextuelle a l'intention du lecteur implicite de la traduction; lorsque celle-ci doit rendre des references autoreflexives au mode de communication; en cas de 'surdetermination ' par le contexte. Des exemples sont pris dans differentes traductions du roman neerlandais Max Haveiaar (1860).

Habitus, field and discourse: Interpreting as a socially-situated activity

Abstract: Taking Toury's model of norms as its starting point, this paper examines the macro–micro relationship evident within the context and culture of interpreting activity. The paper theorises this relationship drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of habitus and field and Bernstein's theory of pedagogic discourse. It proposes a model which directs the analysis of norms to the social dimension of language and cognition, as well as to the sociological and ideological determinants of what counts as a legitimate meaning in a particular context. The paper draws on the analysis of a particular context — the interpreted political asylum interview. However, it suggests the possibility of applying a similar theoretical model across a range of interpreting contexts.

From 'Is' to 'Ought': Laws, Norms and Strategies in Translation Studies

Abstract: Translation studies need to cater for both description and evaluation. This can be achieved via the study of translation norms. The norms governing translation are: (a) professional norms concerning the translation process (= norms of accountability, communication and target-source relation); and (b) expectancy norms concerning the form of the translation product, based on the expectations of the prospective readership. While general translation laws account for the behaviour of translators in general, normative laws describe the translation behaviour of a subset of translators, namely, competent professionals, who establish the norms. Normative laws originate in rational, norm-directed strategies which are observed to be used by professionals. These laws are empirical, spatio-temporally falsifiable, probabilistic, predictive and explanatory.Resume: La traductologie doit prendre en charge la description et l'evaluation, par la voie d'une etude des normes qui gouvernent la traduction: (a) des normes professionnelles, qui concernent le processus de la traduction (normes de responsabilite, de communication, de relation cible-source); (b) des normes de l'attente inspirees par les lecteurs potentiels relativement a la forme du texte traduit. Tandis que les lois generales de la traduction decrivent le comportement de traducteurs en general, les lois normatives decrivent celui d'un sous-groupe, les traducteurs professionnels competents, qui etablissent les normes. Les lois normatives trouvent leur origine dans des strategies rationnelles adaptees aux normes, et utilisees par des professionnels. Ces lois sont empiriques, falsifiables sur le plan spatio-temporel, probabilistes, previsionnelles et explicatives.

Translation and Original: Similarities and Dissimilarities, II

Abstract: This article presents a method for the establishment and description of shifts in integral translations of narrative texts. The method is based on the premise that both micro- and macrostructural shifts in translation can furnish indications of the translational norms adopted by the translator, his interpretation of the original text and the strategy applied during the process of translation. Further it is based on the assumption that research on the nature and frequency of microstructural shifts must precede research on macrostructural ones, in order to guarantee that findings are verifiable and the study repeatable. Thus, the method developed consists of two components: a comparative and a descriptive model. The comparative model is designed for the classification of microstructural shifts, i.e. semantic, stylistic and pragmatic shifts within sentences, clauses and phrases. The descriptive model focuses on the effects of microstructural shifts on the macrostructural level. With the aid of this model shifts with respect to characters, events, time, place and other meaningful components of the text can be determined and described.Resume: Cet article presente une methode pour determiner et pour decrire les glissements qui se produisent dans des traductions integrales de textes narratifs. La methode est fondee sur la premisse que les glissements, micro-structuraux aussi bien que macro-structuraux, sont porteurs d'informations sur les normes traductrices adoptees par le traducteur, sur son interpretation de l'original, et sur la strategic deployee au cours du processus de la traduction. Elle est egalement fondee sur l'idee que l'examen de la nature et de la frequence des glissements micro-structuraux doit preceder l'analyse des glissements macro-structuraux, afin que soient preservees les possibilites de verification et de repetition. La methode elle-meme se compose de deux elements: un modele comparatif et un modele descriptif. Le premier est concu pour le classement de glissements micro-structuraux, c.-a-d. les glissements semantiques, stylistiques et pragmatiques a l'inte-rieur de phrases complexes, de propositions et de syntagmes. Le modele descriptif examine les effets de ces glissements sur le niveau macro-structural. Il est possible de reconnaitre et de decrire a l'aide de ce modele les glissements relative-ment aux caracteres, a l'intrigue, au temps, a l'espace et a d'autres structures si-gnifiantes du texte.