Target. International Journal of Translation Studies - Volume 6, Issue 2, 1994

Abstract

Decision-making in translation amounts to an information-processing concept that describes decision-making behaviour in terms of an interaction between the translator's cognitive system; his linguistic, referential, sociocultural and situational knowledge bases; the task specification; and the texttype-specific problem space. All four factors together enable the translator to build up an internal problem representation which, once constructed, will profoundly influence the translator's subsequent decision-making performance, taking account of probability ratings which are an important element in many translational decision-making settings.

Abstract

The present paper reviews some opinions representative of contemporary Chinese thinking on translation criteria, methods, and the traditional way of assessing the quality of translation. It then summarizes various new views on textual configuration, equivalence, and quantitative analysis, views which can be regarded as the logical consequence of the discussion of traditional topics. The article tries to show that the present movement towards a science of translating is a new trend.

Abstract

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.

Abstract

The present paper focuses on literary dialogue as a text type highly susceptible to inadequate translation. It is claimed here that translators of literary dialogue are likely to reduce a linguistic-poetic-pragmatic source utterance into a linguistic or linguistic-poetic one. The paper discusses different causes for the difficulties of dialogue translation. Some are general, stemming from the nature of literary dialogue itself and/or general principles of translation, while others are specific to the Hebrew language, which will serve as a case in point.

This article reviews Übersetzungsfertigkeit: Annäherungen an einen komplexen übersetzungspraktischen Begriff. by Wolfram Wilss3-8233-5041-2DM 39,80

This article reviews La traduction raisonnée by Jean Delisle2-7603-0372-138 $ CAN

This article reviews TRADUCERE NAVEM: Festschrift für Katharina Reiß zum 70. Geburtstag. by Justa Holz-Mänttäri, Christiane Nord951-44-3262-2

This article reviews Computers in Translation: A Practical Appraisal. by John Newton0-415-05432-X.£ 35.00

This article reviews Translation/History/Culture: A Sourcebook. by André Lefevere0-415-07697-8 (hdb)0-415-07698-6 (pbk)

This article reviews Over het nut en de wijze der vertalingen. Nederlandse vertaalreflectie (1750–1820) in een Westeuropees kader. by Luc G. Korpel90-5183-411-XHfl. 45,-.

This article reviews Siting Translation: History, Post-Structuralism, and the Colonial Context. by Tejaswini Niranjana0-520-07451-3$13.00.

This article reviews Translation as Mission: Bible Translation in the Modern Missionary Movement. by William A. Smalley0-86554-389-5$ 22.95.

This article reviews The Key to Technical Translation, 1: Concept Specification; 2: Terminology/Lexicography. by Michael Hann90-272-2122-7 (hbk.)Hfl. 200,-90-272-2123-5 (pbk)Hfl 100,-

This article reviews Translation and the (Re)production of Culture: Selected Papers of the CERA Research Seminars in Translation Studies 1989–1991. by Clem RobynsBF 900/$ 30