Linga inglese - Translation studies - Appunti

Translation theory before the twentieth century

A central debate in the history of translation theory has been between “word for word” and “sense for sense”. Until the second half of the 20s, translation theory seems locked in what Steiner calls “sterile debate” over the triad of “literal”, “free” and “faithful” translation. The distinction between “word for word” (literal) and “sense for sense” (free) translation goes back to Cicero and St. Jerome. Cicero said that he didn’t translate as an interpreter but as an orator, trying to preserve the general style and force of the original language.

Within Western society, issues of free and literal translation were, for over a thousand years after St. Jerome, bound up with the translation of the Bible and other religious and philosophical texts. Any translation diverging from the accepted interpretation was to be deemed heretical and to be censured or banned. The most famous example of this is Martin Luther’s crucially influential translation into East Middle German of the New Testament and later of the Old Testament. Luther followed St. Jerome in rejecting word-for-word translation strategy.

Key concepts in translation theory

The key concepts investigated by Louis Kelly in the True Interpreter were: fidelity, truth, and spirit.

The most important authors in the attempt at systematic translation theory were Dryden, Dolet, and Tytler. Tytler reduced all translation to three categories:

• Metaphrase: word for word translation
• Paraphrase: a translation in which the point of view of the original author is kept
• Imitation: a very free translation

Dolet's principles

On the other hand, Dolet set out five principles in order of importance:

• The translator must perfectly understand the sense and the material of the original author
• The translator should have a perfect knowledge of both languages
• The translator should avoid word for word rendering
• The translator should avoid Latin or obscure forms
• The translator should avoid clumsiness

Tytler's general laws

Tytler has three general laws:

• The translation should give a complete transcript of the ideas of the original work
• The style and manner of writing should be of the same character as the original