Applying Systemic Functional Linguistics in Translation Studies: Instantiation, Individuation, and a Three-Dimensional Model

Abstract

This study aims to provide a detailed investigation of applying Systemic Functional Linguistics (hereafter SFL) in translation studies from the perspective of instantiation and individuation. Revisiting instantiation and individuation along their history in SFL and introducing the recently developed concepts, the studies on the application of instantiation, individuation and a three-dimensional model are examined respectively. It is noted that instantiation and individuation complement the translation studies by treating the translation process as a linguistic process and interpreting many translation issues in terms of individuality and trajectories of allocation and affiliation, such as the differentiation of equivalence, translation strategies, and translator's choices. As a result, it enables the study of translation products, translation process, and people involved (i.e., the translator, writer, and reader) within a single architecture.