Positions, Power and Practice: Functionalist Approaches and Translation Quality Assessment

Abstract

Translation quality assessment (TQA) is an essential part of any theoretical concept of translation. Models of TQA will therefore inevitably reflect an overall theoretical framework (or lack of it) and can be discussed in terms of such. On the other hand, TQA is carried out daily, often in an unreflected and sometimes authoritarian way. Empirical data from the translator's workbench must therefore be taken into account if one wants to provide a basis for an informed use of TQA in translator training. My arguments will therefore be based on many authentic examples of TQA as it is practised and on an overview of frequently used evaluation scenarios. This will provide an empirical base for a detailed discussion of theoretical concepts (mainly Gutt's relevance concept and Kussmaul's functional approach). The first part illustrates that popular concepts of translation are not built on a tabula rasa. Laypersons hold dogmatic positions, particularly those of 'faithfulness' and 'cultural neutrality'. These are shown to be basically functionalist concepts, albeit not recognised as such. Gutt's criticism of translation theory in general and functionalism in particular is discussed. The second part provides an overview of how TQA is carried out (in Germany) in various scenarios. This will show that TQA, as practised in the university training of translators, uses the least homogeneous criteria and seems to be neither integrated into theoretical frameworks nor based on requirements typically made by clients. The only way out of this pedagogical dilemma, it is argued, is to use TQA as a means and not as an end.