Czech Translation Research Articles

Ospravedlnění subverze: Proč Nussbaumová neporozuměla (lepší interpretaci) Butlerové

Czech translation of O. J. Herstein’s Justifying Subversion: Why Nussbaum Got (the Better Interpretation of) Butler Wrong.

Individual decisions in a collectivist ideology: Two Czech translations of I. L. Peretz’s short story Bontshe shvayg

Individual decisions in a collectivist ideology: Two Czech translations of I. L. Peretz’s short story Bontshe shvayg

Creazione e ricreazione di un personaggio postmoderno: il caso di Salvatore nel Nome della rosa di Umberto Eco

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the linguistic-textual representation of Salvatore in Umberto Eco’s novel The Name of the Rose and its Slovene, Croatian, Czech and Polish translations. The first part of the article deals with different linguistic and intertextual layers composing Salvatore’s original utterances, while the second part is devoted to Salvatore’s translated language, concentrating – primarily – on his heteroglossia and intertextuality. Salvatore is a grotesque plurilinguistic and intertextual character born out of the rich erudite immagination of Umberto Eco. The four translated Salvatores appear also as strange babelic monks whose multilingualism expands by adding a dominant Slavic linguistic element to the source-text heteroglossia. The intertextual dimension of translated Salvatores, on one hand, diminishes as most source-text citations blend into the translated linguistic mosaic, but, on the other hand, it also increases by gaining an additional metatextual (translational) dimension and, equally important, by incorporating a substantial part of Eco’s original text.

Direct retrospective measurement of therapeutic changes: an example using the Czech version of the Questionnaire of Personal Changes (Q-PC)

Objective: The study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Czech translation of the Questionnaire of Personal Changes (Q-PC), a measure designed for retrospective (direct) measurement of change in psychotherapy. Methods: A sample of group psychotherapy clients (N = 222) and a nonclinical sample (N = 167) sample were used. Clients in the clinical sample were administered the Q-PC in addition to several pre–post outcome measures. Confirmatory factor analysis, correlational analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to test the Q-PC’s factor structure, longitudinal measurement invariance, reliability, convergent validity, sensitivity to change, and other psychometric properties. Results: The Q-PC demonstrated a unidimensional structure that was strictly invariant between two follow-up measurement waves. The measure also demonstrated excellent reliability and sensitivity to change and good convergent validity. Furthermore, it demonstrated a similar relationship to baseline severity as the pre–post outcome measures. Conclusions: The retrospective measurement of change is a promising approach that has the potential to complement the traditional pre–post measurement of change.

Assessing psychological flexibility: The psychometric properties of the Czech translation of the CompACT questionnaire

Assessing psychological flexibility: The psychometric properties of the Czech translation of the CompACT questionnaire

Венецыянская Біблія – „Бивлия руска” Францыска Скарыны: механічнае прытрымліванне ці творчая перапрацоўка?

The article is devoted to some features of the translation technique used by the famous forerunner of Belarusian printing Francysk Skaryna when translating the Holy Scriptures. Francysk Skaryna is one of the greatest figures of Belarusian Renaissance. Numerous scientific investigations have been devoted to his work, but his legacy still remains terra incognita. One of the questions concerns the original he used when translating the Holy Scriptures – the ancient Hebrew Masoretic text, the Septuagint, the Vulgate, the Czech translation of the Bible, or the Bible in the Church Slavonic language? The article presents the results of the textual analysis of the Book of Job, the Book of the prophet Daniel, and the Book of Ecclesiastes, as well as numerous examples of Skaryna’s use of the Czech translation of the Bible. It should be noted that in some cases when translating well known passages, he used the Church Slavonic translation of the Holy Scriptures. Frequent lexical elements and collocations from the Old Church Slavonic canon entered Skaryna’s translation of the Bible. The article concludes that it was the archaic of Church Slavonic text of the Bible that prompted Skaryna to reach for another, more modern version – the Czech translation. As a result, a hybrid text was created, in which both Church Slavonic and Czech elements were presented at the lexical level.

Translating Intimate and Public Majakovskij into Czech Again: Why, and How?

ABSTRACT This study focuses on a new translation of selected poems of Vladimir Majakovskij into Czech and analyses it – after a brief summary of the characteristic features of Majakovskij’s poetry and his poetics. The new Czech translation, prepared almost 70 years after the last one, seeks, among other things, to challenge the image of Majakovskij as a servile follower of communist ideology and the bard of the Russian revolution, which persists in the Czech literary community and which has been reinforced by the controversial personality of the earlier ‘canonical’ Czech translator of Majakovskij, Jiří Taufer. The study seeks to identify the main points of departure of the new Czech translation and confronts it with the previous translation by Taufer, paying attention to its several problematic aspects. It is argued that the main ambition of the new Czech translation was to present Majakovskij unbiasedly as one of the most original figures in modern Russian/Soviet and world literature, while at the same time trying to rehabilitate Majakovskij in the eyes of Czech readers. The paper concludes by offering a new perspective on Majakovskij’s later, ‘revolutionary’ poems, which, despite their often highly political content, have lost none of Majakovskij’s typical qualities.

Czech language teaching in the first half of the 19th century: Jan Urbanʼs textbooks and their German templates

This article examines three Czech textbooks published by the teacher Jan Urban in the first half of the 19th century. These works are translations of German textbooks, but these templates are only partially known. The article identifies the German originals and contrasts them with Urban’s Czech translations in order to shed light on Urban’s adaptation strategy. It also reflects on the historical context of these German and Czech textbooks. The study thus contributes to research into German-Czech linguistic-cultural transfer during the period of Czech National Revival.

Homo viator Olav Audunssøn

Sigrid Undset published the historical novel entitled Olav Audunssøn (The Master of Hestviken) relatively shortly after the international success of her trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter. The reception process of the second work was strongly affected by the reader’s expectation horizon, which turned out to be inadequate in view of the complexity of artistic values of the text and its psychological aspects. The article focuses on the structure of the fiction and points out the function of so called romantic irony. It also provides a brief overview of Czech translations of Undset’s works.

Traductología digital: proyecto de nueva base de datos de traducciones de la literatura checa al español

The field of the historiography of literary translation is undergoing a digital revolution, offering new possibilities to explore the history of literary translation from different perspectives. This change not only brings but also demands constant modifications, improvements and refinements to continue progressing and adapting the study to new circumstances. Although Czech translations of literary works from the Spanish speaking world have been plentifully made and researched, the topic of translations of Czech literature into Spanish has not enjoyed so much interest and has only recently begun to be studied (Cuenca Drouhard; Nováková; Vavroušová; Strnadová). Although in the Czech context, there are several databases that include bibliographic information on literary translations, no online database that compiles such data on literary translations from Czech into Spanish and facilitates their consultation in a single digital platform has been created so far. In this regard, at the Institute of Translatology, a project entitled Databáze překladu české literatury do španělštiny (Database of translations of Czech literature into Spanish) is currently underway for the period 2022–2023. The project aims to question the methods of modern historiography, to respond to the needs of digitizing the study material, and finally, to offer a practical digital tool that collects bibliographic data on translations of Czech literature into Spanish that is updatable, freely accessible, and later extendable to other target languages

Development of the word order of the reflexive enclitic sě/se dependent on a finite verb in Czech translations of the Gospel of Matthew from the 14th to the 21st century

Abstract The paper studies the development of several properties of the reflexive enclitic sě/se dependent on a finite verb in the Czech language. We focus on the word order position of the reflexive and on the influence which the length of the initial phrase has on the position. We also investigate the shift of the reflexive from an enclitic into a prosodically indifferent clitic. Nine Czech translations of the Gospel of Matthew from the 14th to the 21st century are used as language material.

Presenting Norwegian Literature in Czechoslovakia: Norwegian Literature in Czech Translations 1945–1968

Translations contribute to spreading but also shaping of cultural memory. While the choice of titles which get to be translated is contingent on many factors which the publishers take into consideration, decision-making in totalitarian countries is fettered. In communist Czechoslovakia, the final selection of books, and therefore memories, had to meet yet another criterion which deformed the natural literary development – censorship. The article focuses on Norwegian literature which was introduced into Czech between 1945 and 1968. Norwegian literature had already had a strong position on the Czechoslovak literary market since the end of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century thanks to several publishing houses, translators, and the introduction of the Nobel Prize in literature. This tradition was first interrupted by the WWII and shortly after again by the communist coup in 1948. Although the restrictions began loosening later, the Soviet intervention in 1968 installed the restrictions again.The object is to present and examine the image of Norwegian literature in Czech literary memory as it was shaped by the cultural policies of totalitarian Czechoslovakia; and to show and explain which type of literature could enter Czech bookshops and libraries. The focus often shifted to a specific literary genre, republishing the earlier works of the Norwegian canon, or works by authors whose work was translated into Czech although they were marginalized in Norway and did not make it into the Norwegian national canon. An important part of such a perception is not only remembering but also forgetting. The article therefore also maps the active suppressing of memories by black-listing particular authors or works.Lastly, the article is also concerned with peritexts of translation, namely introductions and afterwords, as these often contributed to mediation of the transfer.

Tractors and Translators: Langston Hughes in Cold War Czechoslovakia

AbstractThe poet Langston Hughes was central to mid-century transnational exchanges and Cold War translation. This essay examines the poet's centrality through a new lens, presenting a case study on Czech translations of Hughes's poetry between 1950 and 1963 that draws on archival materials, especially the correspondence between Hughes and one of his Czech translators, Jiří Valja; paratexts; and analysis of translations. The essay shows how Hughes's poetry was translated into Czech against the backdrop of Cold War publishing politics and aesthetic norms, how the translations of Hughes's work operated in these contexts, and how Cold War translation emerged as a specific site of inquiry with its own challenges, contacts, and practices.

Psychometric Properties of the Czech Version of the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Czech translation of the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS), a tool used to assess ADHD symptoms. Data was collected online from parents of school-aged children and included questions related to their child’s diagnosis or treatment. The results showed that while relying on professional judgment improved specificity and positive predictive value, it decreased negative predictive value. These findings indicate that the VADPRS scale is more accurate in identifying individuals with ADHD when professionals provide the diagnosis, but fewer true negatives are found. This is the first study attempting to describe the psychometric properties of this tool in the Czech Republic and assess its use as an additional tool for ADHD diagnosis. It is recommended that structured clinical interviews be used to increase the accuracy of ADHD diagnosis.

Russian feminatives with expressive suffixes -ixa, -ša and their Czech translation equivalents: a corpus study

Russian feminatives with expressive suffixes -ixa, -ša and their Czech translation equivalents: a corpus study

Mitochondrially targeted tamoxifen in patients with metastatic solid tumours: an open-label, phase I/Ib single-centre trial.

Mitochondria present an emerging target for cancer treatment. We have investigated the effect of mitochondrially targeted tamoxifen (MitoTam), a first-in-class anti-cancer agent, in patients with solid metastatic tumours. MitoTam was tested in an open-label, single-centre (Department of Oncology, General Faculty Hospital, Charles University, Czech Republic), phase I/Ib trial in metastatic patients with various malignancies and terminated oncological therapies. In total, 75 patients were enrolled between May 23, 2018 and July 22, 2020. Phase I evaluated escalating doses of MitoTam in two therapeutic regimens using the 3+3 design to establish drug safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD). In phase Ib, three dosing regimens were applied over 8 and 6 weeks to evaluate long-term toxicity of MitoTam as the primary objective and its anti-cancer effect as a secondary objective. This trial was registered with the European Medicines Agency under EudraCT 2017-004441-25. In total, 37 patients were enrolled into phase I and 38 into phase Ib. In phase I, the initial application of MitoTam via peripheral vein indicated high risk of thrombophlebitis, which was avoided by central vein administration. The highest dose with acceptable side effects was 5.0mg/kg. The prevailing adverse effects (AEs) in phase I were neutropenia (30%), anaemia (30%) and fever/hyperthermia (30%), and in phase Ib fever/hyperthermia (58%) together with anaemia (26%) and neutropenia (16%). Serious AEs were mostly related to thromboembolic (TE) complications that affected 5% and 13% of patients in phase I and Ib, respectively. The only statistically significant AE related to MitoTam treatment was anaemia in phase Ib (p=0.004). Of the tested regimens weekly dosing with 3.0mg/kg for 6 weeks afforded the best safety profile with almost all being grade 1 (G1) AEs. Altogether, five fatalities occurred during the study, two of them meeting criteria for Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Events Reporting (SUSAR) (G4 thrombocytopenia and G5 stroke). MitoTam showed benefit evaluated as clinical benefit rate (CBR) in 37% patients with the largest effect in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) where four out of six patients reached disease stabilisation (SD), one reached partial response (PR) so that in total, five out of six (83%) patients showed CBR. In this study, the MTD was established as 5.0mg/kg and the recommended dose of MitoTam as 3.0mg/kg given once per week via central vein with recommended preventive anti-coagulation therapy. The prevailing toxicity included haematological AEs, hyperthermia/fever and TE complications. One fatal stroke and non-fatal G4 thrombocytopenia were recorded. MitoTam showed high efficacy against RCC. Smart Brain Ltd. For the Czech translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Nederlandstalige literatuur in Tsjechië tussen 2017 en 2021 en de rol van literaire fondsen

In this article I examine the Czech translations of Dutch-language literature that appeared between 2017 and 2021. I analyze which works were translated (in terms of genre) and whether they were subsidized by the Dutch Foundation for Literature or Flanders Literature. In the end, I conclude that the Czech translations reflect the politics of the funds.

Observations on Czech translation of Mongolian poetry

Observations on Czech translation of Mongolian poetry

Peter of Provence and fair Maguelonne : from a French mediaeval romance to a Czech broadside ballad

This paper deals with the Czech broadside ballad about fair Maguelonne and Peter of Provence and its origins in a late mediaeval French prose romance, subsequently translated into German and Czech. Some basic information about the romance and an outline of its most important features, and those of the two translations, help put the broadside ballad into its literary and historical context. The main focus is, of course, on the broadside ballad itself, i.e., on presenting the preserved copies, describing the formal aspects of the work, and comparing the plot of the ballad with the plot of the Czech translation of the romance. Keeping in mind the previous versions of the story permits us not only better to understand the specificity of the broadside ballad, but, at the same time, to identify some of the modifications made by the author of the ballad as expressions of wider ongoing processes.

Evaluating sexual function among women after recurrent pelvic organ prolapse transvaginal mesh repair

We aimed to evaluate women’s sexual function before and after pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery utilising light transvaginal mesh after a prior hysterectomy. Only sexually active women with recurrent cystocele stage 3–4 according to POP-Q, who had previously undergone vaginal hysterectomy with anterior native tissue repair without apical fixation, were enrolled in the study. Women with previous mesh implant POP surgery, persistent vaginal infection or pelvic inflammatory disease were excluded. All patients were surgically treated between 2012 and 2015 using single-incision transvaginal mesh Calistar A. Sexual function was evaluated before a surgery and two years postoperatively. The assessment was accomplished via the standardised validated Czech translation of PISQ-12SF questionnaire. For each patient, age, BMI and parity were monitored. Out of all (89) eligible patients, 48 patients met inclusion criteria and were subsequently enrolled in our study. Two years postoperatively, 31 women (79.5%) improved their PISQ-12 score; five (12.8%) had equivalent scores, and three patients (7.7%) reported lower scores. Overall PISQ-12 score was 37.1 ± 2.6 postoperatively with a 2.9 ± 2.3 statistically significant positive difference compared to the score preceding surgery. The majority of patients undergoing surgery using Calistar A experienced a significant improvement in sexual function. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Pelvic organ prolapse has a significant impact on women’s sexual functioning in an adverse manner. Mesh implant repair is associated with lower rates of prolapse awareness and prolapse re-operation; however, it is linked with safety concerns. One of these concerns is the negative impact on women’s sexual function. Evaluative study results following sexual function among women with mesh implant transvaginal repair are contradictory. What do the results of this study add? The results showed, that contrary to finding some of the previous studies, transvaginal mesh implant use could benefit patients with previous native tissue POP surgery failure with a low risk of sexual function deterioration. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The study provides clinical data for vaginal mesh implants on women’s sexual function in the mid-term outcome. These data can be crucial for selecting the right POP surgical technique and evaluating its benefits and risks.