Target Readers Research Articles

On Translated Modern Iraqi Fiction in English: Target Readership Perspective

English translation of modern Iraqi fiction remains uncharted territory mainly from target readers’ perception. For this purpose, the paper aims to investigate the target ordinary readers’ perception of modern Iraqi novel translated into English using a collected corpus of reviews published in Goodreads online review platform. The study adopts a case study approach to examine target readers’ comments on Ahmed Saadawi’s Frankenstein in Baghdad (2013), translated by Jonathan Wright (2018). The novel has succeeded in reaping a number of international literary awards; it was also on the shortlist for the Man Booker International Prize in 2018. This paper draws on non-professional (ordinary) readers’ reviews to explore how English literary readers have welcomed, although slowly, the presence of contemporary Iraqi fiction. In line with this view of readership, a corpus of 164 text reviews and 2030 ratings were collected from Goodreads platform and analyzed to understand the ordinary English-speaking readership perception of the translated novel as to the features of a favorably received translation of Iraqi fiction. Therefore, the study has two aims to address: first, to identify the key features which may impede/enhance the non-professional readers’ enjoyment of the translated novel under study; second, to introduce a brief account of modern Iraqi translated fiction. The study is significant in that it helps to encourage future research on readers’ reception of modern Iraqi fiction translated into other languages and also to fill in a gap in literary translation studies on target ordinary readers’ perspective.

Corpus－Based Study on the Translation Methods of the Figures of Speech in Zhuang’s Folk Songs of Napo

The figures of speech in Zhuang’s Folk Songs of Napo exhibit distinct cultural characteristics compared to mainstream Chinese folk songs or Western literary traditions, and their translation requires careful attention not only to the figures of speech but also to the effective transmission of Zhuang culture. Based on a self-built bilingual corpus, this paper examines the translation methods of figures of speech in the English translations of Zhuang’s Folk Songs of Napo. The study reveals that translators predominantly use literal translation to preserve the cultural features of figures of speech while also incorporating free translation and imitation to align with the target language and cultural norms. By analyzing the figures of speech in Zhuang’s Folk Songs of Napo, this study explores their unique cultural characteristics and the challenges in the translation, contributing to a better understanding of Zhuang culture among the target readers and fostering cultural exchange and dissemination.

Funkciniai metakalbiniai komentarai skliaustuose Martino Fordo knygoje „Rise of the Robots“ ir jų vertimas į lietuvių kalbą

Research on the translation of metalinguistic comments (MLCs) in parentheses is rather scarce considering the relevance of the topic. The quality of the translation largely depends on the use of translation strategies such as the omission and addition of MLCs in the target texts as well as the retention or displacement of punctuation marks based on the function of the comment in the original language and the pragmatic aspects of punctuation. The aim of the study is twofold: to determine the functions of MLCs in parentheses in a popular science text and the strategies of their translation into Lithuanian. The study is mainly based on the typology of the functions of MLCs in parentheses and the classification of translation strategies, developed by Levin and Ström Herold (2021). The results of the study revealed that MLCs in parentheses in popular science texts were mostly used for the purposes of specification and were always retained in target texts. MLCs in parentheses that appeared only in the target text included cases of additions and shifts that were used to maximise the pragmatic effect, to highlight the author’s subjective opinion or to hide information that was not particularly relevant to the target reader. Omission, on the other hand, was more of a coincidence than a tendency.

Eco-Translation of The Dove’s Necklace

Objectives: This essay aims to examine how environments and places are portrayed in a literary work and their translation, drawing attention to how spaces and landscapes are reflected and recreated in this work. The emphasis is on the premise that language, environment, and landscape, which are at the heart of literature, should be translated into certain other linguistic and environmental mediums throughout the translation. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to reveal, through an ecocritical approach, Alem's translators' translational preferences to recreate the ecological and spatial setting she expresses in her novel, The Dove’s Necklace. Additionally, to investigate if these translational preferences aid in enhancing environmental awareness and space image amongst target readers. Methods: This is a descriptive study that employs qualitative approaches. A comprehensive reading of the work is necessary to verify the novel's translations of landscape and bioregion references following Toury's (2012) proposed translational norms. Results: The results show that the translators of the target text have generally benefited from the tendency towards literal translation. In other words, the translators' literal translation method aided in conveying the same environmental image. Consequently, the intended reader becomes aware of an ecological reality that exists outside of their own settings. Conclusions: Scholars do not widely accept literal translations, although they may effectively convey the text and its impact.

Technological Scanning for Foresight: The case of Metaverse applications for Healthcare

The process of foresight, which allows companies and organizations to build scenarios and inform the creation and sustainment of their competitive advantage, relies on the integration of several steps. Scanning is a crucial step of foresight, as it informs and influences the results of the whole process and, thus, the strategic decision-making of the company. Sources and methods of scanning for foresight analysis can be diverse and lead to different results, although few studies investigate such differences: more specifically, the informative power of academic and non-academic articles and reports has not been assessed yet. This study aims to shed novel light on how the different analysis methods of full reading of records and text mining analysis isolate and gather forces of change differently, based on the source analyzed. The study’s empirical context is the metaverse and its application in healthcare. We find that each source and method by itself is unable to fully gather the whole set of forces of change; however, each source presents some topics that are specific to the target readers of the source, and each methodology presents some advantages as well as some limitations. From the comparison of the results, theoretical and managerial implications are drawn.

Graded resources for learning and teaching foreign languages

Abstract Innovative resources for teaching vocabulary have emerged during the last decades, among which the so-called ‘graded resources’, i.e. lexicons or inventories where linguistic forms have been associated with a difficulty level, having in mind a target reader. The idea of ‘grading’ in Education is not new and has evolved over time: vocabulary or text scales (grades) have been approached as an educational tool with the means available at each period of time. In this survey, our aim is to show how current approaches of graded resources for foreign language learning are rooted in the tradition of building frequency lists for education. We then synthesize the body of work that has been undertaken to design graduated resources, highlighting the different methodologies applied as well as existing resources.

Capital, labour and currency: book love in the economy of young adult publishing

ABSTRACT This article examines the relationship between emotion, production and sales in the book publishing industry, specifically how ‘book love’ operates in the publication and promotion of Young Adult (YA) titles. Through interviews conducted in 2020–2023, the article examines how commissioning editors, booksellers and associated professionals in Australia experience and use emotion in their production and sale of YA titles. It argues that emotion plays three economic roles in the intersubjective transferral of ‘book love’ through the chain of production, distribution and sales. Australian industry professionals mobilize book love as capital, as labour and as currency in fulfilling the expectations of their roles. This deployment of book love helps titles find their way into the hands of target readers.

Narrative reconstruction of events in novel translation: A case study of the English translation of Xuemo’s works

Drawing inspiration from Prince’s (2012) discourse on narrative events, this study investigates how translators reconstruct narrative events in novel translation. The results indicate that, in terms of narrative completeness, the addition of events such as detailed conflicts, background explanations, and narrative beginnings mitigates the cognitive disparity among target readers. This is achieved by furnishing them with the cultural knowledge necessary to decode text originating from a different cultural context. Regarding the temporal arrangement, the translator restructures the sequence of events by commencing with emotional events and reinstating the original chronological order to cater to target readers’ reading habits. Additionally, the reorganization of interconnected events according to thematic and character-based considerations enhances the readability of the target text. This research illuminates the significance of event reconstruction in novel translation and provides implications for both translators and scholars. By comprehending the effects of adding, rearranging, and reorganizing events, translators can adeptly adapt the narrative structure of a novel to align with the cognitive context and the reading preferences of readers in the target language.

Domestication and Foreignization in Translating Polite Tweets

Translation strategies, domestication and foreignization bridge the linguistic and cultural gaps. Domestication adapts foreign texts for target readers, often sacrificing cultural nuances, as seen in historical examples like Rome's assimilation of Greek texts. Foreignization preserves the original text's cultural distinctions. On social media like Twitter, translators face unique challenges with its character limit and specific lexicon. They must decide between domesticating tweets for clarity or foreignizing them to retain cultural elements. This paper explores domestication and foreignization in historical and modern contexts, highlighting their implications for cross-cultural communication and translation on digital platforms like Twitter.

Paratranslating Child-Environment Relations: 22 Translations of Keeperen Og Havet by Maria Parr

ABSTRACT This article analyses the many different covers of the children’s novel Keeperen og havet (The Goalkeeper and the Sea) by Parr. It aims to determine how the child-environment relations or assemblages are represented on the source cover and its various translations. The analytical and conceptual framework applied for the visual content analysis of the covers’ designs combines intersemiotic and paratranslation theory with posthuman and new materialism perspectives and reveals that interpreting relations between the environmental setting and the characters is a complex task. The findings demonstrate that child-environment relations on the various covers are sometimes agentic, but that the agentic elements are not always the same. It is not clear whether the agentic relations are related to the target culture’s image of the source culture or whether they are influenced by how the target culture is meant to support or challenge the target readers.

Recharacterising Confucius in Multimodal Translation: From Analects to Comics

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore how Confucius is recharacterised in the multimodal translation of The Analects from verbal (analects) to verbal-visual (comics) texts. The focus is on the interpersonal/interactive meaning in Systemic Functional Linguistics and visual social semiotics. Parameters of MOOD and MODALITY are used in discussing the verbal mode in both source and target texts, and the system of CONTACT, SOCIAL DISTANCE, INVOLVEMENT, POWER, AFFECT, PROXIMITY and MASS/AMOUNT are employed in describing features of the visual mode in comics. The quantitative results show that Confucius has been recharacterised from an authoritative teacher in the source text into different images in four comic adaptions, i.e. a detached truth transmitter in Mori [2002. Dongfang Zhidian Shengshu: Manhua Lunyu. Beijing: Jiuzhou Press], an affable wiser in Tsai [2005. Confucius Speaks: The Message of the Benevolent. Beijing: China Modern Publishing House Ltd.], a superior mentor in Zhang [2007. Manhua LunYu. Hangzhou: Zhejiang People’s Publishing House.], and a popularised teacher in Chen [2021. Banxiaoshi Manhua Lunyu. Shanghai: Wenhui Press]. It is argued that the different images of Confucius reconstrued in four translations can be better understood in terms of the context of translation, in which translators’ identity, translation purpose, target reader and historically accepted image of Confucius are finally explored.

The Theme Progression Patterns in Popular Science Book Writing: A Systemic Functional Linguistics Approach

Despite the proliferation of digital mediums such as documentary series, video essays, and science podcasts, popular science books are still the primary medium for promoting science to the public as an epistemic way to understanding and being aware of our natural world. That said, in the domain of systemic functional linguistics, there exists a dearth of studies investigating popular science books. Hence, this study aims to investigate the organization of popular science discourse from the perspective of Theme Progression. A 93,078-word corpus was collected and divided into two main science categories: hard and soft—three disciplines under each main category and six texts under each discipline. The analysis of the corpus followed a mixed-method design where a Theme-counting excel sheet, created by the researcher, was used to calculate the most occurring Theme patterns. The results of the analysis indicate that the hard science disciplines give a logical presentation of the scientific text that intends to unpack and explain the intricacy behind the scientific notion whereas the soft science disciplines focus on expository narrative to connect and relate the scientific text to the target reader. Given these writing behaviors between the two science categories, it is recommended that future SFL studies explore the potentially arising differences within the broader aspect of the popular science genre, for instance, to juxtapose books from articles in the way discoursal features (e.g., coherence and cohesion) are structured in the text.

A Study on the English Translation of “Taipei People” from the Perspective of Adaptation Theory

The collection of short stories, Taipei People, is one of the representative works of the famous writer Pai Hsien-yung. In this book, Pai portrays characters from different regions and fields vividly, displaying a contrast between the past and the present. The stories in this book are rich in Chinese culture and customs, which is concerned in this paper. This paper compares and analyzes the English translation of Taipei People from four aspects from the perspective of the adaptation theory, namely, contextual correlates of adaptability, structural objects of adaptability, dynamics of adaptability, salience of the adaptation processes. It is found that the translators consider the differences in language, culture and social environment between China and western countries, and make translation choices of different degrees of salience of adaptation. They adopt different translation strategies to dynamically adapt to the original book and target readers, make flexible choices according to different contexts, which show the salience and purpose of translators in the translation process. In view of the literary value of Taipei people, this paper hopes to provide some reference for more translators to translate and disseminate Chinese literature.

A methodological review in sensory analyses of chicken meat

The sensory characteristics of poultry products are crucial in defining their quality and widely influence consumer choices. Even though the scientific literature clearly indicates that for muscle foods the sensory profile is relevant in purchase decisions and overall acceptability, sensory evaluation has often been underestimated and considered complementary to instrumental and/or chemical assessments. Sensory analysis includes different types of validated tests (discriminative, descriptive, and affective), applied depending on the purpose of the research study, requiring special attention in the sample preparation phase, in particular for nonhomogeneous products such as poultry meat, requiring reproducible cutting, cooking and presentation to the tasters. The aim of this paper is to review, critically assess and discuss sensory methods, standardized procedures and sample preparation tailored for chicken meat, through the literature from 2000 to 2023, with a section dedicated to ethical aspects that must be carefully considered when designing a sensory protocol. The target readers are both the research and the business communities, as the information can be widely applied for quality control, to develop new food products, to understand or drive preferences or, for example, to assess potential sensory differences among chickens fed with different diets. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this review represents a useful first guide for those approaching the sensory analysis of chicken meat.

On C-E Translation of Fantasy Novels from the Perspective of Transknowletology: A Case Study of Coiling Dragon

With the boom in spreading Chinese net literature abroad, it is imperative to enhance the quality of translation for network novels. As a cornerstone of network novels disseminated in international markets, fantasy novels not only incorporate original fictional knowledge but also Chinese cultural knowledge, both of which are the secrets to attracting foreign readers and the focal points requiring special attention in translation. The translation standards of pursuing “Truth, Virtue, and Beauty” proposed by Transknowletology provide guidance for addressing the challenges in translating fantasy novels. Taking Coiling Dragon as an example, this paper explores how the translator conveys his genuine comprehension of the source text to the target readers, caters to them and aligns with their aesthetic standards when translating the fantasy novel. This paper aims to summarize translation methods for the English translation of fantasy novels so as to provide valuable references for improving the translation quality of network novels which are published and popular on internet.

Kenneth Rexroth’s Translation of Du Fu Poetry from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory

Kenneth Rexroth, a well-known American poet and translator, has contributed to Du Fu poetry translation in the Western society. From the perspective of Nida’s functional equivalence theory, this research takes Rexroth’s English translations of Du Fu poems as a case to study the translation strategies adopted by Rexroth. This explores translation strategies of Du Fu poetry from the perspective of functional reciprocity theory, and is supposed to provide references for the English translation of the ancient Chinese poetry in the future. The above examples all reflect the faithfulness and accuracy of the free translation under the theory of functional equivalence, and accurately express the connotation of the original poem. Above all, the translator has adopted literal translation when translating the above verse. in order to achieve the requirement of the theory of functional equivalence, which enabled the target readers to have the same experience as the original readers. This was the most fundamental purpose of using the literal translation here.

Analisis Metode Penerjemahan dalam Novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”

Comparing the translation of literary works and the translation of scientific texts shows the differences in terms of complexity and challenges. One example of a literary work is a novel. Novels with figurative language and idiomatic expressions certainly need to be translated accurately for the target readers. This study aims to explain the translation methods used in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This research is a descriptive qualitative research. The data sources in this study are taken from the original English novel published by D. Appleton and Co in 1866 and the Indonesian translation translated by Inkraian in 2015 published through wattpad. The research was conducted using the translation method proposed by Newmark (1998). The results show that there are seven translation methods used in translating Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, namely 6 data for literal translation, 6 data for free translation, 5 data for faithful translation, 4 data for communicative translation, 4 data for adaptation translation, 3 data for semantic translation, and 2 data for idiomatic translation.

Revoicing Attitude of Virginity Test: An Appraisal-based Translation Study on News Discourse

The virginity test is a long-standing tradition that has been documented in at least 20 countries around the globe (WHO, 2018). Women and girls are frequently subjected to or forced to undergo this test for various reasons. In the Indonesian context, this gynecological examination conducted under the belief to determine if a woman has had vaginal intercourse has to be experienced by female military candidates. In response, the Indonesian army has set to remove this somewhat controversial policy. Through media, this issue was packed in such a way that reflects the media's stance. Accordingly, this research aims to investigate how media take a stance toward this issue and how the translated version delivers it from the perspective of translation studies and appraisal theory using the qualitative method. Appraisal resources identified the data and compared the original text to the Indonesian versions retrieved from the ABC online news portal (Australian and Indonesia-based). This method is conducted to gather and interpret any attitudinal resources in both original and translated texts. It reveals that the translated version, compared to the more neutral-sounded original one, exploits a more clear-cut attitude towards the issue. Various attitudinal lexis including invasive, gender-based, victim and abusive, are chosen to revoice her stance that this practice is groundless. Through its translation, the author articulates her attitude louder. It proves that different target readers influence how the information is packed and constructed. As a re-situated text, translation barely occurs in an empty space.

Za'ba's Approach in the Translation of Anak Raja dengan Anak Papa

One important figure in the history of translation in Malaysia is Zainal Abidin bin Ahmad or Za‘ba. He is the translator of Anak Raja dengan Anak Papa (1958), the first translated novel published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka after its establishment in 1956. Za‘ba’s talent as a translator, however, is rarely discussed. Taking this into account, this article focuses on Za‘ba, specifically to discuss how he dealt with the translation of Anak Raja dengan Anak Papa, which was translated based on the English novel The Prince and the Pauper. To achieve this objective, a comparison is carried out between the translation, Anak Raja dengan Anak Papa (1958), and its source text, The Prince and the Pauper (1882). The changes that occur in the translated text are determined based on Nida’s (1964) framework of techniques of adjustment in translation. The analysis points to the fact that Za‘ba attempted to accommodate his translation for his target readers through the use of addition and alteration. Through this target-oriented approach, the conveyed meaning is clearer, and the resulting text is more reader-friendly. In view of the importance of this translation in the context of the history of publishing in Malaysia, this study hopes to contribute to the documentation of the history of translation in Malaysia, particularly involving translation into Malay in the early years after independence.

Strategy choice, shaping factors and justifications: Perceptions of academic translators of Humanities and Social Sciences texts

AbstractScholars have conflicting views as to strategy choice between foreignization and domestication, and each view is supported by descriptive case analyses. So far, translation practitioners' voices on strategy use have not been heard. This study aims to explore translators' views on strategy choice, shaping factors, and justifications. The participants surveyed were translators of academic texts in Humanities and Social Sciences, a genre requiring substantial and creative interventions from translators in rhetorical norms and epistemological conventions. The results indicate that: domestication is used more often than foreignization; strategy use is translator-specific in that the translators are divided concerning the manipulation of the macro-level source-text features and content, though most of them agree to domesticate the micro-level features; eight factors (target readers' needs, authors, etc.) exert different degrees of impact on strategy use; and the current practices of justifying strategy use is invisible, harming the recognition of translators' contributions and their professional status.