Translation Theory Research Articles

Decolonial analytics in translation history: Ukrainian literature in the contested space of English translation

Decolonial analytics in translation history: Ukrainian literature in the contested space of English translation

The Retention of Metaphorical Imagery in Translations of Pasternak's Works into Kazakh and English

In this research the retention of metaphorical content in translations of Boris Pasternak's poems into Kazakh and English was examined, highlighting the complexity of transferring metaphors and the need for further analysis. It evaluates how well metaphorical content is preserved in these translations, noting that despite ef-forts, complete conveyance of metaphorical imagery is often challenging. The methodology involves a com-parative analysis of the original text and its translated version to assess the preservation of metaphors. While some metaphors in Pasternak's works can be effectively conveyed in Kazakh and English, challenges arise when dealing with national-specific metaphors. This study contributes significantly to literary studies, com-parative linguistics, and translation theory, particularly in poetry translation, enhancing understanding of the complexities involved in conveying metaphors in literary works.

COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF HISTORICALAND TRANSLATION DISCOURSE OF ABAI

The purpose of this scientific article is to study the significance of Abai as a historical precedent figure and to analyze his historical and translational discourses from a scientific perspective. The main aim of the research is to uncover the essence of Abai's discourse, conduct a comprehensive analysis, and determine his significant contribution to the historical development of the country and the field of translation studies. The research also aims to assess the level of precedence associated with Abai's name and his writings. This research makes a significant contribution by presenting Abai's translational discourse as a historical-literary discourse, characterized by adherence to the historical context and cultural specificity. Recognizing Abai's work as a product of a historical personality, the research reflects the features and characteristics of the historical era. The study employs a comprehensive approach, including discursive-historical, cognitive-discursive, and pragmatic-communicative methodologies, supplemented by sociological survey methods. This approach allows for a thorough analysis of Abai's discourse, identifying and describing the extralinguistic, cognitive, pragmatic, and linguistic-stylistic components of his historical discourse. Asa result of the research, an in-depth analysis of Abai's translational discourse was conducted, shedding light on its historical nature and determining its level of precedence. The results obtained not only provide valuable insights into Abai's discourse but also significantly contribute to the development of the theory of historical discourse and translation studies. This study contributes to the development of the theory of historical discourse and translation studies, thereby expanding knowledge of cultural and linguistic dynamics in a historical context. The practical significance of the research lies in its ability to deepen the understanding of Abai's contribution to the historical process and the field of translation studies. By studying Abai's discourses, researchers and scholars can gain valuable information about the historical context and the impact of his works on society and the theory of translation.

Translating and performing China for the English-speaking stage: Royal Shakespeare Company’s re-staging of The Injustice to Dou E

Contemporary China is increasingly open in its interaction with the global cultural community, generating one of the most prestigious projects—the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “Chinese Classics Translation Projects” (2015–2023). This article examines this project’s first production Snow in Midsummer, a performance based on a new translation of the Chinese classic Dou E Yuan (窦娥冤, The Injustice to Dou E That Moved Heaven and Earth). Through exploring the multiple agents involved in the RSC’s re-staging of the play, this article traces the processes of translation and performance characterised by an oft-hidden collaborative agency. It uncovers the collaborative agency at work and argues that the agency in this theatre production aims to set the conditions to make the original Chinese classic new, so as to enable its rejuvenation and transformation. Key finding of this article is that the collaborative agency of the translator, playwright, director, stage designer, and actors/actresses in re-staging has enlivened the 13th-century Chinese classic with enriched narratives and produced a performance that is nuanced and relevant to the contemporary world. This article makes a case for the paradigmatic shift from a product-based approach to theatre translation to a process-based one. It opens new avenues to future research into the question of complexity of collaborative agency in restaging the foreign classic to the contemporary English-speaking audiences for both areas of theatre translation for performance and transnational theatre production.

THE IMAGE OF KAZAKH ZOO-PHRASEOLOGISMS IN TRANSLATION (on the basis of novel “The Nomads” by I. Esenberlin in Kazakh, Russian and English languages)

The article considers the translation problems of zoo-phraseologisms of Kazakh language. The translation problem is an actual and complex theme and translation of phraseological units is an interesting task which needs special creativity. The main objective of a translator is to find phraseologism in a sentence and distinguish its ethocultural peculiarities and translation of such a phraseological unit keeping their national features is a rather complicated problem. That is why the actuality and the importance of the given articlegroup with these problems. Phraseological units of ethnocultural character does not replicate in the second language, and cannot be found in dictionaries. Therefore the scientific novelty of the article is the identification and analysis of translation methods of phraseological units of ethnocultural character which describe the culture, lifestyle and worldview of definite people. The article aims to make definite conclusions according to the results of research work by analyzing the methods of translating phraseological units appropriate to the definite nation, defining the failures and successes of translation.The translation methods of Kazakh phraseologisms into Russian and English languages are compared and analysed on the basis of the trilogy “The Nomads” by I. Essenberlin. Using the phraseologisms with zoo-component as the main material, the ways of translation (comparative, descriptive methods) were analysed. The meaning of them can be different while translating into other language, and so translators should try to keep the meaning of the word combination correctly or find the right analogue to make the reader understand the translated phrasal combination. Thepractical significance of the research with scientific value can be used at the courses of Lexicology, Phraseology, The theory and practice of translation, and as the lexical material in subjects as Linguocultorology and Linguistic analysis of literary texts and to compile dictionaries in higher education institutes.

A Cognitive Translation Study of Traditional Chinese Health Preservation Culture: Semantic Reconstruction and Cross-cultural Transmission

This study centers on the cognitive translation of traditional Chinese health preservation culture, presenting innovative and practical insights. By employing cognitive translation theory, including cognitive schemas and concept integration, this study addresses translation challenges and proposes semantic reconstruction principles. The research delves into cultural barriers and solutions, as evidenced by case studies like the “Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor” and “Treatise on Febrile Diseases.” Future efforts should expand case studies and refine cross-cultural transmission strategies. Integrating traditional Chinese health preservation culture with modern technology will further promote global communication and cultural exchange.

ANALYSIS OF THE TRANSLATION OF COLORS FOUND IN W. SHAKESPEARE’S SONNETS 1-126

This article presents the analysis on the colors used by W. Shakespeare in Sonnets 1-126 dedicated to a young man, and their translation in Samuil Marshak’s and Khamit Yergaliev’s variants. The most frequently used colors in the Sonnets 1-126 of the English writer are revealed in this work. Excerpts from the Sonnets with colors using are given and compared with their Russian and Kazakh translations. The purpose of this study is a detailed analysis in three variants of the colors appeared in W. Shakespeare’s sonnets 1-126. In the process of scientific work, the differences and similarities of the translated variants, as well as the features of each writer, are determined. The idea of the article is to compare the translation of colors in these Sonnets, to identify the colors most frequently used by the author and by the translators, to allocate the colors into thematic groups of sonnets proposed by A. Anikst. The scientific significance of this work lies in the insufficiency of research on the interpretation of colors in translated variants of W. Shakespeare’s sonnets. The practical significance of the study is determined by the usefulness of the presented data and results in the classes on the theory and practice of translation, comparative lexicology and grammar. In the article, the methods of analysis and synthesis, the sorting method, the comparative method were widely used and led to corresponding results. This research work will be able to give direction for further research on the analysis of the translated variants of the Sonnets, the translation of English colors into Russian and Kazakh languages. Keywords: translation of the Sonnets, indirect translation, colors translation, complex colors interpretation, the thematic groups of the Sonnets, Shakespeare’s color palette, translation transformations, comparative analysis.

Research on Sports-related English Translation from the Perspective of Communicative Translation Theory - Taking Texts of the Beijing Winter Olympics as an Example

The resounding success of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics has garnered significant attention towards Chinese sports undertakings, and related sports news and interviews have become an important platform for the general public to learn about sports culture, event information and the essence of sportsmanship. Therefore, how to translate sports texts in an accurate manner has been essential to break the linguistic bridge between different culture, as well as to publicize Chinese cultural soft power. Based on this, this paper will analyze and summarize the linguistic characteristics of sports texts, and propose suitable translation techniques and methods. It will take the analysis of interviews conducted during the Beijing Winter Olympics as an example under the guidance of the communicative translation theory, with a view to effectively improving the quality of sports-related translation.

Fucking Men, tsolia and mpares: translating camp talk for the Greek stage

ABSTRACT The premiere of Joe DiPietro’s Fucking Men in Greece, in November 2018, sparked intense interest, particularly in the local gay community. Adapted from Arthur Schnitzler’s controversial La Ronde, the play delves into the emotional and sexual dynamics of gay men within late capitalism, exploring themes such as promiscuity, fear of outing, HIV/AIDS, closeted lives, and the complex nature of relationships. Antónis Galéos translated the play, offering insights into Greece’s modern gay landscape. This article addresses the underexplored intersection of gender, sexuality, and theatre translation, focusing on the construction of gay identities through verbal camp. Using Keith Harvey’s descriptive framework on surface features of camp, it examines how verbal camp is translated into Greek, highlighting its impact on stage effects and on broader societal implications. This study aims to shed light on the nuanced construction of gay identities across languages and cultures, emphasizing visibility and representation within the local gay community.

A Study on Translator’s Subjectivity of Dream of Red Mansions Based on Polysystem Theory

With the development of The Times, translation studies are no longer limited to text and syntax, but have expanded from in-text studies to out-of-text studies. Translation activities are carried out in two cultural contexts. Therefore, from a new translation perspective, the translation process pays more attention to the target language culture and the influence of various social, cultural and economic factors on translation activities, thus developing the translator's subjectivity. The status of the translator is gradually revealed, which makes the translation closer to the target language culture and expands the target audience. Based on the comparison between traditional translation theory and multi-system theory, this paper takes the translation of Dream of Red Mansions as an example, and has an in-depth study of the translator's subjectivity in the translation process through comparison and analysis, emphasizing the important effect of the translator's subjectivity in translation activities,so as to provide references for how to produce high-quality text translation.

Foreignisation and resistance: Lawrence Venuti and his critics

This article evaluates whether Lawrence Venuti’s translation approach of “foreignisation” is likely to achieve his stated goal: translations that can resist cultural dominance. This is assessed in light of criticism of his approach from other translation scholars also concerned with cultural encounters and power relations: Maria Tymoczko, Mona Baker, Tarek Shamma and Michael Cronin. The article concludes that it is problematic to identify foreignisation and predict its effect. In spite of this, Venuti’s focus on the dangers of a one-sided privileging of fluent translation strategies is important and valuable, not least in the perspective of the internal cultural and linguistic struggles that will take place within the target culture.

Computational musicking: music + coding as a hybrid practice

ABSTRACT While there is a growing body of research that explores the integration of music and coding in learning environments, much of this work has either emphasised the technical aspects of computer language design or music as a motivational context within which to learn computer science concepts. In this paper, we report on a study in which five undergraduate students with experience in both music and coding completed two creative musical tasks: one using conventional instruments and tools and one using Python code in an online music + coding environment. Inspired by the work of Christopher Small (1998. Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening. University Press of New England), we describe music + coding as a set of interlocking processes which we call computational musicking and explore how practices from both domains are reimagined in this new hybrid context. We introduce semiotic theories of translation and transcription to make sense of the computational musicking process and describe strategies that participants devised in their creative process.

The role of non-human actors in the acceptance of management accounting: the case of a Moroccan public establishment

Like private companies, public service establishments are seeking to improve their performance by adopting management control tools. However, their acceptance in this context raises specific challenges. Unlike the private sector, where profitability is often the main driver for the acceptance of such tools, the public sector has to deal with more complex organizational dynamics involving many actors. This article examines the reasons underlying the acceptance of a management control tool, in particular a management accounting system, in the Moroccan public sector. The research is based on a qualitative case study carried out in a Moroccan public establishment that recently introduced a management accounting system, using the Actor-Network Theory (ANT), also known as the translation theory, developed by Callon and Latour in the 1980s. Traditionally mobilized to analyze the innovation diffusion process, this approach is used in our research to study the pre-adoption, or ex-ante, phase of innovation introduction. The results of this study highlight the complex dynamics of management accounting acceptance in the Moroccan public sector, showing how non-human actors play a crucial role in the pre-adoption phase of management control instruments. Our research reveals the decisive influence of the tax variable, as a non-human actor, on the acceptance of the management accounting system. This link between taxation and management accounting is a significant contribution, particularly due to the lack of studies on legal and fiscal variables in management control. These results underscore the importance of considering both non-human and human actors equally in the translation process (generalized symmetry).

How Film Adaptations Make the Original Poetic

Abstract This essay argues that film adaptations make the original poetic because the mode of expression changes from “telling” to “immersion.” The author refers to Walter Benjamin’s translation theory to discuss the nature of adaptation and makes use of several widely celebrated novels and their film versions as examples.

The Comments on Ezra Pound

As one of the representatives of Western literary theories, Ezra Pound not only made outstanding contributions to the development of the Western translation theory, but also promoted the communication between Chinese and Western poetics. His translation practice is rich and far-reaching. He also proposes the creative translation method. For example, Pound’s translation of ancient Chinese poetry can show remarkable creativity. Therefore, after sorting out relevant materials, this paper gives a brief introduction to him, his translation theories and translation practices, and also concludes his translation thoughts and his immense influence on the translation field, aiming to provide case references for translators to study and enrich their understanding of the representative figures of the Western literary theory.

Variational Translation Phenomenon of Six Chapters of A Floating Life

The Variational Translation theory was summarized and proposed by Huang Zhonglian, a Chinese translator and scholar, from his many years of translation practice and research. There are altogether seven flexible means: omission, editing, narration, condensation, combination, modification and addition. Six Chapters of A Floating Life by Shen Fu of the Qing Dynasty was beautifully written and deeply loved by Lin Yutang. To better promote Chinese culture to the world, Lin translated this novel, and its English version was highly praised abroad. Based on the Variational Translation theory and combined with examples, this paper discusses in detail the specific manifestations of the translation variation strategies such as omission, editing, narration, modification and addition in the English version of Six Chapters of A Floating Life. The ultimate goal is to enhance the guiding role of the Variational Translation theory in the English translation of Chinese novels.

The Role of Cognitive Schema Theory in the Translation from Arabic into English

This study investigates the role of schema theory in translation and aims to gain knowledge that may progress AI-related domains through the simulation of cognition and AI. Schema theory hypothesizes that translators use mental frameworks (schemata) to organize and interpret information. In the context of translation, schemata play a crucial role in knowledge representation, affecting limitations made during the translation process. A cognitive approach is employed and qualitative methods are used in the analysis. A corpus is collected from the translation of a SL Arabic novel (Frankenstein in Baghdad by A. Saadawi) into TL English, covering domains and language pairs. The translation process is analyzed to identify cognitive patterns employed by the translator as they apply schemata to achieve cross-cultural renditions. Conclusions reveal that schema activation significantly impacts translation choices, influencing how the translator interprets and conveys meaning across languages. Cognitive patterns shed light on how cultural and linguistic factors influence the transfer of information between SL and TL. Additionally, the study uncovers variations in schema utilization across different translation tasks and the adaptability and flexibility of cognitive processes in response to varying contexts and linguistic challenges. By deepening our understanding of schema theory, this research contributes to the design, training, and assessment of AI algorithms. It also provides valuable insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying successful cross-linguistic communication and offers practical implications for translators engaged in intercultural exchange. Finally, this paper recommends that AI systems can drive advancements in MT and other AI-related fields of prior knowledge to produce accuracy and more closely with native speakers by using schema theory concepts.

Movie Titles’ Translation Strategies from English into Thai in Monomax Application

The objective of this study is to analyze the strategies employed in translating English movie titles into Thai within the Monomax Application. A total of 501 English movie titles spanning the decade of 2011 and 2020 were examined because a decade provides clear guidelines for data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The strategies for translating film titles into Thai conducted by Thongwan (2012) served as a framework for this study. The findings revealed that all 10 translation strategies were employed as follows respectively: 1) naming a new name regardless of the old name, 2) naming a new name based on the original name, 3) partial translation and adding Thai language, 4) partial transliteration and adding Thai language, 5) all translation and adding Thai language, 6) all transliteration and adding Thai language, 7) all transliteration without adding Thai, and 8) all translation without adding Thai language. Meanwhile, the last two which are 9) partial transliteration without adding the Thai language and partial translation without adding the Thai language were found used only once per each. Notably, the translated movie titles in Thai often featured distinctive and attractive elements, such as rhyme and alliteration. These findings corresponded to Nida & Taber (1974) translation theory that translation process is related to purpose and cultural linguistic norms. Future studies could explore the reception and perception of these translated titles among Thai audiences, shedding light on which strategies resonate most effectively and why.

Translating Inter-country Adoption as Transcultural Communication

This article attempts to explore transcultural communication through the translated version of “Inter-country Adoption” of the National Civil Code, 2017 ( the Muluki Dewani Samhita) Ain, 2074 BS). It observes the “Hague Adoption Convention, 1993” principles and the Manu’s idea of dharmaputra (adopted sob) mentioned in the “Manusmriti”, the law of Hindu, and its influence on the formation of adoption law in Nepal. The primary purpose of Nepali legal translation is to transfer Nepali legal culture for global communication. The cultural theory of translation developed by Lawrence Venuti and Marry Snell-Hornby and the equivalence theory of Eugene Nida and Peter Newmark are were used as the theoretical base for the study. The significance of this study is to the parents waiting for inter-country adoption and to the university students who have taken translation studies as their major subject. This article concludes that legal translation in Nepal is a strategy to deliver Nepali legal culture to the globe and vice versa.

TRANSLATION OF ENGLISH ISLAMIC MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/TEXAS INTO ARABIC

The present study evaluates and examines three translations, provided by three students who have master degree in translation, for a sample of English Islamic Marriage contract that is officially utilized by Muslims in the United States/ Texas. The central aim of the study is to identify the main issues which are usually faced by the legal translators in translating English International Islamic marriage contracts in the United States of America/Texas and Islamic matrimony registration forms and examining the procedures adopted by translators concerning the translation of official documentsThey followed Peter Newmark’s Theory (1988) of Semantic and Communicative translation in translating this legal document which includes cultural-bound terms related specifically to the Islamic beliefs and concepts that are considered fundamental parts of formulating such documents and raise a real challenge for legal translators due to the source language and target language related to diverse linguistic families and different legal systems and religious cultures. So, different translation issues have been committed by the translators in the usage of lexical items according to the current context. It is worth mentioning that the current document issued by "Frisco Masjid Inc.”, in which it is an organization concerning the affairs of Muslims in the American United States/Texas. The most important conclusion is the legal translator should first opt for the communicative technique due to the multiple terminologies that have no suitable equivalence in the target TL at the same time s/he should be aware of employing such procedure to grasp the alike alike ated lawful impact of the source language’s words.