Translation Theory Research Articles

Extending translation, connecting viewpoints and scaling policies and agency: three challenges for translation historians of the French Revolution

ABSTRACT This contribution deals with a number of challenges faced by translation historians of the French Revolution. First, the challenge of extending the translation category by including a range of transfer modalities that gravitate around translation. Second, the challenge of finding a balance between two historians’ viewpoints: those who want to know what the Revolution has meant for translation and those who want to know what translation has meant for the Revolution. Third, the challenge of relating the different scales of translators’ activities taking simultaneously or successively place in local, national and transnational settings.

Effectiveness of communication strategies adopted by the interpreters of sermons in the Pentecostal churches in Vihiga County, Kenya

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of communication strategies adopted by the interpreters of sermons in the Pentecostal churches in Vihiga County. The analysis of the effectiveness of the communication strategies was anchored on Nida’s translation theory, which underscores the significance of the interpretation setting, purpose of discourse and words' capacity to assume different meanings in different contexts, which compel interpreters to thoroughly review the translated work in order to produce effective interpretation. Descriptive research design was employed, and preachers, interpreters, and congregants from Pentecostal churches in Vihiga County constituted target population. Audio-video recording, interview guide and structured observation guide were employed in data collection, while thematic content analysis was employed in data analysis. The results showed that the interpreters of the sermons in the Pentecostal churches commonly employed lexical addition, repetition, rewording, shift of footing, stage movement, restatement, use of pause, intonation, pitch, pace and emphasis to maintain the preaching rhythm and mimicry as the communication strategies. The study concludes that the communication strategies were effective in enhancing the transmission of the message during sermon delivery. As a result, the study recommended that the interpreters should be adequately trained in sermon interpretation to enhance their ability to deal with the dynamics of interpretation in the Pentecostal churches. This study is significant to the entire Pentecostal church community, as well as preachers, interpreters, researchers, and scholars who are concerned about the effectiveness of communication strategies adopted to enhance the transmission of the message during sermon delivery.

“Calming my heartbeat to enjoy the show”: the social-indexical meanings of in-yer-face theater recontextualized China

Abstract This article investigates the performability of in-yer-face theater that is recontextualized from the British to the Chinese context. We propose an interdisciplinary approach that uses sociolinguistic tools to empirically examine relevant issues for theater translation studies. By analyzing audience reactions from both online and offline platforms, we find that different audiences in China link this form of theater to context-specific indexical meanings. Our study reveals that Chinese audiences associate in-yer-face theater with the social persona of the wenyi qingnian – a stereotype of a pretentious youth with niche interests in the arts – and with socially transgressive ‘tastes’ referred to as zhong kouwei “heavy taste” and da chidu “overboard”. Because of the mixed attitudes among various stakeholders, the findings underscore the controversial nature of in-yer-face theater in China, as it is neither fully accepted nor fully rejected. By focusing on audience perception and interpretation, our study enriches the broader understanding of theater translation. We hope this study could provide a foundation for navigating the complex field of indexicality and performability for in-yer-face theater in China.

Perceptions about Foreignization and Domestication: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students at NUML, Islamabad

The following study aims to find out the attitudes of the undergraduate students of 8th semester, studying at National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, about the two techniques of translation, foreignization and domestication. The concept of foreignization and domestication was put forwarded by an American translation theorist, Lawrence Venuti, in 1995 in his work A Translator’s Invisibility. Two translated paragraphs of Ismat Chughtai’s short story, Do Hath, are given to the students. One is written using domestication, and the other is written leaving imprints of the source culture. The research is exploratory as interviews are conducted to corroborate the study. For analysis of interviews, Kathy Charmaz’s model of interview analysis is used. The model was given in 2012 in Charmaz’s book about the Grounded Theory. It is found that the students of the English Department of NUML, Islamabad, who have studied Translation Studies as a subject in their previous semester (7th semester), asserts that the technique of foreignization should be prioritized while translating texts from Urdu to English.

A Comparative Study of Translation Ideologies in Onomatopoeia Across Cultures in Story Weaver

This research compares the translation ideologies applied to onomatopoeia in level two children’s literature on the StoryWeaver website. Translators at Story Weaver often face a dilemma between preserving the original sound (onomatopoeia) or adapting it to the perception of children in the target culture. It aims to provide insights into effective translation techniques for onomatopoeia and to contribute to translation theory by examining the ideologies on cross-cultural understanding in children's literature. The study focuses on translation products, using linguistic and translation data, including techniques, methods, and ideologies. Data sources comprised documents and informants. The documents included nine children’s literature translated by The Story Weaver Community, The Asian Foundation, and the Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa while informants were raters. Data collection involved document analysis and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). Data analysis employed domain analysis, taxonomy, component analysis, and cultural themes to identify, categorize, and understand how translation techniques and ideologies affect cultural understanding. The findings indicate that translators from The StoryWeaver Community and The Asian Foundation generally favor target language-oriented techniques (adaptation, established equivalent) with adaptation methods and domestication ideologies. In contrast, translators from Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa (Agency for Language Development and Cultivation.) often employ source language-oriented techniques (Pure borrowing, naturalized borrowing., literal), use literal translation methods and foreignization ideologies. The study hopes to serve as a reference for translating onomatopoeia, offering valuable insights into how different translation techniques affect the translation ideologies outcomes.

Pierwsze polskie tłumaczenie Luzjad Camõesa

THE FIRST POLISH TRANSLATION OF CAMÕES’ LUSIADS This year we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Luis de Camões, Portugal’s greatest poet. For a translation scholar, this is a special occasion to mention the first Polish translation of The Lusiads, published in 1790 by the unjustly forgotten, or rather: unjustly disregarded by posterity, Prof. Jacek Idzi Przybylski. This article aims to recall the achievements of the Kraków classical philologist, a translator of Voltaire’s most important works, but also of Homer’s Iliad, Virgil’s Aeneid and Georgics, Milton’s Paradise Lost, the works of Ovid, Horace, Hesiod… Przybylski’s work is uneven, but the mockery of his contemporaries, including the Enlightenment arbiter of elegance Dmochowski, was provoked by his predilection for creating not always fortunate neologisms – let us add, mainly in scientific works, to a much lesser extent literary ones. Dmochowski had personal reasons for his dislike of Przybylski, but this was not noticed by his contemporaries -– and surprisingly, once a malicious assessment was popularized, it was thoughtlessly repeated until the end of the 1970s. The analysis of the literary merits of Przybylski’s Luzyada, carried out by the author of this article, indicates, however, that the aforementioned negative judgments were extremely hasty. According to the author, this translation is worth restoring to the readership, for several reasons. First, none of the later translations impress us, and it is difficult to expect that someone in modern times will make another, more successful attempt. Second, when translating old poetry, we have a choice between the Scylla of archaic stylization and the Charybdis of modern translation. Przybylski’s 18th-century translation fortunately avoids both dangerous reefs: its antiquity is natural, so it already constitutes a certain added value at the starting point. What is more, however, the best fragments of this translation surprise us to this day with their freshness and originality.

The Mechanisms of Literary Translation in the Translation of “امشب اشكی میریزد” from Persian to Kurdish according to the Theories of (Vinay) and (Darbelnet)

Literary translation is a sophisticated and tactful process that exceeds the mechanism of what to say to how to say it from linguistic, cultural and educational perspectives and accommodating these in the target language. This relates to the fact that the literary text is itself the product of interrelated socio-political, economical and religious aspects. Additionally, the literary text is a reflection of the cultural concerns of a society that it represents as well as the emotional and ideological anxieties of the individuals that are also partly the anxieties of the writers. This means that such characteristics give literary text individual and unique qualities which in turn require individual and unique processes of translation especially in the way in which each text is read, evaluated and received. In this concern, the theory and mechanism of translation play an active and significant role. Based on this, the translation of the Persian novel “امشب اشكی میریزد” written by Koros Babayi into Kurdish “ئەڤ شەڤە ڕوندكەك دێ ڕژیت”, Tonight a Tear will be Dropped, by Nishtiman M. Saleem in 2011, has been selected to analyzed in relation to the translation mechanisms of the two French theorists Jean Darbelnet (1904-1990) and Jean-Paul Vinay (1910-1999). In his translation of the aforementioned text, the translator has adopted direct translation, or word-for-word translation. Employing this mechanism has assisted the translator in transforming the novel into the target language adding his unique style. However, the translator’s lack of experience in the implementation of the (translation by omission) in which the translator, unable to find equivalents from target language for certain parts of a text in source language, makes omissions in the text. This has caused a number of negative impacts on the text. These have been explained with examples.

Comparative Study of Translation between China and the West

In recent years, with the acceleration of globalization and the exchange and integration between different cultures, translation has played an increasingly crucial role as an important cross-cultural communication tool. As an important field, Chinese Western translation involves the mutual transformation and cultural exchange between Chinese and Western languages, and has significant theoretical and practical value. This paper aims to conduct a comparative study of Chinese and Western translation studies, explore the differences and similarities in theoretical viewpoints and methods between the two, in order to deepen the theoretical understanding and practical application of Chinese and Western translation studies. In the historical development of Chinese and Western translation studies, Chinese translation studies has accumulated rich experience and achievements in translation theory and practice with its long history and unique traditions. Western translation studies, with its systematic and theoretical characteristics, have formed various important translation theory schools and methodologies. The exchange and influence of Chinese and Western translation studies have promoted the integration and mutual reference of theories, providing important ideological support for the development of Chinese and Western translation practice.

The Legacy of Early Translation Theory: Challenges and Contemporary Perspectives

This article critically examines the origins of translation theory, underscoring the essential role of historical context in understanding contemporary debates and methodologies. It delves into foundational intellectual confrontations, such as those between the followers of D’Ablancourt and the Jansenist pedagogues of Port-Royal, which continue to inform current discussions on fidelity, creativity, and the problem of untranslatability. The paper advocates for a diachronic approach to translation theory, recognizing the lasting influence of early theorists like De Méziriac and Tytler on the field. By revisiting these historical intellectual exchanges, the article demonstrates how enduring issues related to translation’s nature—whether as a science, an art, or a practice—continue to shape modern translation studies, influencing contemporary methodologies such as skopos theory and interpretive frameworks.

The Presence of Swift in Slovene Translation and Commentary

Although the Slovene milieu has yet to afford Swift’s works a multi-volume critical translation of the kind available in other European languages, this paper argues that Slovene representations of Swift’s writings illuminate crucial aspects of his meaning. This can be seen especially in Mladen Dolar’s afterword to a new unabridged translation of Gulliver’s Travels, in which he approaches Swift through a versatile and profoundly contemporary – yet still accessible – conceptual vocabulary, and in the first Slovene translation of Swift’s Modest Proposal, which retains and transmits the original’s power as a political act. The essay surveys the enduring international presence of Swift in translation and translation studies, outlines aspects of translation theory that prove relevant to its own inquiry, and proceeds to consider the Slovene contribution to Swift’s legacy.

Translation Quality Assessment of Two Arabic Translations of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye An M. A. Thesis in Translation Studies submitted to The English Translation Program, Department of English Faculty of Arts, Assiut University for an M. A. Degree in Translation studies. Chapter 2 : Theories of Translation

Translation Quality Assessment of Two Arabic Translations of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye An M. A. Thesis in Translation Studies submitted to The English Translation Program, Department of English Faculty of Arts, Assiut University for an M. A. Degree in Translation studies. Chapter 2 : Theories of Translation

Dominicus Germanus de Silesia’s Approach to the Qur’an

Abstract Dominicus Germanus de Silesia’s 17th century translation of the Qur’an, Interpretatio Alcorani Literalis, offers a new approach to the long history of Latin translations of the Qur’an. In line with the early modern, humanistic, “philological” trend, he aims to explore the original sources of his object of study. However, he takes this concept further by considering as “source” not only the authentic Qur’anic text, but also the most authoritative Qur’anic commentators, whom he also translates into Latin and incorporates into the translation. This paper is a first attempt to analyze in detail Dominicus’s modus operandi, his sources and how he relates them to the Qur’anic text, as well as the purpose of his work. The study includes the critical edition of sura 9, 28-35 in the Interpretatio Alcorani Literalis, both in the translation and in the commentary parts of the work.

Application Of Variation Translation Theory In The Translation Of Culture-Loaded Words

This paper explores the application of variation translation theory in the translation of culture-loaded words. It analyzes the challenges faced in translating such words and demonstrates how variation translation theory provides effective solutions. Through a comprehensive literature review, detailed methodology, analysis of results, and conclusive discussions, this study highlights the significance and relevance of applying variation translation theory in enhancing cross-cultural communication.

Лингвотопологическое моделирование процесса перевода: к общим основаниям

Cognitive research in translation is currently at its peak. The authors studied L. V. Kushnina’s synergetic concept of translation space in an interaction with the topological fields of translation to develop a linguistic topological model of translation as a process. The analysis yielded graphic constructs represented by topologically structured spaces that illustrate the process of interlingual and intercultural interaction. The research relied on P. A. Florensky’s idea of the language of spatial objects and the provisions of philological and translation topology developed by L. V. Polubichenko, who studied the variant vs. invariant patterns of different philological objects, from words to texts. The current Chinese translation studies show similar ideas (see: Wu Dan, Ding Xiuhei, Zhao Genglin, Jiang Shengnan, etc.). The article visualizes the modern translation paradigm from the perspective of linguistic topology. Translation is a multifunctional verbal and mental activity that unites various objects in the spaces between the sender, the translator, and the recipient. The resulting topological translation model represents the linguistic topology of interlingual communication at the intersection of cognitive topology, linguistics, translation theory and practice, and cognitive translation studies.

Methodology Matters: How Translation Theories and Technologies Have Shaped Journey to the West

Methodology Matters: How Translation Theories and Technologies Have Shaped Journey to the West

Saving Pets: A Study of Online Mutual Aid Among Marginal Group During the China COVID-19 Quarantine Period

Under the forced and high-pressure situation of the epidemic lockdown, how did marginal groups use digital media to gather, expand and help each other? How do humans, animals and media work together? From the perspective of translation theory, this study examined the emergence and development of online pets mutual aid group in Guangzhou, China during the lockdown period of COVID‑19. This study found that digital media are not only translating other actors to become the organizational force of online pets mutual aid group but also translating themselves to promote the long-term development of the group. These two translations strengthen the resilience of the groups. Even if external pressures disappear, the spirit of mutual assistance and innovative mode of operation will continue because of continuous translation. Online pets mutual aid group challenge anthropocentrism. The group was a manifestation of the vitality of human, non-human or animal co‑interpretation and an extension of human tolerance and identification of non-human species.

The Reconstruction of Female Images in the English Translations of Shui Hu Zhuan

ABSTRACT Shui Hu Zhuan, a classical Chinese novel, depicts an uprising led by Song Jiang that took place in the late Northern Song Dynasty (960–1127). Characteristically, most women in Shui Hu Zhuan are portrayed negatively, showing a misogynistic tendency. This study aims to examine the female images in the four full English translations of Shui Hu Zhuan to explore how the translators reconstructed the negative portrayal of women by the original narrator with the theoretical guidance of feminist translation theory and strategies. The translators of the four translations are from different socio-cultural backgrounds and serve different publishers and publishing purposes; therefore, these socio-cultural factors influencing their reconstructions of female images are also discussed in this study.

A computational approach to the history of Czech literature in translation during the Cold War (1948–1989)

ABSTRACT This article combines bibliographical data science and history of translation to investigate the dissemination of Czech literature in translation during the Cold War era. It describes the choice of data and the pre-processing phase of the research as well as the limitations of the result dataset used for research. It then explores two interconnected hypotheses. The first hypothesis investigates the dynamics of translations across languages during the Cold War. It anticipates extensive circulation within the Eastern bloc initially, followed by a notable decline in translations after its collapse. The second hypothesis delves into dissemination diversity amid Cold War geopolitics. It posits that translation patterns correlate with distinct authorships, favouring ideologically aligned authors in the East, critical ones in the West, and potentially canonical authors transcending these divisions. While some polarization assumptions are supported, the findings reveal substantial heterogeneity across the geopolitical divide and dynamic developments over time.

Neuropedagogical Guidelines for Translation Studies: Perceiving the Linguistic-Cultural Markers of the Other (Foreign) in Translation

This article highlights the need for a neuropedagogical approach to exploring the “self-other” category in current translation theories and practices, especially concerning sensitive linguo-cultural elements (e.g., non-equivalent vocabulary, cultural gaps, linguo-cultural semes, concepts and connotations). The relevance of the article stems from the growing accessibility of neuroscientific tools that can address translation and educational challenges characterized by high interlingual entropy, ambiguity, limited intercultural and linguistic awareness, and the issues of bilingualism within the context of post-cultural consciousness. Consequently, the article aims to identify the neuropsychological phenomenon of the “other” and its relation to translation, viewed as a discourse transformation along the self-other (foreign) continuum. The primary goal is to observe future translators’ spontaneous reactions to linguistic-cultural units with pronounced “other” semantics and provide neuropedagogical recommendations to manage the educational process and foster future translators’ deontological awareness of otherness. The research combines standard methods, such as analysis, comparison and generalization, with semantic analysis, cultural reflection and the recording of facial and emotional responses, interpreted by students and experts. Educational modelling has been the final method in a quasi-experimental study with 78 future translators. The main outcome of the article is a concise summary of typical, potentially destructive neuro-reactions, their impact on the translation process and practical educational insights and advice. The theoretical contribution of the article involves integrating neuropedagogical perspectives into the philosophical and methodical aspects of translation. The article proves that translators’ neuro-reactivity is a fundamental challenge in establishing professional ethics, particularly within the cultural and identity-related dimensions that comprise individual and collective consciousness.

Comparative Analysis of the Chinese Versions of Never Let Me Go under the Translation Theory of Lin Yutang—Taking the Translations by Zhu Qiji and Zhang Kun as Examples

Based on Lin Yutang's translation theory, this article conducts a comparative analysis of two Chinese versions of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go - the translation by Zhu Qiji and the translation by Zhang Kun. It explores how the two translators, while maintaining the spirit of the original text, employ different strategies to deal with cultural differences and language expressions. Zhu Qiji's translation focuses on accurately conveying the original information, while Zhang Kun's translation pays more attention to the reading experience of the readers. Through comparison, this paper analyzes the differences between the two translation versions in terms of translation accuracy, fluency, and style reproduction.