Translation Decisions Research Articles

Cultural mediators and distributed agency: the case of the publishing house Alfaguara (1976–1982)

ABSTRACT Establishing an interdisciplinary dialogue between historical and relational approaches, the present case study reconstructs the reading committees of the publishing house Alfaguara during the Transition to democracy (1975–1982) in Spain. Eminent authors and translators, scholars, and relevant figures in the industry served on these committees. This makes them an intriguing object of study as a social network where publishing and translational decisions were taken in a distributed way permeated by the cultural and social environment, with members often wearing many hats at once. Archival and interview data about interactants background, their further evolution and objectives is fed into network analysis to obtain a neater picture of agency and structure as relational. Combining relational theory with Translation Studies from a complexity epistemology perspective allows us to revisit notions of translation, publishing, agency and cultural repertoire from a multi-faceted viewpoint. Such an approach to these constructs offers the opportunity of empirically investigating translational processes that contribute to the emergence of the cultural, and also the social; in this case, in the very concrete example of a translation network (the reading committees) performing at a critical point in the recent history of Spain when cultural and social changes were transforming the country.

Девиантная и стратагемно-тактическая репрезентации языковой личности синхронного переводчика (в языковой паре «английский язык – русский язык»)

Representatives of the linguistic personality of a simultaneous interpreter may be individual combinations of stratagem-tactical decisions, deviations from the existing translation norm, primarily translation errors and unsuccessful translation decisions. The definition of units representing the linguistic personality of a simultaneous interpreter generates ambiguity of interpretations and a multitude of terminological derivatives. The study aims to determine the range of deviant and stratagem-tactical techniques that represent the linguistic personality of a simultaneous interpreter. The scientific novelty of the research consists in a new theoretical understanding of the problem of verbal representatives of the linguistic personality of a simultaneous interpreter, standing at the junction of linguopersonology, erratology and translatology. The author distinguishes between the concepts of a “translation error” and an “unsuccessful translation decision” from the perspective of the pragmatic content of the verbal translation. As a result of the research, a theoretical justification and empirical confirmation of the variety of stratagem-tactical manifestations are proposed, which are realized through the individual choice of a tactical network of techniques, as well as through the forms of deviant variants of the language portrait of a simultaneous interpreter.

Janky or non-fluent?

Abstract At a time when China is one of the world’s largest videogame markets, the English translation of some Chinese-developed videogames is still regarded by some players as inadequate, or “janky”, the term originally used to describe a technical glitch (Cooper 2018). This preliminary study surveyed localisation specialists active in Chinese into English (ZH-EN) videogame localisation to probe into their localisation methods and the reasons behind them, and determine whether localisers indeed used a “janky” translation as the result of lack of experience and training, or whether it was a deliberate translation decision, as in “non-fluent” translation (Brownlie 2010). The collected data was analysed to investigate the plausibility of the assumption that Chinese-developed videogames rendered into English sometimes employ marked English, as in China English, to intentionally identify them as Chinese-made. Results of the explorative small-scale survey of professionals were found to be largely in favour of optimal English fluency, including the omission of culturally locked elements such as idiomatic phrases, suggesting that “janky”, rather than “non-fluent”, translation resulted, most likely due to a limited experience and lapses in quality assurance.

DIVERSE OUTCOMES OF TRANSLATIONS OF LITERARY WORKS BETWEEN LANGUAGES OF VARIOUS LANGUAGE FAMILIES

The translation of literary works between languages belonging to diverse language families, such as Indo-European, Uralic, and Afro-Asiatic, presents unique challenges and opportunities. This article explores the profound impact of linguistic and cultural differences on the outcomes of such translations, emphasizing the complex interplay between semantic equivalence, stylistic fidelity, and cultural adaptation. By examining specific case studies, including translations of poetry, novels, and plays, this study highlights the nuanced strategies employed by translators to bridge linguistic gaps and cultural disparities. Key methods include comparative analysis of syntax, semantics, and cultural references, as well as an evaluation of the creative liberties taken to preserve the literary essence of the source text. The analysis underscores the critical role of cultural context in shaping translation decisions, illustrating how translators navigate idiomatic expressions, metaphorical language, and culturally specific elements. These findings not only deepen our understanding of linguistic diversity but also reveal the transformative potential of literary translation as a means of fostering intercultural dialogue. The study concludes with reflections on the implications for translation theory and practice, advocating for a more holistic approach that considers both linguistic and cultural dimensions to achieve meaningful cross-cultural literary exchanges.

Love is (not) love? exploring Chinese university teachers’ agency in translating rainbow works

ABSTRACT This study employs Emirbayer and Mische’s concept of ‘agency’ as a theoretical tool to examine the impact of the subjective agency exhibited by 11 Chinese university teacher translators on the translation of rainbow works. 1 The analysis examines the iterational, projective, and practical-evaluative dimensions of their agency, uncovering the mechanisms associated with each. Findings show that external pressures in the iterational dimension led to negative agency, discouraging the translation of rainbow works. In contrast, the projective dimension fostered positive agency, with translators advocating for these works. The practical-evaluative dimension revealed twisted agency, leading to ambivalence in translation decisions. The study advocates for fostering positive agency through the projective dimension to enhance societal understanding of sexual minorities and promote inclusive translation practices.

A Comparative Study of the Translated Arabic Versions of the Novel ‘To the Lighthouse’ under Feminist Translation Theory

This paper, A Comparative Study of the Translated Arabic Versions of the Novel to the Lighthouse under Feminist Translation Theory, examines the influence of feminist translation theory on the interpretation of Virginia Woolf’s iconic novel. It focuses on two Arabic translations, both completed by female translators, to investigate how gender, cultural context, and personal experiences shape the depiction of Woolf’s female characters and the feminist themes central to her work. The study delves into the translators’ individual backgrounds and feminist ideologies, exploring how their perspectives and the sociocultural dynamics of the Arab world influence translation decisions. By analyzing shifts in language, tone, and narrative emphasis, it reveals how these translations navigate the challenges of preserving Woolf’s feminist voice while resonating within the framework of Arabic literary traditions. The paper also investigates the interplay between power relations, societal norms, and translation strategies, highlighting the translators’ efforts to balance fidelity to the original text with cultural relevance. It emphasizes the complexities involved in translating feminist viewpoints into a linguistic and cultural context where gender discourse often intersects with deeply rooted societal structures. Through this lens, the study underscores the transformative potential of feminist translation theory in reinterpreting literature, challenging patriarchal narratives, and enriching cross-cultural dialogue. By bridging feminist theory and translation studies, this research contributes valuable insights into the evolving role of gender in literary interpretation and cross-cultural communication.

Ideological Manipulation in Aljazeera Live News Interpretation: A Normative Study

Translation and Interpretation has long been scrutinised from the linguistic, social, and cultural perspectives, with a recent emphasis on the impact of social, cultural, and ideological factors on translation. Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS), pioneered by Gideon Toury, prioritise understanding translations within social and cultural contexts rather than prescribing norms. Political news translation and interpretation, particularly in conflict contexts, underscores the sensitive and controversial nature of translation decisions as they are influenced by political and ideological stances. This study investigates the dominant norms shaping the interpretating of international news on Al-Jazeera’s Live Channel. Through qualitative content analysis guided by Toury’s framework, the prevailing interpreting norms were identified. Analyses revealed the dominance of target-oriented norms in Al-Jazeera’s interpreters, reflecting adherence to the target culture's social, cultural, and ideological norms. The study contributes to our understanding of interpreting as a socially-embedded practice and its implications for political discourse and ideological representation.

Személynevek és földrajzi nevek A Pál utcai fiúk fordításaiban

This paper presents decisions taken by translators concerning names in the novel A Pál utcai fiúk [‘The Paul Street Boys’]. It examines the extent to which the target language texts retain or domesticate the Hungarian names and explores the implications of these strategies. The central question is, what translation decisions are given preference in the rendition of a Hungarian work when translated into the language of a central culture? This analysis forms part of a broader research project in which the translation choices under investigation concern textual elements (e.g., sociopragmatic elements, realia and onomastic elements) that bear the spatial and temporal imprint of a particular period and culture.

Predicting clinical trial success for Clostridium difficile infections based on preclinical data.

Preclinical models are ubiquitous and essential for drug discovery, yet our understanding of how well they translate to clinical outcomes is limited. In this study, we investigate the translational success of treatments for Clostridium difficile infection from animal models to human patients. Our analysis shows that only 36% of the preclinical and clinical experiment pairs result in translation success. Univariate analysis shows that the sustained response endpoint is correlated with translation failure (SRC = -0.20, p-value = 1.53 × 10-54), and explainability analysis of multi-variate random forest models shows that both sustained response endpoint and subject age are negative predictors of translation success. We have developed a recommendation system to help plan the right preclinical study given factors such as drug dosage, bacterial dosage, and preclinical/clinical endpoint. With an accuracy of 0.76 (F1 score of 0.71) and by using only 7 features (out of 68 total), the proposed system boosts translational efficiency by 25%. The method presented can extend to any disease and can serve as a preclinical to clinical translation decision support system to accelerate drug discovery and de-risk clinical outcomes.

The Translation of Nature Terminology in Literary Texts: A Case Study

This paper investigates the way nature-related terms are rendered in literary texts, highlighting possible explanations for the translation decisions. The discussion will be illustrated with examples of terms related to wetland and to the vegetation specific for this area, extracted from the novel Where the crawdads sing (2018) by Delia Owens and its Romanian translation. The conclusions show that there are several reasons why the translator may opt for a less accurate rendering of nature terminology, including the translator’s perception of the aim of the target text, e.g. entertainment rather than information, or the translator’s (limited) knowledge of the field.

English Sentiment Analysis and its Application in Translation Based on Decision Tree Algorithm

Sentimental analysis belongs to the class of Natural Language Processing (NLP) based on the rule and machine model. The proposed model comprises of the pre-defined function for the estimation of the features in the English statements. This paper presents the Reflect Sentiment Translation Decision Tree (RSTDT), a novel model designed to integrate sentiment analysis and translation tasks for English text. The RSTDT model combines the strengths of decision tree algorithms with feature extraction techniques to accurately analyze sentiment and translate text across languages. The proposed RSTDT dataset comprises English sentences with annotated sentiment labels, the RSTDT model is trained to identify sentiment polarity and generate corresponding translations in Arabic. The proposed RSTDT model uses Traslation mapping for the estimation of the sentimental features. In order to estimate and classify the features in the neural network, the processes features are assessed using the decision tree model. The RSTDT model's efficacy in precisely capturing sentiment nuances and generating linguistically appropriate translations was shown through thorough testing and review. The model achieves high accuracy in sentiment analysis and exhibits proficiency in translating sentiment-rich content into Arabic while maintaining contextual relevance. Additionally, robust classification performance metrics underscore the model's efficacy in accurately classifying English words into sentiment categories. The RSTDT model offers a promising solution for multilingual sentiment analysis applications, with potential applications in social media monitoring, customer feedback analysis, and cross-cultural sentiment analysis.

Культурный трансфер в семиотической модели перевода (на примере художественного текста Дж. Хеллера)

The goal of the work is to identify the influence of temporary discursive practices on specific translation decisions. From this goal follow specific tasks in this work: to present discursive and interpretive models of translation; correlate the provisions of these concepts with real translation practice; use factual material to show translation decisions determined by temporary discursive practice. The article also explores ways to convey culturally significant information, provides successful and controversial cases of solving translation tasks through linguistic means. Translation problems, including literary translation, in contemporary philological and cultural studies are interdisciplinary. Only at the intersection of semiotic concepts and literary approaches it is possible to determine the accuracy and completeness of translation decisions in the practice of literary translation. In turn, the study of the issue of cultural transfer in this case, based on various translations of J. Heller’s novel, allows us to overcome the limiting framework of purely philological approach in translation studies. Comparing the work of translators with respect to the same text - in our case, “Catch-22” fills the-abstract concept of the “translator’s figure” with real content, especially when considering the socio-cultural environment that influenced the specificity of translation decisions. The article represents an analysis of current issues in the theory and practice of literary translation. The work offers a review of modern translation models, primarily a discursive model of translation, interpretative concept and the perception of translation as an interpretation of the source text in the existing discursive practice. This research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP23485752).

Translation of Michelangelo’s Fifth Sonnet by Vyacheslav Ivanov: Issue of Equivalency and Translation Transformations

This article focuses on the translation of Michelangelo Buonarroti’s fifth sonnet by Vyacheslav Ivanov in 1925. The sources used include the translated text and the manuscript of the original text, accompanied by the author’s drawing. Comparative analysis results of Ivanov’s translation and a literal translation by the authors are presented. It emphasizes Michelangelo’s original concept related to deforming the sonnet form (20 lines instead of 14, with two additional tercets added), resonating with the sonnet’s content, specifically describing his physical sufferings and uncomfortable poses while painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Attention is given to the author’s drawing, highlighting the division of the lyrical subject and his doubts about the effectiveness of his work. Commentary is provided on Vyacheslav Ivanov’s translation decisions for this sonnet, linked to his poetic and aesthetic principles. A symbolist interpretation of the sonnet’s key antithesis is explored: Michelangelo portrays the lyrical subject as a “Syrian bow” (a phrase denoting a bow that never misses) and a “crooked crossbow”, interpreting his doubts through images of projectile weapons overcoming him. The translator interprets this antithesis through the classical contrast of “poet and crowd”, indicating that the artist fears condemnation and requires protection.

Специфика перевода рекламных слоганов в Рунете

Marketing of goods and services includes active advertising activities, which are implemented primarily in the web space. One of his pragmatically effective tools is an advertising slogan, a formulaic means of marketing communication, which is studied in the paradigm of modern linguistics in various aspects. This article is devoted to solving a translatological problem, i.e. identifying the translation specifics of advertising slogans in the web space. The material of this study is the texts of advertising slogans in English, functioning in the Internet space, and their translation into Russian. During the analysis, advertising slogans involved in the global advertising discourse in the period from 1993 to 2023 were used. The authors use methods of pragmalinguistic analysis, as well as techniques of interpretative analysis with elements of content and intent analysis. The peculiarities of the linguistic composition of the original slogans in English are revealed, due to the correlation of the slogan with a group of goods. The main translation solutions in the translation of slogans are transcription, adaptation, and lexical transformation. The pragmatic effect of the texts of the original slogans and their translations in the focus of marketing communication is determined and described. The logic of translation decisions and the factors influencing the preservation of slogans in the original language in the target linguaculture are established.

METHODOLOGY OF COGNITIVE-DISCURSIVE MODELLING OF LITERARY TRANSLATION (case study of Ukrainian retranslations of W. Shakespeare’s tragedies of the 19th–21st centuries)

The article provides theoretical and methodological substantiation for the step-by-step construction of a cognitive-discursive model of the diachronic plurality in translation of a time-remote original work, which appears as a tool for revealing the internal mechanisms of translating a literary work and determining the criteria for the adequacy of the original and translation. This is a case study of W. Shakespeare’s tragedies as time-remote original works of England of the late 16th – early 17th centuries and their Ukrainian retranslations of the 19th–21st centuries. The algorithm of the complex methodology of cognitive-discursive modelling of literary translation, which incorporates the methods of discourse analysis and cognitive translation studies, involves five stages of construction of three modules: discursive, cognitive, and retranslation. The construction of a discursive module, the aim of which is to reveal the objective and subjective factors that influence the process and result of the translator’s interpretation of a time-remote original work, involves the construction of three components – extralingual, lingual, and interpretation, which takes place in the first three stages. The fourth stage is the building of a cognitive module, which reveals the internal mechanisms of the translation process caused by cognitive consonance (harmonious identity of the mental processes of the author and the translator) or cognitive dissonance (epistemological, ideological, and cultural-aesthetic). Cognitive consonance and cognitive dissonance result from the similarities and differences in the contexts of original creation and retranslations, which are previously defined in the discursive module. The translator’s decision to choose one or another translation strategy and local tactic in conditions of cognitive consonance or cognitive dissonance determines different degrees of cognitive proximity of the original and the translation: cognitive equivalence, cognitive analogy, and cognitive variance. The fifth stage is the construction of a retranslation module, which affirms that the translator’s choice of strategy (modernization or archaization, domestication or foreignization) and tactic (reproductive or adaptive) of transformational translation is conditioned by cognitive consonance or dissonance. The relevance of the research is determined by its appeal to the leading cognitive-discursive paradigm of modern translation studies and by the tendency of cognitive translation studies for the translation process modelling, according to which not only the translation result is the subject of study, but also the prerequisites that determine the translator’s approach to the reproduction of the original text in one way or another. Analysis and comparison of retranslations of a time-remote original text in the course of modelling the process of literary translation allows following the influence of discursive and cognitive factors on the process and result of translation. The creation of the cognitive-discursive model of the diachronic plurality in translation of the time-remote original text explains the translation decisions regarding the choice of the general strategy and local tactic of retranslations and, respectively, the diachronic plurality in translations of a time-remote original text.

Separated at birth: Rediscovering the lost emotions in Luria's Working Brain

Aleksandr Luria repeatedly emphasised the importance of emotions and the right hemisphere in his neuropsychological writings. It is surprising, therefore, that Luria's most influential book, The Working Brain, appears to lack an explicit section on these topics. This is especially notable because of a comment in the book's English-language Introduction, by Karl Pribram, referencing Luria's thoughts about precisely this material. Remarkably, it seems that Luria did write such an explicit chapter, in the original Russian edition. However, in the English-language version, the relevant sections were separated, embedded elsewhere without chapter headings, and altered, presumably following an explicit translation decision. The present paper tracks the nature of these changes and, 50 years later, presents the material for the first time translated and reunited in English, as Luria intended. After the translation, we offer a brief commentary, on the ways in which Luria's ideas were in some respects prescient, and in other respects less well-informed about the brain basis of emotions and the right hemisphere. This reunification offers an interesting time capsule on the opinions of one of neuropsychology's greatest minds, on a topic which Luria admits had, at the time, only a modest empirical foundation.

Culturally based semantic losses in Lonely Planet’s travel guides translations for Beijing, Shanghai, and Sichuan

Translating cultural references in tourism materials is pivotal in bridging cultural gaps and facilitating cross-cultural communication. Despite the escalating demand for accurate translation, no research exists to address the losses in cultural connotations and their impact on semantic accuracy in Chinese-English cultural reference translation within Lonely Planet’s travel guides. This research seeks to fill this gap, specifically focusing on Beijing, Shanghai, and Sichuan destinations. The objectives are as follows: 1) to identify the types of cultural connotation losses in the English translation of Chinese cultural references; 2) to examine cultural-related semantic losses, considering instances where cultural connotation losses lead to partial or complete semantic losses; and 3) to elucidate the translation decisions (both macro and micro levels) implications on the culturally based semantic losses. A qualitative-descriptive approach forms the foundation of this research. The findings revealed seven types of cultural connotation losses, with partial semantic losses predominant. Applying Venuti’s domestication and foreignization, the results also uncovered a strong inclination toward foreignization, emphasizing the strangeness inherent in the source culture is intensified. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complexities of translating cultural connotations and maintaining semantic accuracy, offering a comprehensive typology that can guide future translation practices and serve as a springboard for further research in the field. Lastly, this study underscores the significance of maintaining cultural connotations in translation, thereby contributing to the ongoing development of cross-cultural communication.

ANALYSIS OF TRANSLATE XI JINPING’S SPEECH AT THE 20TH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA INTO RUSSIAN (BY USING TRANSLATION-ORIENTED METHOD)

Object. The purpose of the article is to study translation solutions in the Russian translation of Xi Jinping’s speech at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Methods. The analysis of translation decisions in Chinese leader’s speech Russian translation is carried out using the translation-oriented method, which allows us to study the main processes occurring in the translator’s language consciousness when choosing a translation solution by translation text’s analysis. In addition, the study used general scientific methods, incl. descriptive analysis, deduction and induction, and generalization. Using a random sample, we selected speech utterances in text of the Chinese leader Xi Jinping report at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. At first, we searched ideologemes, set expressions, idioms, political terms etc. in original Xi Jinping’s speech. After that we were subsequently extracted from the translation text and compared them. The translation method analysis chosen by the translator was carried out, the assessment of the correctness of the translation solution in accordance with the requirements for the quality of the translation, as equivalence and adequacy. Findings. As a result, it was found that translation decisions in the transfer of the speech of the political leader of China most often come down to direct translation, especially in cases of interpreting metaphors, ideologies and political terms with Chinese characteristics. In some cases, the direct transmission of such vocabulary does not make it possible to make the translation adequate and understandable for the Russian-speaking recipient, and therefore casts doubt on the correctness of the translation decision made and poses a threat to effective international political communication between the two countries. Conclusions. Improving the skills of choosing translation decisions will improve the quality of translation of the speeches of Chinese political leaders into Russian, which requires a deeper study of cognitive decision-making mechanisms in Chinese-Russian political speech’s translation.

THE OPENING VERSES OF THE TALE OF IGOR’S CAMPAIGN IN ITS BULGARIAN TRANSLATIONS

This article presents a comparison of the opening verses of the famous anonymous work of ancient Russian literature, The Tale of Igor’s Campaign, translated into Bulgarian by four different translators in the course of more than a century: Efrem Karanov (1898), Lyudmil Stoyanov (1954), Kiril Kadiyski (1985), and Krasimir Georgiev (2015). The main goal is to analyze the changes in translation decisions and identify any possible deviations from the source text. Special attention is paid to the strategies employed by the translators to convey the meaning of several challenging passages in the ancient text. The present study considers some issues in the process of translation such as the use of different clause construction: the difference between number in the original text and their number in the translated one; the separation of one sentence into two in the process of translation, as well as the free use of punctuation marks by the translators. What is also analyzed is the problem of title translation from an old Russian language into a language comprehensible to any reader contemporary with the translators. The lack of an original, the impossible dating of the work, the unknown author and other elements of the work gave a certain freedom of the translators to express their own style.

TRANSLATION STRATEGIES EVOLUTION: ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL AND MODERN TRANSLATIONS OF NOVEL TITLES OF BRITISH ENGLISH LITERATURE

The peculiarities of translating titles of British novels are an extremely interesting area of research for linguists, given the influence of British literature and its importance for the formation and development of world culture. It is important to analyze the translation of book titles, because they create the first impression on the reader and play a decisive role in whether he or she will be interested in the book or not. The article is devoted to the study of strategies and methods of translating titles of novels in English-language British literature. In the work, we found that when translating titles, linguists use such translation transformations as literal translation, transliteration, addition, deletion, simplification, title replacement, specification, and generalization. We analyzed the evolution of translation strategies, namely the cultural context, marketing and publishing strategies, historical context, and personal style of the translator, which have a significant impact on translation decisions. We also defined the term “title” as the first sign of the text, which gives the reader an idea of the book, and also has the greatest impact on the initial understanding of the text and becomes the first step towards its interpretation. In addition, we found out that the main difficulties in translating titles of British novels are that the translator is faced with the fact that he or she has to convey the idea of the original English-language title, take into account the cultural environment, and also interest the reader at the same time. In the context of translating British titles, it is also worth noting that the translator often has to reflect the author's style or wordplay, and for this he or she needs to have background knowledge in many fields, experience, and the ability to choose a Ukrainian equivalent to convey the essence of the book to the reader in the way the author would have wanted it to be done.