LESSON 18 UNIT 7 (cont)
(19/11/2015)
- Textual pragmatics and equivalence
- Tourism texts
- Homework (see slide n° 10 and slide n° 28)
Nida’s concept of dynamic equivalence (see HM unit 6)
suggests that interlingual translation concerns the need to
reconcile differences concerning not only the linguistic
code (lexis, grammar and phonology), but also the text
type, the purpose of the translation and the reason why it is
required, the cultural values of the TT audience, and the
socio-historical context of the ST.
Translation theorists such as R. de Beaugrande and W.
Koller (see HM 170-173) argued vigorously for a new
focus on pragmatics in translation, i.e., the study of the
writer/speaker’s intended meanings and the purposes for
which utterances and texts are used (HM 174). Here, form
is not seen as being more important than meaning, and the
language system is not seen as more important than the
communicative context (HM 169).
Koller (1995) makes a distinction between (Munday 73):
1) CORRESPONDENCE, which compares two language
systems and describes their differences and similarities
contrastively. Its parameters of those of Sassure’s langue.
This includes identification of false cognates (‘false
friends’) and evidence of lexical, morphological and
syntactic interference.
2) EQUIVALENCE, which relates specific ST and TT
pairs and contexts, and uses the parameter of Sassure’s
parole. Such parole-oriented equivalents concern relations
that exist not between languages themselves at the level of
linguistic systems but rather between text and context (HM
49)
However, this traditional distinction in structural linguistics
between langue and parole can no longer be taken for
granted (Jeffries 2010: 63). To demonstrate this, let’s look
at examples of the importance of contextual meaning when
translating.
Example 1: reference assignment. For example, what does a
particular pronoun refer to? The answer depends on the context
of use and the speaker/writer’s intention.
How would you translate the transcript of a controversial
English murder trial in 1952? The case against 19 year-old
Bentley, who was charged with murdering a police officer, was
that he had said ‘Let him have it, Chris!’ to his 16 year-old
friend, Christopher Craig, who actually shot the police officer
with a gun. Did ‘Let him have it, Chris!’ mean: ‘Shoot the
policeman’? Or did the ‘it’ in this phrase refer to the gun? In
which case, the imperative meaning of ‘Let him have it,
Chris!’ was ‘Chris, give the gun to the police officer!’. This
second meaning was rejected by the court, and Bentley was
found guilty of ‘deliberate incitement to murder’ and hanged.
(Thomas 1995: 17)
Example 2: politeness depends on context and can be
ambivalent:
In order to successfully translate the following notice in an
expensive gourmet restaurant, you need to decide whether
customers are being asked or ordered not to smoke.
“If you want to enjoy the full flavour of your food and
drink you will, naturally, not smoke during this meal.
Moreover, if you did smoke you would also be impairing
the enjoyment of other guests.”
(Public notices that ask people to do /not to do something
are often entitled ‘Polite Notice’).
(Thomas 1995:159)
Example 3: Under-lexicalisation needs to be understood
in context. It can be used, especially in literary language, to
communicate that someone is immature or not clever. How
would you translate the uses of ‘nice’ in the following
sentence from James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist?
•‘That was not a nice expression. His mother had told him
not to speak with the rough boys in the college. Nice
mother!... She was a nice mother but she was not so nice
when she cried.’
(Wales 2001: 400).
Example 4: Over-lexicalisation (= an apparent excess of words) also needs to be
understood in context. In Keat’s poem ‘To Autumn’ (1820) the writer uses overlexicalisation as part of a celebratory, praiseful overstatement or hyperbole. The
richness of the vocabulary draws attention to the plenitude and abundance of
Autumn, which is Keats’s intended meaning:
near synonyms: kernel  core; plump swell; maturing  ripeness; fill
 o’er-brimm’d.
SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.
HOMEWORK
Now read:
1) Levy’s account of why translation is a ‘decision process’
that requires translators to choose from a range of
alternatives (HM 174-175).
2) Gutt’s ‘Pragmatic Aspects of Translation’ (HM177-180).
Ferrara: text n°1: original Italian
Ferrara: text n° 1: English translation
Ferrara: text n° 2: original Italian
Ferrara: text n°2: English translation
Landshut Church: English version
Landshut Church: Italian version
Landshut Church: original German
Landshut, Germany: Foundation Basilica St Martin
and St Castulus. Portals:
St Martin’s church has five portals. The portal on the
ground floor of the west tower is the main portal. It is
crowned with a wimperg with crabs and a finial. In the
spandrel of the finial, St Veronica is depicted with Christ’s
face-cloth or sudarium. In the richly grooved portal jamb
there are clay figures of the evangelists and the Fathers of
the Church. The central post between the two doors shows
an image of the church patron St Martin cutting his cloak.
The portal is dated around 1452. The coloured relief of the
Living Cross in the tympanum is noteworthy. In the centre
we see Christ on the crucifix. At the end of each of the
arms of the cross a hand consisting of stylised clouds
appears.
Landshut, Germania: Basilica collegiata di S. Martino e S
Casolo. Portali:
S Martino possiede cinque portali, dei quali quello a
pianoterra della torre ovest è strutturato come portale
principale. Esso è coronato da una ghimberga decorata da
fogliame con un alto fiorone, nel cui pennacchio è
rappresentata la Veronica con il sudario di Cristo.
Nell’intradosso del portale, riccamente scanalato, si vedono
delle figure in terracotta di evangelisti e padri della chiesa,
mentre sul montante centrale tra le due aperture è il patrono
della chiesa, S. Martino, nell’atto di dividere il mantello. Il
portale è datato attorno al 1452. Degno di nota è il rilievo
rifinito a colori nel timpano, il cui tema è «la croce vivente».
Al centro sta Cristo sulla croce, alle estremità delle cui travi
emergono delle mani da delle nuvole stilizzate.
Altötting: The Chapel of Grace
Here in the centre of the Chapel of Grace, the heart of Bavarian
piety, the bright lustre of the altar pierces the predominant
darkness. In front of the niche, which is entirely decorated in
silver, stands the Altar of Grace, a composition of 17th-century
art works. The silver tabernacle for the miraculous statue of the
Virgin Mary, donated in 1645 by elector Maximilian I, conceals
the so-called ‘blood consecration letter’ in its pedestal. In this
document, written in his own blood, Maximilian commends
himself into the protection of the Madonna. Since 1670 the
sidewalls of the niche have been covered with a gold and silver
portrayal of the Tree of Jesse, a depiction of the ancestors of
Christ. Three years later the altar received a silver relief of the
Holy Trinity around the top of its arch. The sacramental
tabernacle was added in 1793.
Altötting: Cappella della Grazia
Al centro della Cappella della Grazia, al centro della fedeltà
bavarese, viene illuminato questo buio misterioso solo
dall’altare della Madonna. Davanti alla nicchia argentata, si
nota il meraviglioso altare del 1700. Il tabernacolo d’argento,
col ritratto della Madonna fu donato dal principe Maximilian I
nel 1645, nel piedistallo viene accumulata una cosiddetta
“Blutweihebrief”, una lettera scritta dal principe col proprio
sangue, dove si raccomanda alla Madonna di proteggerlo. Sulle
pareti laterali della nicchia, si può contemplare
un’interpretazione del Wurzel Jesse, una lavorazione in lamiera
d’oro e d’argento del 1670. Inoltre, tre anni dopo fu inserito
nell’altare, la lavorazione in argento della Santissima Trinità,
che poi nel 1793 fu contemplato dal tabernacolo del Santissimo
Sacramento.
Regensburg: a City where Life is a Pleasure
And is it because of the Roman heritage that life mainly
takes place outdoors? The moment the first sunbeam
appears, the people here indulge in the almost
Mediterranean habit of setting up tables and chairs outside
cafés and restaurants, both in the narrow alleys and in the
many squares. This way of life is obviously savoured by
Regensburg’s inhabitants, who are full of joie di vivre, as
well as by visitors from all over the world. Commerce and
culture, hospitality and shops, bustle and peace… all of
these may be found and enjoyed in the city centre in great
variety.
Ratisbona: una città da vivere e da amare
Chissà se la predilezione dei suoi abitanti per la vita
all’aperto non sia da ricollegarsi alle origini romane della
città… L’atmosfera cittadina diventa decisamente
mediterranea quando, con i primi raggi di sole, compaiono
nelle stradine del centro cittadino e nelle numerose piazze,
i tavoli dei ristoranti e dei caffè, per il piacere degli
abitanti e dei turisti. Commercio e cultura, ospitalità e
negozi: tutto ciò si può trovare in abbondanza nel centro
storico.
Altötting: Hotel Gasthof Plankl****
An exceptional totally non-smoking hotel at down-toearth prices, in a peaceful location a three-minute walk
from the Kapellplatz. Bright modern rooms, some with
balconies and suites with unique decorations and features
such as sauna, steam bath, solarium over the bed, Jacuzzi
etc. Enjoy home-made cakes on the café terrace or nestled
up beside an open fireplace. Elevator goes directly to the
new indoor swimming pool. Renowned for its excellent
Bavarian cooking.
Altötting: Hotel Gasthof Plankl****
L’hotel straordinario col divieto di fumo a prezzi normali.
Posto tranquillo, solo tre minuti dalla Piazza del Santuario
(Kapellplatz). Camere ariose con arredamento moderno a
parte con balcone e suite con propria sauna, bagno a
vapore, solario sul letto e whirlpool. Gustate la cucina
casereccia sulla terrazza del giardino oppure davanti al
caminetto. Ottima cucina regionale. Con l’ascensore si
arriva direttamente alla piscina dell’hotel.
Altötting: St Elisabeth. Leisure – Rejuvenation – Hotel –
Pilgrimage Seminars
38 barrier-free and wheelchair accessible single and
double rooms; attractive leisure programmes; in-house
travel service also suitable for wheelchairs.
Altötting: St Elisabeth – case di vacanze per handicappati
– Incontro di amici
38 camere adatte per handicappati e persone in sedie a
rotelle – con programmi di escursioni, con possibilità di
trasporti – adatto fino a 60 pers.
HOMEWORK: TOURISM CONTINUED
Translate the texts on the following slides about:
Brighton, a town in the UK
Food in the UK
National Parks in the UK
Boutique Hotels in the UK
(We’ll start with ‘Brighton’ and ‘Food’…. )
BRIGHTON TRAVEL GUIDE
Brighton - Fashionable, funky and minutes from London
Brighton is more than the seaside, more than the city and the mix is more than
double the fun. Fashionable, funky and loaded with style, Brighton & Hove has
everything you could want from a trip to Britain - a royal palace, elegant Regency
architecture, museums, more laid-back beach life and superb shopping – all this on
the south coast of England, just 49 minutes from central London
Culture and Heritage: Walking around Brighton, 400 years of history and style unfold
before you. The Royal Pavillion is the magnificent palace created by King George IV,
and is an eclectic mix of styles that has to be seen to be believed. Elsewhere, there
are museums and galleries galore, special events throughout the year from car rallies
to carnivals, and England’s largest arts festival in May.
Attractions: Don’t miss the Royal Pavilion, home of King George IV, and probably the
most exotic, extravagant royal palace in Europe. Stroll along the Victorian Pier and
the beachfront, where stylish bars and cafés spill out onto the curved paving, jostling
for space with surfer shops, giant sculptures, buskers, fresh fish and artists’ studios.
Food and Drink: Brighton’s diversity extends to its choice of restaurants. With more
than 400 to choose from you can eat your way around the world. Along the
beachfront between the two Piers there are several restaurants and cafés – perfect
for people-watching. You’ll certainly be spoilt for choice when it comes to food in
Brighton, but don’t miss the fantastic fish and chips!
Jamie Oliver: Britain’s most passionate chef talks UK food
See why Jamie Oliver can’t get enough of Britain’s food and learn a
few tips for seeking out the best UK produce.
Not content with single-handedly saving British school dinners and
giving disadvantaged kids a leg up, Jamie Oliver also opened some
of the best restaurants around. He’s part of a reborn UK eating
scene that’s seen Britain fall in love with fine produce, locally
sourced ingredients and innovative cooking.
With London leading the way as the world's most exciting dining
city, you’ll find restaurants serving food from every corner of the
world, cosy pubs with traditional menus, sophisticated eateries
offering internationally celebrated cuisine and more. So whether
you want crab sandwiches on a sun-drenched Devon quayside, the
sweetest Scottish raspberries, tempting Gower Salt Marsh Lamb or
culinary magic at Heston Blumenthal’s world-famous Fat Duck
restaurant, you’ll find British food a feast of inspiration.
NATIONAL PARKS
South East: New Forest | South Downs
The New Forest National Park is celebrated for its ancient
woodland and heathland first given protection by William the
Conqueror nearly 1,000 years ago. Ponies graze on wild heaths
speckled with purple heather and wild deer flit beneath gnarled oak
and beech trees. To the east of the New Forest lie the South Downs,
an area stretching 100 miles from the edge of Winchester to Beachy
Head. It’s best known for its famous rolling downlands that lead to
the white, sheer cliffs at Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.
Heart of England: Peak District
Britain's first national park and Europe's busiest is a diverse
landscape, comprising heather-sprayed moorland, murky limestone
caves, gentle hills and gritstone outcrops. It straddles several
counties in central northern England, is a centre for rock climbing
and is the landscape that inspired Jane Austen.
NATIONAL PARKS (continued)
North West: Lake District
From 16 sparkling lakes and England’s highest mountains, to sheltered
valleys and salty seascapes, Cumbria and the Lake District have inspired
and captivated generations of visitors and famous writers and poets such
as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. But there’s more to see than
just scenery. The area has a rich heritage to discover, a vibrant and
contemporary cultural scene, and a growing reputation for fine food and
drink.
North East: Northumberland | North York Moors | Yorkshire Dales
Listen to the call of the upland birds, saunter through picturesque villages
of honey sandstone, build sandcastles or sit and watch the world go by. All
around are the signs of past generations - historic abbeys, embattled
castles, churches, crosses and ancient trackways. Northumberland
National Park stretches from Hadrian’s Wall to the Scottish border while
the North York Moor spread westwards from the east coast of Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Dales park straddles the central Pennines in the counties of
North Yorkshire and Cumbria and is a favourite destination for walkers,
cyclists and horse-riders.
Boutique hotels: Contemporary, stylish accommodation
They're friendly, unpretentious, a little eccentric and highly
individual. Some would say Britain's boutique hotels reflect
the British character, they aim to surprise and amuse - just
like the British themselves, really.
Visit The Witchery by the Castle right next to Edinburgh
Castle. It has some of the most romantic rooms, with high
vaulted ceilings, four-poster beds, cast-iron baths and flatscreen televisions with DVD players - all housed in a
building dating from the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Or
experience fine dining at The Drawing Room in Wales - the
exquisite Georgian restaurant with rooms is a discreet rural
retreat where attention to detail is paramount.
Boutique Hotels (continued)
London's Boutique Hotels: Leave the car behind boutique hotels tend to be in the heart of a city. Take
London's Parkes Hotel, only 100 metres from Harrods
which offers 5-star service in a warm friendly family
environment. Alternatively, Brown’s Hotel, one of
London's oldest, has just been given a makeover. It offers
spacious bedrooms with a refined English charm offset by
sophisticated modern touches.
Malmaison: People often think boutique hotels will be
expensive. The 12 Malmaison hotels, pride themselves on
providing guests with a luxury experience that doesn't
break the bank.