Approaches to Translation

Ju MiaoJu Miao

Nankai UniversityNankai University

QuestionsQuestions

Why do we need research?Why do we need research?What is related to research?What is related to research?What will be the outcome of What will be the outcome of

research?research?How do we conduct research?How do we conduct research?

About this courseAbout this course

The benefits/ objectivesThe benefits/ objectives

--- to answer the questions;--- to answer the questions;

--- to have a better understanding of --- to have a better understanding of translationtranslation

--- to conceive a map of Translation --- to conceive a map of Translation StudiesStudies

--- to be able to do research--- to be able to do research

About this courseAbout this course

The ultimate goalThe ultimate goal

--- to get ready for your prospective --- to get ready for your prospective research and thesis writing research and thesis writing

--- to know what and to know how--- to know what and to know how The final resultThe final result

---To Graduate!---To Graduate!

The outline of this courseThe outline of this course

Why research?Why research?

From practice to theoryFrom practice to theory From doing to understandingFrom doing to understanding From impression to rationalizationFrom impression to rationalization To understand better--- to do betterTo understand better--- to do better To make progressTo make progress

Why research?Why research?

Human activities--- purposefulHuman activities--- purposeful ---for survival---for life---for work---for survival---for life---for work ---for freedom---progress---culture---for freedom---progress---culture ---civilization---art---communication---civilization---art---communication

What is related to research? is related to research?

Objects of studyObjects of study Methods/ methodologyMethods/ methodology Perspectives/ approaches/ paradigmPerspectives/ approaches/ paradigm Theme/ focusTheme/ focus Hypotheses/ presuppositionHypotheses/ presupposition ProcessesProcesses

What outcome?What outcome?

Objectives/ aimsObjectives/ aims Conclusions/ theoriesConclusions/ theories Confirmation/ verificationConfirmation/ verification Significance/ valueSignificance/ value ContributionsContributions

How do we conduct research?How do we conduct research?

Logical reasoning---inductive---Logical reasoning---inductive---deductivedeductive

Empirical---qualitative---quantitativeEmpirical---qualitative---quantitative Case studyCase study Descriptive studiesDescriptive studies

Empirical descriptiveEmpirical descriptive

To observe/ observational studyTo observe/ observational study To describeTo describe To explainTo explain To predictTo predict Characteristics---Characteristics--- objective, scientific, systematic, data-objective, scientific, systematic, data-

based, experimental, based, experimental,

Research areas of translationResearch areas of translation

Product--- the translated textProduct--- the translated text Process--- the thinking process, the Process--- the thinking process, the

mental mechanisms, mental mechanisms, Subject--- the translator--- the translation Subject--- the translator--- the translation

competencecompetence Craft--- Craft---

methods---strategies---skills/techniquesmethods---strategies---skills/techniques

Research areas of translationResearch areas of translation

Extra-textual factors---Extra-textual factors--- socio-cultural--- influencing---socio-cultural--- influencing---

contextual---contextual--- historical---ideological---powerhistorical---ideological---power marketmarket

Theoretical models of translation

Linguistic perspective---Linguistic perspective---

Comparative, source-oriented, Comparative, source-oriented, descriptions on linguistic forms and levels descriptions on linguistic forms and levels of the source and target texts,of the source and target texts,

semantic/ textual/ contextual analyses, semantic/ textual/ contextual analyses, microscopic viewmicroscopic view

Descriptive studies--- Descriptive studies---

on the products, processes, functions; on the products, processes, functions;

all translational phenomena, all translational phenomena,

the real world of our experience, the real world of our experience,

macroscopic perspective/analysismacroscopic perspective/analysis

German Functionalist---German Functionalist--- text types and their functionstext types and their functions

purpose-oriented, skopos theory, purpose-oriented, skopos theory, communicative functionscommunicative functions

communicators and receiverscommunicators and receivers

The philosophical theories of The philosophical theories of translationtranslation

Deconstructionist approachDeconstructionist approach Philosophical hermeneutics:Philosophical hermeneutics:

traditional---the hermeneutic circletraditional---the hermeneutic circle

modern---Gadamar’s 3 propositionsmodern---Gadamar’s 3 propositions

Cognitive approaches to translationCognitive approaches to translation process-oriented, the thinking processprocess-oriented, the thinking process

mental mechanisms, mental mechanisms,

problem-solving and decision-making problem-solving and decision-making process; strategiesprocess; strategies

The text-linguistic modelThe text-linguistic model

Posited by Albrecht Neubert, cofounder of Posited by Albrecht Neubert, cofounder of the Leipzig School of Translation Theorythe Leipzig School of Translation Theory

Monograph: Monograph: Translation as TextTranslation as Text Original insights:Original insights: the nature of translationthe nature of translation translation and texttranslation and text models of translationmodels of translation the textual perspective on translationthe textual perspective on translation

Propositions:Propositions: Translation is text-centered. The text is the Translation is text-centered. The text is the

central defining issue in translation.central defining issue in translation. Text as the primary object of research Text as the primary object of research Potential to act as a unifying concept in Potential to act as a unifying concept in

the discipline of Translation Studiesthe discipline of Translation Studies The text and the features which give it The text and the features which give it

textuality--- an integrating concept for the textuality--- an integrating concept for the interdiscipline of translation. interdiscipline of translation.

Defining research--- Defining research--- ““systematic investigation towards systematic investigation towards

increasing the sum of knowledge” increasing the sum of knowledge” (Chambers 1989), (Chambers 1989),

““creating new knowledge” (Gillham 2000), creating new knowledge” (Gillham 2000), increasing the sum of our knowledge increasing the sum of our knowledge (Williams2002) (Williams2002)

The map in Translation Studies---The map in Translation Studies--- The uncharted territory for research where The uncharted territory for research where

you find your place, position, or area of you find your place, position, or area of interest.interest.

Research process---Research process--- Choosing an areaChoosing an area Making a preliminary planMaking a preliminary plan Searching through the literatureSearching through the literature Reading and thinkingReading and thinking

Defining the research questionDefining the research question Revising the planRevising the plan Collecting dataCollecting data Analyzing the dataAnalyzing the data Processing the resultsProcessing the results

Writing a draftWriting a draft Evaluating, eliciting feedbackEvaluating, eliciting feedback Thinking of implicationsThinking of implications Finalizing the textFinalizing the text Presenting your research reportPresenting your research report

The proposalThe proposal

1. The background of the research 1. The background of the research 2. Objects of study and objectives2. Objects of study and objectives 3. Literature review3. Literature review 4. The significance and contributions of 4. The significance and contributions of

the researchthe research

The proposalThe proposal

5. The theoretical basis/framework5. The theoretical basis/framework 6. Methodologies6. Methodologies 7. Outline of the contents7. Outline of the contents 8. References8. References

Introduce your theme, reasons for Introduce your theme, reasons for selecting the topic, and research selecting the topic, and research questions.questions.

Review relevant research, previous Review relevant research, previous studies, references, sources.studies, references, sources.

Plan the steps/ procedures to carry out the Plan the steps/ procedures to carry out the research. research.

The thesis structureThe thesis structure

TitleTitle AbstractAbstract Introduction Introduction 1. The background of and reasons for the 1. The background of and reasons for the

research, research, 2. Objects of study and objectives2. Objects of study and objectives 3. Literature review3. Literature review 4. The theoretical basis/framework4. The theoretical basis/framework

The main body: chaptersThe main body: chapters

Chapter 1Chapter 1 Chapter 2Chapter 2 Chapter 3Chapter 3 Chapter 4Chapter 4

Inherent relations:Inherent relations:

relevant parts, closely related, relevant parts, closely related, all supporting to the central theme all supporting to the central theme in the correct order, in the correct order, reflecting a progression, deeper in the reflecting a progression, deeper in the

analysisanalysis a coherent whole in overviewa coherent whole in overview

ConclusionConclusion

1. A summary of the research1. A summary of the research 2. The significance and contributions of 2. The significance and contributions of

the researchthe research 3. Emphasize your important/major points, 3. Emphasize your important/major points,

concluding thoughts.concluding thoughts.

BibliographyBibliography

A list of your referencesA list of your references Keep complete bibliographic recordsKeep complete bibliographic records

The title---reflecting the central theme of The title---reflecting the central theme of the paperthe paper

The central theme going through the paperThe central theme going through the paper Chapters contributing to / supporting the Chapters contributing to / supporting the

central themecentral theme The conclusions derived from the The conclusions derived from the

chapters. chapters.

Suggestions for writing the Suggestions for writing the ConclusionConclusion ：：

Clarify the central theme of your study and Clarify the central theme of your study and the objectives of the research.the objectives of the research.

Give a general review of the whole Give a general review of the whole research/writing, by going over the main research/writing, by going over the main contents.contents.

Explain the relationship of the parts in the Explain the relationship of the parts in the structure, how they are related to support structure, how they are related to support each other, contributing to the central each other, contributing to the central theme.theme.

Explain the characteristics, the originality Explain the characteristics, the originality and the methodology of your research.and the methodology of your research.

Outline what you have done / achieved, Outline what you have done / achieved, and and the significance of the results.the significance of the results.

Emphasize your important/major points.Emphasize your important/major points. Summarize your concluding thoughts.Summarize your concluding thoughts. State your original contributions andState your original contributions and the the

significance of the research results.significance of the research results.

e.g. e.g. Your contributions: Providing new Your contributions: Providing new data; suggesting answers; testing/refining data; suggesting answers; testing/refining hypothesis, theory, or methodology; hypothesis, theory, or methodology; proposing new ideas, hypothesis, theory, proposing new ideas, hypothesis, theory, methodology.methodology.

Look forward to the future with comments, Look forward to the future with comments, suggestions, and predictions.suggestions, and predictions.