Paper 11. Semiotic modalities in translation causality
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Andrew Chesterman
Abstract
A common feature of much modern translation research is the notion of causality. This is true not only of empirical descriptive research and applied studies, but also of hermeneutic studies, since concepts influence action. Different approaches focus on different kinds and levels of cause and effect. Some focus on the broad socio-cultural context, some on the situational level (translation event), some on the cognitive level (translation act) and some on the linguistic level of the translation product itself (translation profile). Aristotle’s classification of kinds of cause has already been applied in translation studies. This paper proposes an analysis of translation causality, based on Greimas’ modalities of faire, être, devoir, savoir, pouvoir and vouloir. It is argued that the study of causality does not imply a deterministic standpoint; that translation causality must include the translator’s subjectivity; and that the search for regularities in cause-effect relations does not imply a neglect of what is unique about every translation. A causal reading of the modalities of être, devoir, savoir, pouvoir and vouloir as factors influencing the translator’s action (faire) allows us to relate different kinds of causes at different levels, including the individual translator.
Abstract
A common feature of much modern translation research is the notion of causality. This is true not only of empirical descriptive research and applied studies, but also of hermeneutic studies, since concepts influence action. Different approaches focus on different kinds and levels of cause and effect. Some focus on the broad socio-cultural context, some on the situational level (translation event), some on the cognitive level (translation act) and some on the linguistic level of the translation product itself (translation profile). Aristotle’s classification of kinds of cause has already been applied in translation studies. This paper proposes an analysis of translation causality, based on Greimas’ modalities of faire, être, devoir, savoir, pouvoir and vouloir. It is argued that the study of causality does not imply a deterministic standpoint; that translation causality must include the translator’s subjectivity; and that the search for regularities in cause-effect relations does not imply a neglect of what is unique about every translation. A causal reading of the modalities of être, devoir, savoir, pouvoir and vouloir as factors influencing the translator’s action (faire) allows us to relate different kinds of causes at different levels, including the individual translator.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface ix
-
Section I. Some general issues
- Paper 1. On the idea of a theory 3
- Paper 2. Shared ground in Translation Studies 17
- Paper 3. What constitutes “progress” in Translation Studies? 25
- Paper 4. Towards consilience? 35
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Section II. Descriptive and prescriptive
- Paper 5. The empirical status of prescriptivism 45
- Paper 6. Skopos theory 55
- Paper 7. Catford revisited 71
- Paper 8. The descriptive paradox, or how theory can affect practice 81
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Section III. Causality and explanation
- Paper 9. Causes, translations, effects 97
- Paper 10. A causal model for Translation Studies 123
- Paper 11. Semiotic modalities in translation causality 137
- Paper 12. On explanation 147
-
Section IV. Norms
- Paper 13. From ‘is’ to ‘ought’ 167
- Paper 14. A note on norms and evidence 185
-
Section V. Similarities and differences
- Paper 15. On similarity 195
- Paper 16. Problems with strategies 201
- Paper 17. The unbearable lightness of English words 213
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Section VI. Hypotheses
- Paper 18. The status of interpretive hypotheses 225
- Paper 19. Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis 237
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Section VII. “Universals”
- Paper 20. Beyond the particular 253
- Paper 21. What is a unique item? 269
- Paper 22. Kundera’s sentence 281
- Paper 23. Universalism in Translation Studies 295
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Section VIII. The sociological turn
- Paper 24. Questions in the sociology of translation 307
- Paper 25. The name and nature of Translator Studies 323
- Paper 26. Models of what processes? 331
-
Section IX. Translation ethics
- Paper 27. Proposal for a Hieronymic Oath 347
- Paper 28. An ethical decision 363
- References 369
- Name index 391
- Subject index 395
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface ix
-
Section I. Some general issues
- Paper 1. On the idea of a theory 3
- Paper 2. Shared ground in Translation Studies 17
- Paper 3. What constitutes “progress” in Translation Studies? 25
- Paper 4. Towards consilience? 35
-
Section II. Descriptive and prescriptive
- Paper 5. The empirical status of prescriptivism 45
- Paper 6. Skopos theory 55
- Paper 7. Catford revisited 71
- Paper 8. The descriptive paradox, or how theory can affect practice 81
-
Section III. Causality and explanation
- Paper 9. Causes, translations, effects 97
- Paper 10. A causal model for Translation Studies 123
- Paper 11. Semiotic modalities in translation causality 137
- Paper 12. On explanation 147
-
Section IV. Norms
- Paper 13. From ‘is’ to ‘ought’ 167
- Paper 14. A note on norms and evidence 185
-
Section V. Similarities and differences
- Paper 15. On similarity 195
- Paper 16. Problems with strategies 201
- Paper 17. The unbearable lightness of English words 213
-
Section VI. Hypotheses
- Paper 18. The status of interpretive hypotheses 225
- Paper 19. Reflections on the literal translation hypothesis 237
-
Section VII. “Universals”
- Paper 20. Beyond the particular 253
- Paper 21. What is a unique item? 269
- Paper 22. Kundera’s sentence 281
- Paper 23. Universalism in Translation Studies 295
-
Section VIII. The sociological turn
- Paper 24. Questions in the sociology of translation 307
- Paper 25. The name and nature of Translator Studies 323
- Paper 26. Models of what processes? 331
-
Section IX. Translation ethics
- Paper 27. Proposal for a Hieronymic Oath 347
- Paper 28. An ethical decision 363
- References 369
- Name index 391
- Subject index 395
