Paper 16. Problems with strategies
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Andrew Chesterman
Abstract
The term “translation strategy” has been used by various translation scholars to describe different kinds of textual procedures used by translators. Other terms that have been proposed for these or related concepts include techniques, procedures, shifts, operations, transfers, changes, methods, trajections and transformations. There actually seem to be more terms than concepts. This paper offers a critical analysis of some of the conceptual and terminological problems in this area of translation studies. Distinctions are made between concepts pertaining to result and to process; linguistic vs. cognitive levels; problem-solving vs. routine procedures; and global vs. local strategies. Different systems of strategy classification are briefly compared, and the problem of their operationalization and application is raised, particularly with respect to their use as pedagogical tools. Finally, a terminological and conceptual solution is proposed which takes into account the main distinctions discussed and also shows links between this conceptual field and two other areas of translation studies: translation typology and equivalence typology.
Abstract
The term “translation strategy” has been used by various translation scholars to describe different kinds of textual procedures used by translators. Other terms that have been proposed for these or related concepts include techniques, procedures, shifts, operations, transfers, changes, methods, trajections and transformations. There actually seem to be more terms than concepts. This paper offers a critical analysis of some of the conceptual and terminological problems in this area of translation studies. Distinctions are made between concepts pertaining to result and to process; linguistic vs. cognitive levels; problem-solving vs. routine procedures; and global vs. local strategies. Different systems of strategy classification are briefly compared, and the problem of their operationalization and application is raised, particularly with respect to their use as pedagogical tools. Finally, a terminological and conceptual solution is proposed which takes into account the main distinctions discussed and also shows links between this conceptual field and two other areas of translation studies: translation typology and equivalence typology.
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
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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
-
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
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
