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Chapter 11. Translation tradition throughout South African history

  • Maricel Botha and Anne-Marie Beukes
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A World Atlas of Translation
This chapter is in the book A World Atlas of Translation

Abstract

In this report South African translation history is approached from the perspective of asymmetrical power relations with a view to revealing various functions and conceptualisations of translation throughout the country’s notoriously turbulent past. Translation is viewed in a reciprocal relationship with social forces, being stimulated and shaped by them and affecting them in return. Translation is considered from its earliest documented practice by Khoikhoi interpreters in communications with colonists in the 17th century until the present. Changes and trends in the practice and conceptualisation of translation are investigated ranging from translation’s use in manipulating and controlling people under colonialism and apartheid to its use in bringing about transformation in contemporary democratic South Africa. Translation is not only used to bridge communicative barriers according to traditional views, but is seen to extract information and intellectually subjugate, culturally and religiously convert, culturally elevate, manipulate, control, separate, resist and transform. This proves that translation analysed as socially contextualised communication unveils various covert functions of translation, contributing fresh insights to its conceptualisation.

Abstract

In this report South African translation history is approached from the perspective of asymmetrical power relations with a view to revealing various functions and conceptualisations of translation throughout the country’s notoriously turbulent past. Translation is viewed in a reciprocal relationship with social forces, being stimulated and shaped by them and affecting them in return. Translation is considered from its earliest documented practice by Khoikhoi interpreters in communications with colonists in the 17th century until the present. Changes and trends in the practice and conceptualisation of translation are investigated ranging from translation’s use in manipulating and controlling people under colonialism and apartheid to its use in bringing about transformation in contemporary democratic South Africa. Translation is not only used to bridge communicative barriers according to traditional views, but is seen to extract information and intellectually subjugate, culturally and religiously convert, culturally elevate, manipulate, control, separate, resist and transform. This proves that translation analysed as socially contextualised communication unveils various covert functions of translation, contributing fresh insights to its conceptualisation.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface 1
  4. Chapter 1. Translating in the Pacific 13
  5. Chapter 2. Recent tradition in Australia 39
  6. Chapter 3. Japanese conceptualizations of ‘translation’ 55
  7. Chapter 4. Contemporary views of translation in China 81
  8. Chapter 5. From plagiarism to incense sticks 105
  9. Chapter 6. More or less “translation” 125
  10. Chapter 7. The Persian tradition 149
  11. Chapter 8. The notion of translation in the Arab world 169
  12. Chapter 9. Traditions of translation in Hebrew culture 193
  13. Chapter 10. Altaic tradition 215
  14. Chapter 11. Translation tradition throughout South African history 243
  15. Chapter 12. Translation traditions in Angola 271
  16. Chapter 13. The culture(s) of translation in Russia 287
  17. Chapter 14. The concept of translation in Slavic cultures 309
  18. Chapter 15. The Greek-speaking tradition 323
  19. Chapter 16. Latin/Romance tradition 341
  20. Chapter 17. Germanic tradition 355
  21. Chapter 18. Hispanic South America 375
  22. Chapter 19. The history of translation in Brazil through the centuries 395
  23. Chapter 20. Translation in Central America and Mexico 419
  24. Chapter 21. Translation and North America 443
  25. Postface 465
  26. Bio-notes 471
  27. Index of languages, people, toponyms 481
  28. Name index 485
  29. Subject index 491
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.145.11bot

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface 1
  4. Chapter 1. Translating in the Pacific 13
  5. Chapter 2. Recent tradition in Australia 39
  6. Chapter 3. Japanese conceptualizations of ‘translation’ 55
  7. Chapter 4. Contemporary views of translation in China 81
  8. Chapter 5. From plagiarism to incense sticks 105
  9. Chapter 6. More or less “translation” 125
  10. Chapter 7. The Persian tradition 149
  11. Chapter 8. The notion of translation in the Arab world 169
  12. Chapter 9. Traditions of translation in Hebrew culture 193
  13. Chapter 10. Altaic tradition 215
  14. Chapter 11. Translation tradition throughout South African history 243
  15. Chapter 12. Translation traditions in Angola 271
  16. Chapter 13. The culture(s) of translation in Russia 287
  17. Chapter 14. The concept of translation in Slavic cultures 309
  18. Chapter 15. The Greek-speaking tradition 323
  19. Chapter 16. Latin/Romance tradition 341
  20. Chapter 17. Germanic tradition 355
  21. Chapter 18. Hispanic South America 375
  22. Chapter 19. The history of translation in Brazil through the centuries 395
  23. Chapter 20. Translation in Central America and Mexico 419
  24. Chapter 21. Translation and North America 443
  25. Postface 465
  26. Bio-notes 471
  27. Index of languages, people, toponyms 481
  28. Name index 485
  29. Subject index 491
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