Lexical lectometry in corpus-based translation studies
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Gert de Sutter
Abstract
The present study addresses the long-standing issue in corpus-based translation studies that translated texts differ from non-translated texts in the same language, irrespective of text type or source language. We investigate whether this claim is empirically verifiable for a variety of lexical variables in different Dutch varieties or lects (different text types and translated versus non-translated language). By means of profile-based correspondence analysis, linguistic distances are measured and visualized between the lects. Finally, logistic regression modeling enables us to determine the exact impact of the lects on the lexical choices. The results indeed reveal significant differences between translated and non-translated texts, but – contrary to what is generally assumed – these differences are not independent of source language and text type. Keywords: corpus-based translation studies; conservatism, lexical onomasiological variation; correspondence analysis; logistic regression
Abstract
The present study addresses the long-standing issue in corpus-based translation studies that translated texts differ from non-translated texts in the same language, irrespective of text type or source language. We investigate whether this claim is empirically verifiable for a variety of lexical variables in different Dutch varieties or lects (different text types and translated versus non-translated language). By means of profile-based correspondence analysis, linguistic distances are measured and visualized between the lects. Finally, logistic regression modeling enables us to determine the exact impact of the lects on the lexical choices. The results indeed reveal significant differences between translated and non-translated texts, but – contrary to what is generally assumed – these differences are not independent of source language and text type. Keywords: corpus-based translation studies; conservatism, lexical onomasiological variation; correspondence analysis; logistic regression
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- List of contributors ix
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Part I. Theoretical exploration
- Explicit and tacit 3
- Regression analysis in translation studies 35
- Hypothesis testing in corpus-based literary translation studies 53
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Part II. Essential corpus statistics
- Compiling a Norwegian-Spanish parallel corpus 75
- Describing a translational corpus 115
- Clustering a translational corpus 149
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Part III. Quantitative exploration of literary translation
- A Corpus study of early English translations of Cao Xueqin’s Hongloumeng 177
- Determining translation invariant characteristics of James Joyce’s Dubliners 209
- The great mystery of the (almost) invisible translator 231
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Part IV. Quantitative exploration of translation lexis
- Translation and scientific terminology 251
- The games translators play 275
- Multivariate analyses of affix productivity in translated English 301
- Lexical lectometry in corpus-based translation studies 325
- Appendices 347
- Index 357
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- List of contributors ix
-
Part I. Theoretical exploration
- Explicit and tacit 3
- Regression analysis in translation studies 35
- Hypothesis testing in corpus-based literary translation studies 53
-
Part II. Essential corpus statistics
- Compiling a Norwegian-Spanish parallel corpus 75
- Describing a translational corpus 115
- Clustering a translational corpus 149
-
Part III. Quantitative exploration of literary translation
- A Corpus study of early English translations of Cao Xueqin’s Hongloumeng 177
- Determining translation invariant characteristics of James Joyce’s Dubliners 209
- The great mystery of the (almost) invisible translator 231
-
Part IV. Quantitative exploration of translation lexis
- Translation and scientific terminology 251
- The games translators play 275
- Multivariate analyses of affix productivity in translated English 301
- Lexical lectometry in corpus-based translation studies 325
- Appendices 347
- Index 357
