On translating pronominal and nominal terms of address
-
Bettina Kluge
Abstract
How to translate forms of address – a puzzling question for almost every translator – is a largely neglected topic in the linguistic analysis of forms of address, and, until recently, even in translation studies. This contribution provides an overview of the existing literature and suggests ways to overcome some of the shortcomings identified. Research on translated terms of address (ToA) so far shows a marked bias towards fictional data, often involving English as either a target or a source language. Most research also focuses either on pronominal or nominal address, but it is clear that both need to be analyzed together for a thorough understanding of the translated text and its intention. The chapter argues for a cross-linguistic approach and provides further evidence for the observation (e.g., by Berger 2005; Sinner 2011) that the translation of pronominal address reflects the address practices of the target language, while in the translation of nominal address, the address practices of the source language ‘shine through’.
Abstract
How to translate forms of address – a puzzling question for almost every translator – is a largely neglected topic in the linguistic analysis of forms of address, and, until recently, even in translation studies. This contribution provides an overview of the existing literature and suggests ways to overcome some of the shortcomings identified. Research on translated terms of address (ToA) so far shows a marked bias towards fictional data, often involving English as either a target or a source language. Most research also focuses either on pronominal or nominal address, but it is clear that both need to be analyzed together for a thorough understanding of the translated text and its intention. The chapter argues for a cross-linguistic approach and provides further evidence for the observation (e.g., by Berger 2005; Sinner 2011) that the translation of pronominal address reflects the address practices of the target language, while in the translation of nominal address, the address practices of the source language ‘shine through’.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Address and address research 1
-
Looking backwards, looking forwards
- A literature review of address studies from pragmatic and sociolinguistic perspectives 23
- On translating pronominal and nominal terms of address 47
- Examining Twitter as a source for address research using Colombian Spanish 75
- Imaginary customers and public figures 99
-
Variation and change
- Now you Sie me, now you don’t 125
- On address pronouns in the history of Brazilian Portuguese 139
- Palenquero Creole 161
- Variation in polite address in contemporary Uruguayan Spanish 191
- Transition from V to T address among restaurant customers and waiters in Italy 221
-
Reflections of address in digital and visual media
- Address negotiations in Dutch emails 253
- The variable functions of addressing hearer-participants with Spanish second person object forms in media discourse 281
- Pragmatic and grammatical categories for the analysis of forms of address in presidential election debates 305
-
Nominal address
- Nominal address strategies in Cameroon French 335
- Brocatives 355
-
Address, the self, and the other
- Introductions at international academic conferences 375
- Person-referring expressions, reference nominals, and address nominals 397
- Terms of address and self-reference in Ulaanbaatar Mongolian 415
- Index 435
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Address and address research 1
-
Looking backwards, looking forwards
- A literature review of address studies from pragmatic and sociolinguistic perspectives 23
- On translating pronominal and nominal terms of address 47
- Examining Twitter as a source for address research using Colombian Spanish 75
- Imaginary customers and public figures 99
-
Variation and change
- Now you Sie me, now you don’t 125
- On address pronouns in the history of Brazilian Portuguese 139
- Palenquero Creole 161
- Variation in polite address in contemporary Uruguayan Spanish 191
- Transition from V to T address among restaurant customers and waiters in Italy 221
-
Reflections of address in digital and visual media
- Address negotiations in Dutch emails 253
- The variable functions of addressing hearer-participants with Spanish second person object forms in media discourse 281
- Pragmatic and grammatical categories for the analysis of forms of address in presidential election debates 305
-
Nominal address
- Nominal address strategies in Cameroon French 335
- Brocatives 355
-
Address, the self, and the other
- Introductions at international academic conferences 375
- Person-referring expressions, reference nominals, and address nominals 397
- Terms of address and self-reference in Ulaanbaatar Mongolian 415
- Index 435
