4 The effects of editorial intervention. Implications for studies of the features of translated language
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Haidee Kruger
Abstract
Various researchers, working both in corpus-based and sociological studies of translation, have suggested that editorial intervention may play a greater role in the ultimate appearance of published translations than is generally considered. This chapter presents an investigation of whether editorial intervention may, in principle, play a role in what is typically perceived as the features of translated language, specifically increased explicitness, conventionalisation and simplification. It is first demonstrated how the tasks associated with editing and revision may potentially lead to an increase in explicitness and conventionalism, and a decrease in complexity. Using a register-controlled parallel corpus of originally produced (untranslated) edited texts and their unedited counterparts, the study then compares the frequency of a number of linguistic operationalisations of explicitation, conventionalisation and simplification in edited texts and their unedited equivalents. The findings demonstrate that editing has significant effects on features that index all three dimensions. While the study has several limitations, there is nevertheless sufficient evidence to support the claim that the (highly variable and often invisible) role of editing, in the production of both original and translated texts, is a factor that needs to be taken into consideration in corpus-based studies of the features of translated language. Specifically, it is hypothesised that at least some of the conventionalising, explicitating and simplifying tendencies observed in studies of translated language may be the consequence of editorial processes subsequent to translation, a hypothesis that requires testing using a parallel corpus of non-revised and revised translations.
Abstract
Various researchers, working both in corpus-based and sociological studies of translation, have suggested that editorial intervention may play a greater role in the ultimate appearance of published translations than is generally considered. This chapter presents an investigation of whether editorial intervention may, in principle, play a role in what is typically perceived as the features of translated language, specifically increased explicitness, conventionalisation and simplification. It is first demonstrated how the tasks associated with editing and revision may potentially lead to an increase in explicitness and conventionalism, and a decrease in complexity. Using a register-controlled parallel corpus of originally produced (untranslated) edited texts and their unedited counterparts, the study then compares the frequency of a number of linguistic operationalisations of explicitation, conventionalisation and simplification in edited texts and their unedited equivalents. The findings demonstrate that editing has significant effects on features that index all three dimensions. While the study has several limitations, there is nevertheless sufficient evidence to support the claim that the (highly variable and often invisible) role of editing, in the production of both original and translated texts, is a factor that needs to be taken into consideration in corpus-based studies of the features of translated language. Specifically, it is hypothesised that at least some of the conventionalising, explicitating and simplifying tendencies observed in studies of translated language may be the consequence of editorial processes subsequent to translation, a hypothesis that requires testing using a parallel corpus of non-revised and revised translations.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- 1 Gravitational pull in translation. Testing a revised model 9
- 2 The impact of translation direction on characteristics of translated texts. A multivariate analysis for English and German 47
- 3 Variability of English loanword use in Belgian Dutch translations. Measuring the effect of source language and register 81
- 4 The effects of editorial intervention. Implications for studies of the features of translated language 113
- 5 Phraseological patterns in interpreting and translation. Similar or different? 157
- 6 Contrasting terminological variation in post-editing and human translation of texts from the technical and medical domain 183
- 7 Exploratory analysis of dimensions influencing variation in translation. The case of text register and translation method 207
- 8 Typological differences shining through. The case of phrasal verbs in translated English 235
- 9 English-German contrasts in cohesion and implications for translation 265
- Index 313
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- 1 Gravitational pull in translation. Testing a revised model 9
- 2 The impact of translation direction on characteristics of translated texts. A multivariate analysis for English and German 47
- 3 Variability of English loanword use in Belgian Dutch translations. Measuring the effect of source language and register 81
- 4 The effects of editorial intervention. Implications for studies of the features of translated language 113
- 5 Phraseological patterns in interpreting and translation. Similar or different? 157
- 6 Contrasting terminological variation in post-editing and human translation of texts from the technical and medical domain 183
- 7 Exploratory analysis of dimensions influencing variation in translation. The case of text register and translation method 207
- 8 Typological differences shining through. The case of phrasal verbs in translated English 235
- 9 English-German contrasts in cohesion and implications for translation 265
- Index 313
