Translation into L2 not a shameful but a valid practice in the market and the classroom
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu09.2016.407Abstract
The article focuses on the issue of directionality, i.e. the practice when translators and interpreters work into their foreign language. First, the status of translation into the translator’s second language (L2 or B) in Translation Studies writings is discussed, arguing that translation into L2 is gaining more TS theoretical attention lately. Then an empirical work investigating teaching of translation into L2 is presented: first, the article investigates whether the assumption that teaching staff should only teach a course unit in translation into their A language is valid and supported by factual evidence. Based on the responses to questionnaires and transcriptions of video recordings of the lessons conducted by 6 translation teachers (2 bilingual, 2 native and 2 non-native speakers of the TL), it is argued that, despite differences in teaching strategies, each of these three groups can contribute to the teaching pro- cess in L2 translation class, but that it would be useful to engage bilingual teachers and teachers who are native speakers of the TL at more advanced levels of translation training. Second, the article focuses on the competences of students when translating into their languages B and C. Examining 580 final translation exams taken between 2010 and 2015 at the MA programme of translation at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), it has been established that on average students tend to perform slightly better when translating into their L1 (esp. with language C). However, there is a strong correlation between the grades for translation into L2 and those for translation into L1 an individual student gets. It is therefore concluded that students’ performance seem to depend mainly on their acquisition of the translation service provision competence (which does not seem to be dependent on the directionality) and not so much on the acquisition of language competence.
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Bajo M. T., Padilla F., Padilla P. Comprehension processes in simultaneous interpreting. Translation in Context. Eds. A. Chesterman, N. G. San Salvador, Y. Gambier. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publ., 2000, pp. 127–142.
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Hirci N. Electronic reference resources for translators. The interpreter and translator trainer, 2012, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 219–236.
Hugo V. Introduction to the translation of Shakespeare. Translation / History / Culture: A Sourcebook. Ed. by A. Lefevere. London, New York, Routledge Publ., 1992, p. 18.
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Pokorn N. K. Challenging the Traditional Axioms. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publ., 2005. 175 p.
Pokorn N. K. Natives or non-natives? That is the question… Teachers of translation into language B. The interpreter and translator trainer, 2009, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 189–208.
Prunč E. Translation in die Nicht-Muttersprache und Translationskultur. Translation into Non-Mother Tongues in Professional Practice and Training. Ed. by M. Grosman. Tubingen, Stauffenburg Publ., 2000, pp. 5–20.
Schleiermacher F. Uber die verschiedenen Methoden des Ubersetzens. Les Tours de Babel: essais sur la traduction. Mauvezin, Trans-Europ-Repress Publ., 1985, pp. 279–347.
Seleskovitch D. The Teaching of Conference Interpreting in the Course of the Last 50 Years. Interpreting, 1999, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 55–66.
Simon S. Gender in Translation: Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission. London, New York, Routledge Publ., 1996. 205 p.
Snell-Hornby M. The Professional Translator of Tomorrow: Language Specialist or All-round Expert? Teaching Translation and Interpreting: Training, Talent and Experience. Eds. C. Dollerup, A. Loddegaard. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, Benjamins Publ., 1992, pp. 9–22.
Steiner G. After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. New York, Oxford, Oxford Univ. Press, 1992. 556 p.
Translation into Non-mother Tongues in Professional Practice and Training. Ed. by M. Grosman. Tubingen, Stauffenburg Publ., 2000. 229 p.
Translation, History and Culture. Eds. A. Lefevere, S. Bassnett. London, New York, Pinter Publ., 1990. 141 p.
Venuti L. The Translator’s Invisibility: A history of translation. London? New York, Routledge Publ., 1995. 365 p
Bibliography:
Bajo M. T., Padilla F., Padilla P. Comprehension processes in simultaneous interpreting. Translation in Context. Eds. A. Chesterman, N. G. San Salvador, Y. Gambier. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publ., 2000, pp. 127–142.
Beeby A. Teaching Translation from Spanish to English. Ottawa, Univ. of Ottawa Press Publ., 1996. 277 p.
Benjamin W. The Task of the Translator. Illuminations. Eds. H. Arendt, W. Benjamin. London, Fontana Publ., 1982, pp. 69–82.
Campbell S. Translation into the Second Language. London, New York, Longman Publ., 1998. 218 p.
Catford J. C. A Linguistic Theory of Translation. Oxford, Oxford Univ. Press, 1965. 111 p.
Chu Chi Y. Translation Theory in Chinese Translations of Buddhist Texts. Investigating Translation. Eds. A. Beeby, D. Ensinger, M. Presas. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publ., 2000, pp. 43–53.
Duff A. The Third Language. Oxford? New York, Pergamon Press Publ., 1981. 151 p.
Gutt E.-A. A Theoretical Account of Translation — Without a Translation Theory. Target, 1990, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 135–164.
Hirci N. Electronic reference resources for translators. The interpreter and translator trainer, 2012, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 219–236.
Hugo V. Introduction to the translation of Shakespeare. Translation / History / Culture: A Sourcebook. Ed. by A. Lefevere. London, New York, Routledge Publ., 1992, p. 18.
Humboldt W. von Uber die Verschiedenheit des menschlichen Sprachbaues und ihren Einflu. auf die geistige Entwicklung des Menschengeschlechts. Berlin, Kgl. Akad. der Wiss. Publ., 1836. 523 p.
Johnson B. Taking Fidelity Philosophically. Difference in Translation. Ed. by J. Graham. New York, Cornell Univ. Press Publ., 1985, pp. 142–148.
La Direccionalidad en Traduccion e Interpretacion: Perspectivas teoricas, profesionales y didacticas. Eds. D. Kelly, A. Martin, M.-L. Nobs, D. Sanchez, C. Way. Granada, Atrio Publ., 2003. 434 p.
Ladmiral J.-R. Traduire: theoremes pour la traduction. Paris, Payot Publ., 1979. 276 p.
Linn S. Trends in translation of a minority language: The case of Dutch. Sociocultural Aspects of Translating and Interpreting. Eds. A. Pym, M. Schlesinger, Z. Jettmarova. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publ., 2006, pp. 27–40.
Newmark P. A Textbook of Translation. London, Prentice Hall Publ., 1988. 304 p.
Newmark P. Approaches to Translation. Oxford? New York, Pergamon Press, 1981. 200 p.
Nida E. Toward a science of translating: with special reference to principles and procedures involved in Bible translating. Leiden, E. J. Brill Publ., 1964. 341 p.
Pokorn N. K. Bilingual teachers in translation courses: an ideal situation? Translationskultur revisited: Festschrift fur Erich Prunč. Ed. by N. Grbić. Tubingen, Stauffenburg Publ., 2010, pp. S. 245–260.
Pokorn N. K. Challenging the Traditional Axioms. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, John Benjamins Publ., 2005. 175 p.
Pokorn N. K. Natives or non-natives? That is the question… Teachers of translation into language B. The interpreter and translator trainer, 2009, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 189–208.
Prunč E. Translation in die Nicht-Muttersprache und Translationskultur. Translation into Non-Mother Tongues in Professional Practice and Training. Ed. by M. Grosman. Tubingen, Stauffenburg Publ., 2000, pp. 5–20.
Schleiermacher F. Uber die verschiedenen Methoden des Ubersetzens. Les Tours de Babel: essais sur la traduction. Mauvezin, Trans-Europ-Repress Publ., 1985, pp. 279–347.
Seleskovitch D. The Teaching of Conference Interpreting in the Course of the Last 50 Years. Interpreting, 1999, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 55–66.
Simon S. Gender in Translation: Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission. London, New York, Routledge Publ., 1996. 205 p.
Snell-Hornby M. The Professional Translator of Tomorrow: Language Specialist or All-round Expert? Teaching Translation and Interpreting: Training, Talent and Experience. Eds. C. Dollerup, A. Loddegaard. Amsterdam, Philadelphia, Benjamins Publ., 1992, pp. 9–22.
Steiner G. After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. New York, Oxford, Oxford Univ. Press, 1992. 556 p.
Translation into Non-mother Tongues in Professional Practice and Training. Ed. by M. Grosman. Tubingen, Stauffenburg Publ., 2000. 229 p.
Translation, History and Culture. Eds. A. Lefevere, S. Bassnett. London, New York, Pinter Publ., 1990. 141 p.
Venuti L. The Translator’s Invisibility: A history of translation. London? New York, Routledge Publ., 1995. 365 p.
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