The Theory of Non

Tamara I.Leontieva
Lectures on Translation Theory
Department of Cross-cultural
Communication and Translation
Study
Foreign Languages Center
Vladivostok State University of
Economics
2008
The Theory of Non-Equivalence
Translation as process and
translation as result
Translation as process and as
result
Translation as
process is
connected with the
category of methods
of translation,
separate techniques
and transformations.
Translation as result
may be regarded
from the point of
view of another
category - that of
equivalence of
translation.
Equivalence in Translation
1. A sum of formal
components: sounds, words,
links between the elements of the
speech act making the structure
of the text.
Equivalence in Translation
2. A sum of semantic
components made of lexical
and grammatical meanings
within a text.
Equivalence in Translation
3. A sum of quanta (blocks)
of semantic information of
different value.
What does an ideal
translation present?
The combination of the three
components - but can it be
achieved? - Only in theory!
What happens in practice?
A translator combines
word-for-word (or literal)
translation and free translation
with regard to the norm of the
target language (TL).
Literal Translation
a) spoutnik, perestroika
b) All cats are grey in the dark.
c) The policy of big stick.
Free Translation
a) Первый блин комом.
Better luck next time.
b) По мне уж лучше пей,
да дело разумей.
As for me, I’d let them drink all day
If only they could play.
Non-equivalence theory
• The ST and TT do not correspond in
a) the quantity and quality of information;
b) the formal means of expressing the
same information in the two languages,
c) semantic components describing the
same situation.
• As a result there is lost or acquired
information.
Graphic Presentation of Lost
or Acquired Information
Noncoinciding
elements of
information
Дж. Миллер
-
+
One circle: ST
information
The other: TT
information
They do not
coincide
Find lost and acquired info
Он произнес
последние
слова с
пафосом и
вышел.
He left our
house when he
finished
speaking.
Comparative analysis - 1
SS:Правительство не
раз предлагало при
условии вывода
иностранных войск из
южной части страны
заключить мирное
соглашение между
Югом и Севером о
ненападении и
сократить численность
обеих армий до 100
тысяч человек.
TS: Правительство все
делало для того, чтобы
заключить соглашение
с Югом о ненападении
и сократить
численность обеих
армий при условии
вывода в
установленные сроки
иностранных войск из
южной части страны.
Comparative analysis - 2
SS:
Следующее
заседание
состоится 15
декабря.
TS:
The next
sitting will be
held on
December 15
at 11 o’clock
a.m.
Comparative analysis - 3
SS: Вчера
национальное
собрание
закончило
рассмотрение
финансового
бюджета на 2005
год в первом
чтении.
TS: Yesterday the
National meeting
finished
discussing the
financial budget
for 2005.
Rules of Comparative
Analysis
1. Only dissimilarities in semantic
information are pointed out.
2. All non-coinciding information is divided
into obtained or lost.
3. Non-coinciding information is divided
into: key info, unique info, additional,
specifying, repetitive or zero info.
LITERATURE
1. Миньяр-Белоручев.Р.К. Теория и
методы перевода. - М.: Московский
лицей, 1996. - С.111-132.
2. Прошина З.Г. Теория перевода … Владивосток: Изд-во ДВГТУ, 1999. С.23-24.
3. Чужакин А.П. Мир перевода -2. - М.:
Валент, 1977. - С.19-22.