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OF Eksamen. Kultur og kommunikasjon...

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Of-106 Eksamen

Marie N. Swann

06.05.20

1. Chesterman explains that the ethical models lack compatibility with each other and highlight different ethical values: “truth (representation), loyalty (service), understanding (communication) and trust (normbased)” (A. Chesterman, 142). This raises the question of which ethical value one values the most, and different kinds of people will have different opinions on the matter. Chesterman also explains that none of the models clarify what ethical action is to be taken if the values clash, and if the action of choosing a model itself is even ethical to begin with. Below is a brief explanation of the four ethical models, and what Chester considers to be the issue with them.

Ethics of representation The interpreter is supposed to remain faithful to the text and/or speaker, and it is important that the translation represents them accurately without omitting, adding or changing anything. This ethic makes the speaker feel safe to utter anything without feeling extra pressure. The relationship between interpreter and speaker should be safe and faithful, and misrepresentation may result in a biased, or prejudiced, spin on the events in the translation. Totally true representation is virtually impossible. It is very hard to apply for translation tasks that need rewriting or adaptation, even improvement.

Ethics of service This ethic is about loyalty between translator and client. The client decides the instructions of the translation and accepts the outcome. The translator should fulfill these instructions but can also negotiate on behalf of the original text. All in all, the translation service is based on loyalty, and of course, professionalism. One can say that the loyalty of this model makes the translator too invisible and argue how it would affect a freelance translator initiating the translation of the certain piece.

Ethics of communication Instead of focusing on representing the speaker, this ethic focuses on communication between the interpreter and the speaker. The ethical act is to recognize the speaker as someone with whom can be communicated with, and for the interpreter to let go of their own bubble. The interpreter would try to optimize the communication and cooperation between parties involved and try to mediate and reach a mutually beneficial agreement or situation.

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Of-106 Eksamen

Marie N. Swann

06.05.20

The responsibility on the translator here is immense, and perhaps to further try to make a mutually beneficial agreement, the agreement itself could turn out to be unethical. Where is the limit for the translator’s responsibility? Norm-based ethics This model involves the “norms theory” (by G. Toury. Explained further in attachment 1). These norms are generally approved and usually state what acceptable translation work look like. The ethic is therefore the expectancy of the translated work, “behaving as one is expected to behave, in accordance with the norms, …” (A. Chesterman, 141.). The model is too conservative and cannot embrace change or improvement. Perhaps a translator, or the client of the translator, seeks to surprise the readers? What would happen then. Chesterman goes on to say that “these four models are only partial ones” (A. Chesterman, 144), meaning that the models only cover part of the general ethical field, and are lacking on their own.

2. There are several different strategies to translate idioms and collocations, lets however distinguish the two first. An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the words alone, like “break a leg”, this does not mean to literally break a leg, it is an idiom for “good luck”. A collocation is similar but is a group of words that often are paired together, like “fast food”.

When translating an idiom or collocation, it all depends on the context of how it is being used, one of the most used strategies is translation by paraphrase. This is often used when there is no equivalent idiom found in the target language.

Examples: “Jeg må stå på egne bein” “I have to take care of myself” “Det er ugler I mosen” “Something does not seem right” “Den kosta skjorta” “That was expensive”

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Of-106 Eksamen

Marie N. Swann

06.05.20

Because we translated the idioms by giving away its meaning in the target language, we lose some of the cultural significance and we might even lose the intended effect on the readers that the original author wanted. Of course, the ideal situation for the translator would be to use an idiom of similar meaning and form. This is quite rare, as languages are radically different from each other.

Examples: “Det beste fra to verdener” “The best of both worlds” “Når du har hendene fulle” “I’ve got my hands full” “Jeg har sommerfugler i magen” “I have butterflies in my stomach”

Here we get to describe that fluttery feeling of nervousness in both the source language and the target language without losing any sense or meaning of the idiom. This not only means we keep the authors meaning as intended, but we also do not lose any cultural meaning.

The next best thing would be to find an idiom of similar meaning, but dissimilar form. This would mean to use the closest idiom you could find to convey what the author wanted, even if its lexical form is different.

Examples: “Snakk om sola” “Speak of the devil” “Å strø salt i såret” “Add insult to injury” “Den kosta skjorta” “That cost an arm and leg”

The meaning of the idiom comes across and we do not lose that cultural significance even though the lexical form and items differ.

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Of-106 Eksamen

Marie N. Swann

06.05.20

The last strategy would be translation by omission. There is a time when there is no idiom that has a close match or any equivalent saying, and in those times, one might completely omit the idiom from the text.

3. This ethic makes the speaker feel safe to utter anything without feeling extra pressure. S → NP, VP, NP, VP, NP, VP, NP NP → Det., N VP → V, Det. NP → N VP → V, Adv., Det., V NP → N VP → Adv., V NP → Adj., N Lexical rules: Det → [this, a] Adj → [extra] N → [ethic, speaker, anything, pressure] V → [makes, feel, utter, feeling] Adv → [safe, without]

These norms are generally approved and usually state what acceptable translation work look like. S → NP, VP, VP, NP, NP, VP NP → Det., N VP → V, Adv., V VP → Det., Adv., V 4

Of-106 Eksamen

Marie N. Swann

06.05.20

NP → N, Adj. NP → N, N VP → V, V Lexical rules: Det → [these, and] Adj → [acceptable] N → [norms, what, translation, work] V → [are, approved, state, look, like] Adv → [generally, usually]

The last strategy would be translation by omission. S → NP, VP, NP, PP, NP NP →Det., Adj., N VP → V, V NP → N PP → P NP → N Lexical rules: Det → [the] Adj → [last] N → [strategy, translation, omission] V → [would, be] P → [by]

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Of-106 Eksamen

Marie N. Swann

06.05.20

Sources: A., Adelnia, H., V., Dastjerdi (2011) Translation of idioms: a hard task for the translator. A., Chesterman (2001) Proposal for a Hieronymic Oath. A., Pym (2001) The return to ethics in translation studies. Advancing research in translation and interpreting studies, hentet fra https://artisinitiative.org/onlinecourse/module-theories-of-translation-interpreting/unit-2/unit-2-chapter-7-norms-theory/ G., Toury (1995) Descriptive translation studies and beyond.

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