Conceptual Mediation in Translating Alien Sources

Yuanjian He

翻译学报 ›› 2009, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (1-2) : 87-96.

PDF(254 KB)
PDF(254 KB)
翻译学报 ›› 2009, Vol. 12 ›› Issue (1-2) : 87-96.

Conceptual Mediation in Translating Alien Sources

  • Yuanjian He
作者信息 +

Conceptual Mediation in Translating Alien Sources

  • Yuanjian He
Author information +
文章历史 +

摘要

In this paper, an attempt is made to link the deployment of translation strategies in the target text with the act of conceptual mediation at the cognitive level. Data are drawn from how alien sources are translated from and into Chinese. It is argued that conceptual mediation in terms of processing economy is related to how a strategy might be deployed. In this respect, source deletion is the most economical but its outcome the least desirable for translation. On the other hand, substitution is the least economical but could preserve both the imagery and underlying concept of the source. Trans-coding and paraphrasing stand in between, with the former preserving the imagery and the latter the underlying concept. The statistics from four translated texts is in agreement with this processing economy conceivable at the cognitive level.

Abstract

In this paper, an attempt is made to link the deployment of translation strategies in the target text with the act of conceptual mediation at the cognitive level. Data are drawn from how alien sources are translated from and into Chinese. It is argued that conceptual mediation in terms of processing economy is related to how a strategy might be deployed. In this respect, source deletion is the most economical but its outcome the least desirable for translation. On the other hand, substitution is the least economical but could preserve both the imagery and underlying concept of the source. Trans-coding and paraphrasing stand in between, with the former preserving the imagery and the latter the underlying concept. The statistics from four translated texts is in agreement with this processing economy conceivable at the cognitive level.

引用本文

导出引用
Yuanjian He. Conceptual Mediation in Translating Alien Sources[J]. 翻译学报. 2009, 12(1-2): 87-96
Yuanjian He. Conceptual Mediation in Translating Alien Sources[J]. Journal of Translation Studies. 2009, 12(1-2): 87-96

参考文献

Brown, Dan (2003). The Da Vinci Code. New York: Doubleday.
Cha, Louis (1975). Shu Jian Enchou Lu. Hong Kong: Minghe.
Ch’ien, Chung-shu (1947/1991). Wei Cheng. Chengdu: The Sichuan Literature Press.
Chomsky, N. (1995). The Minimalist Program. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Chomsky, N. (2000). New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
de Groot, A. M. B. (1997). “The Cognitive Study of Translation and Interpretation: Three Approaches.” In J. H. Hanks et al.(eds.) Cognitive Processes in Translation and Interpreting. Thousand Oaks/London/New Delhi: Sage Publications, 25-56.
Diamond, B. J. and Shreve, G. M.(2010). “Neural and Physiological Correlates of Translation and Interpreting in the Bilingual Brain: Recent Perspectives.” In G. M. Shreve and E. Angelone (eds.) Translation and Cognition. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 289-320.
Enshaw, Graham (trans.) (2004). The Story of the Sword. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
He, Yuanjian (2004). “Mapping Culturally Indigenous Concepts in the Translation Process: A Cognitive Perspective.” Journal of Translation Studies 9:1, 33-50.
He, Yuanjian (2009). “Translating Alien Sources into and from Chinese: What Does the Translator Do and Why?”. In Luo Xuanmin and He Yuanjian (eds.) Translating China. Manchester: Multilingual Matters, 207-232.
Holmes, J. (1978/1988). “Describing Literary Translations: Models and Methods.” In James S. Holmes (1988) Translated! Papers on Literary Translation and Translation Studies. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 82-92.
Jääskeläinen, Riitta (2002). “Think-aloud Protocol Studies into Translation: An Annotated Bibliography.” Target 14:1, 107-136.
Jääskeläinen, Riitta (2007). “The Changing Position of ‘the Translator’ in Research and in Practice.” Journal of Translation Studies 10:1, 1-16.
Kelly, J. and Mao, N. K.(1979). Fortress Besieged. Lafayette, IN: The Indiana University Press.
Lefevere, A. (1978). “Translation Studies. The Goal of the Discipline.” In J. Holmes, Lambert, J. and van den Broeck R. (eds.) Literature and Translation: New Perspectives in Literary Studies. Leuven: Acco, 234-235.
Nida, E. (1993). “A Fresh Look at Translating.” In Allison Beeby et al. (eds.) Investigating Translation. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 3-12.
Paradis, M. (1994). “Toward a Neurolinguistic Theory of Simultaneous Translation: The Framework.”International Journal of Psycholinguistics 10, 319-335.
Paradis, M. (2004). A Neurolinguistic Theory in Bilingualism. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Pinker, S. (1999). Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language. London: Phoenix.
Shreve, G. M. (2006). “The Deliberate Practice: Translation and Expertise.” Journal of Translation Studies 9:1, 27-42.
You C. L.(2004). Dawenxi Mima. Taipei: Shibao Publishing.
Zhu, Zhengwuet al. (2004). Dafenqi Mima. Shanghai: Yiwen Publishing.

PDF(254 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

段落导航
相关文章

/