In the following paper the author would like to show the meaning of translation, its typology, the most important difficulties which often appear in this area and the techniques that can be involved. Due to the fact that the basic material of the research consists of the novel by Stephenie Meyer and her world-wide best-seller Twilight, as well as the involvement of the Equivalence in the literary translation – this points will be discussed broadly.
The translation is an amazingly broad issue which covers numerous notions of style, meaning, knowledge of the translation topic which is hard to point out looking at the very basics only. Accordingly, numerous researches has been carried out since the notion of the translation emerged as an academic study. Every translation performance, whether an oral or a written, is a kind of conscious act leading to operation of rendering some text from the Source Language (SL) into the Target Language (TL). Literary translation is an odd art because a literary translator takes someone else’s composition and performs it in his own special way. However, above everything – the main point of any translation is for the translator to be the actual specialist within this particular field – whether it is religious or technical or any other type of translation.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I: THEORIES OF LITERARY TRANSLATION
1.1 DEFINITION OF THE TERM
1.2 TYPOLOGY OF TRANSLATION
1.2.1 Specificity of Literary Translation
1.3 SOME IMPORTANT FACTS FROM THE HISTORY OF TRANSLATION
CHAPTER II: EQUIVALENCE THEORY
2.1. DEFINITION OF THE TERM EQUIVALENCE
2.2. CHOSEN THEORIES OF EQUIVALENCE
2.2.1. Jakobson
2.2.2. Nida
2.2.3. Koller
2.2.4. House
2.2.5. Catford
2.2.6. Baker
2.3. EQUIVALENCE AND ITS PROBLEMS
CHAPTER III: EQUIVALENCE IN LITERARY TRANSLATION
3.1. THE ANALYSIS OF CHOSEN EXCERPTS FROM TWILIGHT AND ITS TRANSLATION
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this thesis is to explore the role of equivalence in literary translation by conducting a comparative analysis of the original English novel "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer and its Polish translation "Zmierzch" by Joanna Urban.
- Examination of fundamental translation theories and definitions.
- Analysis of the concept of "equivalence" in both formal and dynamic contexts.
- Comparative study of translation techniques used in the specific literary case of "Twilight".
- Evaluation of the impact of translator decisions on the target audience's reception.
- Investigation into the challenges of cultural and linguistic adaptation in literary prose.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Definition of the Term
The subject of translation developed in many parts of the world and is clearly destined to continue developing further throughout the twenty first century. Translation studies bring together work in a wide variety of fields, including linguistics, literary study, history, anthropology, psychology and economics.
Moreover, translation is a phenomenon that has a huge effect on everyday life. This can range from the translation of a key international treaty to the multilingual poster that welcomes customers to a small restaurant or hotel virtually anywhere in the world.
Translation is the process during which someone transfers written or spoken source language (SL) texts to equivalent written or spoken target language (TL) texts. The basic purpose of translation is to reproduce various types of texts, comprising literary, religious, scientific, philosophical texts etc. in another language and thus making them available to wider readers, to a greater number of target audience and to bring the world closer.
Therefore, on the basis of primary sources, it is possible to formulate a multi-layered picture of what is the ‘translation’.
Chapter Summaries
INTRODUCTION: Provides an overview of the significance of translation as an academic and practical field, outlining the thesis focus on the novel "Twilight".
CHAPTER I: THEORIES OF LITERARY TRANSLATION: Explores the definition of translation, its typology, and provides a brief historical context of the field's development.
CHAPTER II: EQUIVALENCE THEORY: Discusses the central concept of equivalence, presenting various scholarly theories and addressing the problems associated with achieving perfect translation equivalence.
CHAPTER III: EQUIVALENCE IN LITERARY TRANSLATION: Offers a practical application of the theory by analyzing specific excerpts from the original "Twilight" and its Polish translation.
Keywords
Translation Studies, Literary Translation, Equivalence, Formal Correspondence, Dynamic Equivalence, Source Language, Target Language, Stephenie Meyer, Twilight, Translation Techniques, Adaptation, Linguistic Theory, Comparative Analysis, Translation History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This work fundamentally explores the concept of equivalence in literary translation, specifically how it is applied and where it presents challenges in the translation process.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The central themes include the definition and typology of translation, the evolution of translation theory, the significance of equivalence, and the practical challenges of translating literary prose.
What is the main goal of the thesis?
The goal is to analyze the translation of Stephenie Meyer’s "Twilight" into Polish to demonstrate how different theoretical approaches to equivalence impact the final translated text.
Which scientific method is utilized in this paper?
The research employs a comparative analysis method, evaluating selected source text excerpts alongside their target language equivalents to identify specific translation techniques.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the historical development of translation, definitions of equivalence (by scholars such as Jakobson, Nida, and Baker), and a detailed comparative study of "Twilight" and "Zmierzch".
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Literary Translation, Equivalence, Dynamic Equivalence, Source Language, Target Language, and Comparative Analysis.
How does the author define the relationship between source and target text in "Twilight"?
The author highlights that while the translation is generally well-accomplished, the translator occasionally uses "overt translation" and adds subjective information, which can sometimes distort the original style.
What role does culture play in the translation of "Twilight"?
The author identifies that cultural differences between the US and Poland, alongside the translator's personal decisions, significantly influence how the narrative tone and character motivations are rendered.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding the translator's role?
The author concludes that the translator is not merely a technician but an active participant who must balance linguistic fidelity with the need to recreate the original text's mood and impact for the reader.
- Quote paper
- Marta Zapała-Kraj (Author), 2019, Equivalence and Literary Translation. Short Introduction to the Translation Studies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/591327
