Филологические науки/6.Актуальные проблемы перевода

Mykytiuk I.M., Ph.D.

Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine

Translation and Style

Translation is the process and the result of creation on the basis of the source text in one language of an equal in communicative sense text in another language. Communicative adequacy allows the text to function as a substitute of the original text in the language of translation.

Communicative equivalence of the translated text is provided for by three main demands: the text of the translation must as fully as possible convey the meaning of the original; the text of the translation must conform to the norms of the language of translation; the text of the translation must correspond to the original in its size.

The objective of this article is to discuss the problem of variation in language use which presents a considerable challenge for the translator. Scientists acknowledge the existence of two dimensions of language variation. The first dimension has to do with the user in a particular language event: who (or what) the speaker/writer is. User-related varieties are called dialects which, while capable of displaying differences at all levels, differ from person to person primarily in the phonic medium. The second dimension relates to the use to which a user puts language. Use-related varieties are known as registers and, unlike dialects, differ from each other primarily in language form (e.g. grammar and lexis).

Language varieties correspond to geographical variation, giving rise to different geographical dialects. Awareness of geographical variation, and of the ideological and political implications that it may have, is essential for translators and interpreters. Accent, for example, is one of the recognisable features of geographical variation. The representation in a ST of a particular dialect creates an inescapable problem as to which TL dialect to use. Translators have to be constantly alert to the social implications of their decisions.

The difficulty of achieving dialectal equivalence in translation will be apparent to anyone who has dealt with this phenomenon in the process of translation. Rendering ST dialect by TL standard has the disadvantage of losing the special effect intended in the ST, while rendering dialect by dialect runs the risk of creating unintended effects.

Thus, Cockney in B. Shaw’s play Pygmalion [3] presents quite a challenge for the translator. In this play stylistically marked speech (phonetics, pronunciation) is not just an additional means of characterization, but the foundation of plot structure. The example below shows the way Mykola Pavlov [1] coped with the problem:

The FLOWER GIRL. Ow, eez ye-ooa son, is e? Wal, fewd dan y’ de-ooty bawmz a mather should, eed now bettern to spawl a pore gel’s flahrzn than ran awy athaht pying. Will ye-oo py me f’them?

[Oh, he’s your son, is he? Well, if you’d done your duty by him as a mother should, he’d know better than to spoil a poor girl’s flowers and then run away without paying. Will you pay me for them?] [3, p. 12];

КВІТКАРКА. О! Так це синок ваш?! Нічо’ не ска’еш, виховала мамуся! Це ж тре’: виваляв мені всі хвіалки в грязюці і втік! На’іть не заплатив бідній дівчині! Так мо’, ви заплатите?[5, c. 10].

In his article “The Phenomenon of Shaw for Ukrainian Readership” [1, p. 68] M. Pavlov claims that since Ukrainian and English have different types of language errors, it is quite difficult to preserve the violations peculiar to English Cockney in Ukrainian translation. Cockney is marked by characteristic pronunciation, grammar mistakes and peculiarities of phrase-formation. Stylistically marked Ukrainian speech has somewhat different features: pronunciation, frequent use of phatic language units, certain morphological changes; grammar mistakes are practically absent since they are not characteristic of the speakers of Ukrainian. The above mentioned errors in Ukrainian colloquial language and in English Cockney do not coincide.

The balance between the original and its translation is not preserved in the following textual fragments:

Іди за мнов, бідо [4, c. 219];

Then come with me, you little disaster [3, p. 17];

А ти, мерзо, знов хочеш робити веймір на всі люди? [4, c. 59];

And you, abomination, again want to create a hubbub for all to hear [3, p. 40].

Temporal dialects reflect language change through time. Each generation has its own linguistic fashions, and, whereas change is generally imperceptible, one has only to read advertising text of earlier times to measure the extent of this diversity. Terms such as ‘ghetto-blaster’ (large and powerful portable radio and cassette player) and ‘video nasty’ (video film showing offensive scenes of sex and violence) define a text as a product of the 1980s. At the same time lexemes like ‘Netizen’ (Internet + citizen = a person who spends much time using Internet), ‘Macintrash’ (Macintosh + trash = a derogatory term for a Macintosh computer), ‘Wordrobe’ (word + wardrobe = vocabulary of a person), acronyms ‘FAQ’ (frequently asked questions), ‘HTML’ (hypertext markup language), ‘URL’ (uniform resource locator), and meta-acronym – abbreviation based on phonetic similarity ‘ICQ’ (I seek you) serve as markers of linguistic preference of the speakers at the beginning of the 21-st century. Such coinages may constitute a translation problem particularly if dictionaries (monolingual and bilingual) are not keeping pace with current usage. Translators of texts from earlier times encounter considerable problems to do with the use of either archaic language or the modern idiom in their target text. In literary translation, there is the added consideration of aesthetic effect.

Social differentiation is as important as the geographical and the temporal and is also reflected in language. Social dialects emerge in response to social stratification within a speech community. Translators and interpreters have to face yet other problems of comprehensibility with ideological, political and social implications. Principles of equivalence demand that an attempt should be made to relay the full impact of social dialect taking into account its discoursal force as well. At the same time interpreters working with groups of differing social status (e.g. barrister and accused person) often have to neutralise social dialect in translation for the sake of improved mutual comprehension.

The notion of ‘standard / non-standard’ dialect should not be understood as implying any linguistic value judgement; it can not be measured in terms of minority or majority of speakers and has rather a function of prestige. The way a standard evolves is a complex process which is influenced by factors such as education and the mass media. In understanding and describing standards/non-standards, it is, therefore, important to take into consideration functional variation and the way this finds expression in language. In situations where two or more codes coexist in a speech community, code switching is not random and the translator or interpreter, like all language users, must be able to recognise the question of ‘identity’ involved. When non-standard forms of language are used in advertising to promote a product, identification with the values of a particular social group or class is being evoked. For example, Ukrainian advertisement of a low-alcohol drink “Shake” – Шейканемо, бейбі! – is evidently meant for young people.

Thus, depending on the user, language varies in several respects. That is why, translators should take into account idiolectal, geographical, temporal, social and standard/non-standard variation.

Bibliography:

1. Павлов М. Феномен Шоу для українського читацтва. Коментар до перекладу “Пігмаліона” / М. Павлов // Всесвіт. — 1999. — № 11—12. — С. 63—69.

2. Shaw B. Pygmalion / Shaw B. — M. : Higher School Publishing House, 1972. — 139 p.

3. Stefanyk V. Maple Leaves and Other Stories / Stefanyk V. ; [transl. by M. Skrypnyk]. — R., 1988. — 125 p.

4. Стефаник В. С. Твори / Стефаник В. С. — К. : Либідь, 1971. — 315 с.

5. Шоу Б. Пігмаліон / Шоу Б. ; [пер. з англ. М. Павлов] // Всесвіт. — 1999. — № 11—12. — С. 7—63.