The Role of the Native Language in Translation Studies

1
The Role of the Native Language in Translation
Studies
Georgina Collins
5 September 2007
2
the problematic crux of modern Europhone African
literature is precisely the issue of language and
its relation to the notion of translation.
Clearly, African writers who make use of European
languages do not have the same attitude to these
languages and therefore do not follow a
conventional approach in their use of language
(Gyasi Francophone 8)
3
Objectives

• to find out if native language study assists
  translation
• to establish whether it is a necessity in
  postcolonial translation
• to learn whether Translation Studies theories
  can be developed to accommodate this concept
• to examine the impact on translation
  methodologies
• to demonstrate the importance of disciplinary
  development

4
Ce qui rend la culture sénégalais
particulièrement passionnante, cest précisement
quelle se situe au carrefour de trois mondes,
africain, musulman et européen (Malherbe 8)
5
Language Use in Senegal

• code-switching
• Wolof grammar influences French
• creation of new words and phrases
• dialect le français sénégalais

6
Impact of Wolof on French Language

• general code-switching
• grammatical manipulation
• phrase invention
• complete hybridity
• sound imitation

7
Translation Types - Roman Jakobson

• intralingual (rewording)
• interlingual (translation proper)
• intersemiotic (transmutation)

8
The Journey of Translation
9
Text Types Katharina Reiss

• content focused (informative)
• form focused (expressive)
• appeal-focused (operative)
• multimedia

10
the problems of decoding a text for a translator
involve so much more than language, despite the
fact that the basis of any written text is its
language (Bassnett 137).
11
Ce Soir
Lhorizon est vêtu De pourpre et dor Et se mire
dans la mer Pour parfaire ses plis Spectacle
grandiose À nul autre pareil, Offert chaque
soir Par lARTISTE éternel. Fatou Ndiaye Sow,
1990.  
The horizon is clothed In crimson and gold And is
mirrored in the sea Perfecting its pleats A
magnificent show Unparalleled, Presented each
evening By the eternal ARTIST.
12
Methodologies for Translation Vinay and
Darbelnet

• borrowing
• calque
• literal translation
• transposition
• modulation
• equivalence
• adaptation

13
Conclusions

• is an integral part of cultural analysis
• impacts approach to theories and methodologies
• makes a key contribution towards the study of
  hybrid languages
• helps raise profile of African women writers

14
Future Areas for Research

• differences in male and female language use
• analysis of additional Translation Studies
  theories
• study of a wider range of Senegalese writers

15
Questions and Comments?
Contact georgina.collins_at_warwick.ac.uk