A Systemic Functional Linguistics Approach to Translation Studies ???????????????

1
A Systemic Functional Linguistics Approach to
Translation Studies???????????????

• Huang Guowen (Sun Yat-sen University)
• ???? ???
• ltflshgw_at_mail.sysu.edu.cngt

2
Acknowledgements

• Id like to express my thanks to the School of
  Foreign Languages of Nanjing University of
  Technology for inviting me to give a talk here.

3
Acknowledgements

• At Sun Yat-sen University a number of people have
  worked with me in the area of translation
  studies
• ??? ?????(????/????)
• ??? ??????(????)
• ? ? ?????(????)
• ??? ?????(??????)
• ??? ?????(??????)

4
??????????

• ??? 2001,??????????, ????????????
• ??? 2002,???????,???????2002?7??
• ??? 2006,??????????, ????????????
• ??????? 2002,??????????,????2002??3??
• ??????? 2003, ???????????????,(??)Translation
  Quarterly, 2003(30)?

5

• ??????????????????, ???????,2002 (5)?
• ?????????????????, ?????,2002 (1)?
• ???????????????, ????, 2002 (3)?
• ????????????????????,?? ? ?????????? ,
  ????????????, 2002?
• ????????????????, ????2002 (3)?
• ?????????????????????, ?????????,2002(5)?
• ??????????????,????????2003(1)?

6

• ???????????????????,???????2003(2)?
• ??????? ??????? ????????,????2003(2)?
• ??????????????? ???????????,?????2003(1)?
• ????????????????????2004(5)?
• ????????????????????????????????????2004(4)?
• ????????????????????2006(1)?
• ??????????????????? ????????????????????,2006?
  

7
Outline

• 1 Introduction Two general approaches to
  translation studies
• 2 Functional Linguistics
• 3 Functional Linguistics and translation studies
• 4 Hallidayan functionalism in translation
  studies (Catford, Hatim Mason, Bell, Baker)
• 5 SFL approach revisited (assumptions, functional
  views of language, levels of analysis)
• 6 Illustration Jiang Xue
• 7 Summary

8
1 Introduction Two approaches

• Two approaches to translation studies
• (1) Linguistics (formal vs functional)
• (2) Literary
• Translation studies as a science
• Translation as an art
• Translation as a practice and translation studies
  as a inter-discipline or a multi-discipline

9
2 Functional Linguistics

• Linguistics
• (1) Formal linguistics (e.g. generative
  linguistics)
• (2) Functional linguistics (including Systemic
  Functional Linguistics, Pragmatics, Cognitive
  Linguistics, Discourse Analysis,
  Sociolinguistics, etc.)

10
2 Functional Linguistics

• Functionalism in linguistics
• (1) Prague School Linguistics (V. Mathesius, R.
  Jakobson, J. Firbas, N. Trubetzkoy)
• (2) London School Linguistics (J. Firth)
• (3) Copenhagen School (L. Hjelmslev)
• (4) French functionalism (A. Martinet )
• (5) Systemic Functional Linguistics (M. Halliday)

11
2 Functional Linguistics

• (6) Autonomist functionalism or generative
  functionalism (S. Kuno, E. Prince)
• (7) Functional grammar (S. Dik)
• (8) Text/Discourse grammar (van Dijk)
• (9) Mixed functionalism (S. Levinson)

12
2 Functional Linguistics

• (10) Typological functionalism (W. Croft)
• (11) Role and Reference Grammar (R.D. van Valin,
  W.A. Foley)
• (12) West Coast Functionalism (T. Givón, P.
  Hopper, S. Thompson)
• (13) Cognitive linguistics (R.W. Langacker)

13

• Note that different functional approaches are
  usually related in one way or another. E.g.,
• Halliday was Firth's student and both were
  influenced by the Prague School. Both Halliday
  and Firth came from a European tradition
  influenced by de Saussure (esp Halliday) (as was
  the Prague School to some extent).
• What is clear is that there are influences rather
  than hierarchies involved here.

14
3 Functional Linguistics and translation studies

• As a practice, the history of translation is as
  old as that of the human society.
• In terms of theoretical approaches to translation
  studies, almost every linguistic theory/model has
  something to offer to the study of translation
  (as a theory or as a practice).
• Thus, one can say that there are more than 10
  functional linguistics approaches to
  translation studies.

15
3 Functional Linguistics and translation studies

• There are a number of important functional
  approaches to translation studies. Below are
  three major ones
• (1) Hallidayan functionalism (M. Baker, B. Hatim,
  R. Bell, J. House)
• (2) German functionalism (K. Reiss, H. Vermeer,
  C. Nord, J. Holz-Manttari)
• (3) Pragmatics/Mixed functionalism (E-A. Gutt, L.
  Hickey)

16
3 Functional Linguistics and translation studies

• Basic assumptions
• Viewing language as a means of communication
• Emphasizing cognitive, socio-cultural,
  physiological factors
• Regarding semantic, pragmatic, functional
  patterning as central
• Doing analysis of texts and their contexts

17

• Translation is translating meaning!

18
4 Hallidayan functionalism in translation studies

• Background (neo-Firthian )
• Developments of Hallidayan linguistics four
  stages
• (1) 1961-- Scale and Category Grammar
• (2) 1966-- Systemic Grammar
• (3) 1970-- Functional Grammar (Systemic
  Functional Grammar)
• (4) 1978-- Systemic Functional Linguistics

19

• Halliday develops his theory of language from the
  study of syntax. From a theory of syntax to a
  theory of language
• Scale and Category Grammar,
• Systemic Grammar,
• Functional Grammar,
• Systemic Functional Grammar,
• Systemic Functional Linguistics

20
4.1 Catfords approach

• J. C. Catford, A Linguistic Theory of
  Translation An Essay in Applied Linguistics,
  1965. (???????????????. ??????? 1991)
• Notes (1) Based on Scale and Category Grammar
  (2) An Essay in Applied Linguistics
• In 1956, the University of Edinburgh established
  the first School of Applied Linguistics under the
  direction of J.C. Catford.

21
?????????? (???)

• ??????????
• ?????????????
• ???????
• ???????
• ??????????
• ?????
• ??????????
• ????????????,??????
• ????????????,??????
• ?????
• ?????????????
• ?????????????
• ????????????
• ??????????

22

• ??1965?,J.C. Catford ????M.A.K. Halliday (1956,
  1961)??????????????????????????,????????(Context
  )?????(Contextual Meaning)????????Halliday??????
  ???????J.R. Firth??????? (??? 2004)

23

• Catford(1965)?????????,????????????,???????????
  ???????????? ?? (levels, ????????????) ? ??
  (ranks, ????????????????) ???????????? (???
  2003)

24
Definition

• Translation the replacement of textual material
  in one language (SL) by equivalent textual
  material in another language (TL). (Catford 1965)
• ?????????(??)???????????????(??)??????(?? ?1990)

25
textual material

• textual material (rather than text) it is
  not the entirety of a SL which is translated
• Replacement replacement of SL grammar and lexis
  by equivalent TL grammar and lexis
• Replacement of SL graphology by TL graphology
  but the TL graphological form is by no means a
  translation equivalent of the SL graphological
  form

26
equivalent

• The central problem of translation practice is
  that of finding TL translation equivalents. A
  central task of translation theory is that of
  defining the nature and conditions of translation
  equivalence.

27
transference

• at one or more levels there may be no
  replacement at all, but simple transference of SL
  material into the TL text.
• In normal translation, the TL text has a TL
  meaning. The values of TL items are entirely
  those set up by formal and contextual relations
  in the TL itself.

28

• However, it is possible to carry out an operation
  in which the TL text, or part of the TL text,
  does have values set up in the SL (i.e. has SL
  meaning).
• Catford calls this process transference.

29

• In translation, there is substitution of TL
  meanings for SL meanings not transference of SL
  meanings into the TL. In transference there is
  an implantation of SL meanings into the TL text.
• These two processes must be clearly
  differentiated in any theory of translation.

30
textual equivalence vs formal correspondence

• A textual equivalent is any TL text or portion
  of text which is observed on a particular
  occasion to be the equivalent of a given SL text
  or portion of text.

31

• A formal correspondent, on the other hand, is
  any TL category (unit, class, structure, element
  of structure, etc.) which can be said to occupy,
  as nearly as possible, the same place in the
  economy of the TL as the given SL category
  occupies in the SL.

32

• ??. ??????????????J ????1990 (2)37
• ???. ???????????? J ????????? 2001(1)
• ??? ??.????????????????????????? J ????????
  2004(3)
• ???. ????????????? --????????????J ????
  2006(2)
• ??? ???.?????????J.???????? 2006(6)

33
4.2 Approach by Hatim Mason

• Hatim Mason (1990) takes a functional discourse
  approach
• Register analysis
• Discourse structure
• Texture
• Text type
• Context
• Intertextuality and intentionality

34
4.3 Bells approach

• Bell (1991) focuses on elements in communication
• What?
• Why?
• When?
• How?
• Where?
• Who?

35
4.4 Bakers approach

• Baker (1992) focuses on equivalence
• Equivalence at word level
• Equivalence above word level
• Grammatical equivalence
• Textual equivalence
• Pragmatic equivalence

36
5 SFL approach revisited

• Revisiting the Systemic Functional Linguistics
  approach to translation studies

37
5.1 Basic assumptions

• A translated text is different from the original
  text in terms of context of co-text, context of
  situation and context of culture.
• A functional linguistics approach to the analysis
  of a translated text is a functional linguistics
  study of the text and its context.

38
5.2 A functional view of language

• Language as meaning-potential
• Choices of language are meaningful in relation to
  the system of choices available (what could have
  been said but was not)
• Language as metafunctional
• Ideational
• Interpersonal
• Textual
• Language as multi-stratal
• (Discourse) Semantics
• Lexicogrammar
• Phonology / Graphology

39
The traffic light system

• Stop
• Slow down RED
• Go AMBER
• GREEN
• Meaning (is realized by) Form

40
Language as meaning-potential

• He is my father/dad.
• ???
• ??? ???
• ???

41
Meaning as metafunctional

• Ideational metafunction
• Interpersonal metafunction
• Textual metafunction
• Ideational equivalence
• Interpersonal equivalence
• Textual equivalence

42
Ideational equivalence

• A. He is a teacher of English. (Relational
  process)
• B. He teaches English. (Material process)
• (1) ???????(????)
• (2) ???????(????)

43
Interpersonal equivalence

• ????,?????(??)
• A good young man is wooing a maiden fair he
  loves. (??? ?,1992)
• The lad is keen to woo the lass, a very
  dream.(??? ?,2002)
• A lad would like to woo a lass with pretty
  looks.(??? ?,1997)

44
Textual equivalence

• They arrived at the airport yesterday afternoon
  and were met by the mayor of Beijing there.
  (passive)
• (1)??????????,??????????????(????)
• (2)??????????,???????????? (????)

45
5.3 Levels of analysis

• (1) Ideology
• (2) Context of Culture genre (schematic
  patterning)
• (3) Context of Situation register (field, tenor,
  mode)
• (4) Context of co-text language (Ideational,
  Interpersonal, Textual)

46
5.3 Levels of analysis

• Metafunction
• Transitivity (process types material, mental,
  relational, verbal, behavioral, existential),
• Ergativity,
• Voice
• Speech role (offer, statement, command,
  question),
• Mood (declarative, indicative, interrogative),
• Modality (modalisation, modulation)

47
5.3 Levels of analysis

• Thematic structure,
• Information structure,
• Cohesion (reference, ellipsis, substitution,
  conjunction).
• Grammatical metaphor (ideational, interpersonal,
  textual)
• Groups and phrases
• Clauses

48
5.3 Levels of analysis

• Clauses in combination
• Types of relations between clauses logical
  dependency relations (dependence/ hypotaxis
  equality/parataxis) logico-semantic relation
  (a) expansion elaboration, extension,
  enhancement, (b) projection locution, idea)

49
6 Illustration Jiang Xue

• Illustrations River Snow
• ?????

50
6. Illustration Jiang Xue

• ? ? 
• ???
• ?????,
• ??????
• ?????,
• ??????

51
6. Illustration Jiang Xue

•  Text 1 River Snow
• A hundred mountains and no bird,
• A thousand paths without a footprint
• A little boat, a bamboo cloak,
• An old man fishing in the cold river-snow.
• 
  (Witter Bynner ?)

52
6. Illustration Jiang Xue

• Text 2 The Snowbound River
•  
• Oer mountains and mountains no bird is on the
  wing
• On thousand lines of the pathways theres no
  footprint.
• In a lone boat on the snowbound river, an old
  man,
• In palm-bark cape and straw hat, drops his angle
  string.
• 
  (??? ?)

53
6. Illustration Jiang Xue

• Text 3 River Snowfall 
• Amidst all mountains, birds no longer fly
• On all roads, no more travelers pass by.
• Straw hat and cloak, old mans in boat, head low,
• Fishing alone on river cold with snow.
• 
  (??? ?)

54
6. Illustration Jiang Xue

• T1 Thing (nominal groups)
• T2 T3 Situation (clauses)
• T1 T2 State (relational, existential)
• T3 Event (material)

55
6. Illustration Jiang Xue

• Text 1
• Ngpngp A hundred mountains and no bird,
• Ngp A thousand paths without a footprint
• Ngpngp A little boat, a bamboo cloak,
• Ngp An old man fishing in the cold river-snow.

56
Text 2

• Clause relational process Oer mountains and
  mountains no bird is on the wing
• Clause existential process On thousand lines of
  the pathways theres no footprint.
• Clause material process In a lone boat on the
  snowbound river, an old man, / In palm-bark cape
  and straw hat, drops his angle string.

57
Text 3

• Clause material process Amidst all mountains,
  birds no longer fly
• Clause material process On all roads, no more
  travelers pass by.
• Clause material process Straw hat and cloak,
  old mans in boat, head low, / Fishing alone on
  river cold with snow.

58
6. Illustration Summary

• Text 1 static (Thing, nominal group)
• Text 2 static---dynamic (Situation, clause,
  relational/existential process)
• Text 3 dynamic (Situation, clause, material
  process)
• Source text (state) ---Target text (state/event)

59
7 Summary

• 1 Two general approaches to translation studies
• 2 Functional Linguistics and translation studies
• 3 Hallidayan functionalism in translation studies
• 4 SFL approach revisited
• 5 Illustrations Jiang Xue
• 6 Evaluation of translated texts

60
Translation is translating meaning!
61

• Thank you!
• ????!

62
(No Transcript)