Becoming a Translator : An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Translation

by Robinson; Douglas

• ISBN13: 9780415300339
• ISBN10: 0415300339
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-09-26
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Douglas Robinson presents an innovative approach to translation by integrating translation theory and the practical skills required by the working translator. The book provides the type of information and advice that novice translators really need: * how to translate faster and more accurately * how to deal with arising problems and stress * how the market works * includes a wide variety of lively activities and exercises to facilitate the learning of both theory and practice * includes a detailed Teachers Guide - contains suggestions for discussion and activities and hints for the teaching of translation. Becoming a Translatorhas been specifically designed for introductory undergraduate courses in the theory and practice of translation. It will also be of interest to professional translators and students of translation and language.

Author Biography

Douglas Robinson is currently associate Professor of English at the University of Mississippi.

Table of Contents

List of figures	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
Introduction	1	(4)
1 External knowledge: the user's view	5	(16)
Internal and external knowledge	6	(1)
Reliability	7	(1)
Textual reliability	7	(4)
The translator's reliability	11	(2)
Timeliness	13	(4)
Cost	17	(1)
Trade-offs	17	(2)
Discussion	19	(1)
Exercises	20	(1)
Suggestions for further reading	20	(1)
2 Internal knowledge: the translator's view	21	(26)
Who are translators?	22	(2)
Professional pride	24	(1)
Reliability	24	(1)
Involvement in the profession	25	(1)
Ethics	25	(3)
Income	28	(1)
Speed	28	(3)
Translation memory software	31	(1)
Project management	32	(1)
Raising the status of the profession	33	(1)
Enjoyment	33	(7)
Discussion	40	(4)
Exercises	44	(1)
Suggestions for further reading	45	(2)
3 The translator as learner	47	(36)
The translators intelligence	49	(1)
The translators memory	50	(1)
Representational and procedural memory	51	(1)
Intellectual and emotional memory	52	(1)
Context, relevance, multiple encoding	53	(2)
The translators learning styles	55	(2)
Context	57	(1)
Field-dependent/independent	57	(3)
Flexible /structured environment	60	(1)
Independence /dependence /interdependence	61	(1)
Relationship-/content-driven	62	(1)
Input	63	(1)
Visual	63	(1)
Auditory	64	(2)
Kinesthetic	66	(2)
Processing	68	(1)
Contextual-global	68	(1)
Sequential-detailed/linear	69	(1)
Conceptual (abstract)	70	(1)
Concrete (objects and feelings)	70	(1)
Response	71	(1)
Externally/internally referenced	71	(2)
Matching/mismatching	73	(1)
Impulsive-experimental/analytical-reflective	74	(1)
Discussion	75	(1)
Exercises	76	(5)
Suggestions for further reading	81	(2)
4 The process of translation	83	(14)
The shuttle: experience and habit	84	(2)
Charles Sanders Peirce on instinct, experience, and habit	86	(1)
Abduction, induction, deduction	87	(1)
Karl Weick on enactment, selection, and retention	88	(2)
The process of translation	90	(5)
Discussion	95	(1)
Exercises	95	(1)
Suggestions for further reading	95	(2)
5 Experience	97	(14)
What experience?	98	(2)
Intuitive leaps (abduction)	100	(5)
Pattern-building (induction)	105	(1)
Rules and theories (deduction)	106	(3)
Discussion	109	(1)
Exercises	109	(1)
Suggestions for further reading	110	(1)
6 People	111	(16)
The meaning of a word	112	(1)
Experiencing people	113	(2)
First impressions (abduction)	115	(1)
Deeper acquaintance (induction)	116	(6)
Psychology (deduction)	122	(2)
Discussion	124	(1)
Exercises	124	(2)
Suggestions for further reading	126	(1)
7 Working people	127	(14)
A new look at terminology	128	(1)
Faking it (abduction)	128	(3)
Working (induction)	131	(4)
Terminology studies (deduction)	135	(3)
Discussion	138	(1)
Activities	138	(1)
Exercises	138	(2)
Suggestions for further reading	140	(1)
8 Languages	141	(18)
Translation and linguistics	142	(1)
What could that be? (abduction)	143	(3)
Doing things with words (induction)	146	(2)
The translator and speech-act theory (deduction)	148	(4)
Discussion	152	(1)
Exercises	152	(6)
Suggestions for further reading	158	(1)
9 Social networks	159	(26)
The translator as social being	160	(1)
Pretending (abduction)	161	(1)
Pretending to be a translator	161	(3)
Pretending to be a source-language reader and target-language writer	164	(1)
Pretending to belong to a language-use community	165	(3)
Learning to be a translator (induction)	168	(2)
Teaching and theorizing translation as a social activity (deduction)	170	(6)
Discussion	176	(1)
Exercises	177	(6)
Suggestions for further reading	183	(2)
10 Cultures	185	(22)
Cultural knowledge	186	(3)
Self-projection into the foreign (abduction)	189	(3)
Immersion in cultures (induction)	192	(2)
Intercultural awareness (deduction)	194	(6)
Discussion	200	(1)
Exercises	200	(5)
Suggestions for further reading	205	(2)
11 When habit fails	207	(16)
The importance of analysis	208	(2)
The reticular activation system: alarm bells	210	(3)
Checking the rules (deduction)	213	(6)
Checking synonyms, alternatives (induction)	219	(1)
Picking the rendition that feels right (abduction)	220	(1)
Discussion	221	(1)
Exercise	221	(1)
Suggestions for further reading	222	(1)
Appendix: Translation-related resources	223	(18)
Appendix for teachers	241	(46)
Works cited	287	(10)
Index	297