Self-translation

The self- translation is the translation of a source text into a different language target text by the author of the source text. In the literature the self- translation is also called self- translation or Ipsoübersetzung.

Basics

One finds the self- translation in different situations, but is particularly interesting in the literary context. She has the attention of linguists and translation researchers especially since the beginning of the 21st century drawn up, largely as a result of intensive research in the area of ​​foreign translation in the 20th century. The research for self- translation is recognized as a special part of the field of translational research at least since the publication of the first edition of the Routledge Encyclopedia of Translation Studies in 1998.

History

In Western societies and literatures, the tradition of bi-or multilingual texts goes back at least to the Middle Ages. Even TranslatedAddress texts were fairly common in the multilingual world of the medieval and early modern literature, especially as a kind of bridge between the Latin of the scholars and the vernacular of the various areas of Europe. Later, the tradition of self- translation has been preserved in elite circles, tended to disappear during the long era of promoted by the new nation-states nationalist monolingualism to gain new strength in the post -colonial period.

Types

  • The self- translation can emerge both from a regular activity of the author as well as from a one-time action that can have various causes. An example of the latter case provides James Joyce, the (later Finnegans Wake ) two passages from his work in progress has even translated into Italian. Other relevant cases are self- translations of Stefan George and Rainer Maria Rilke.
  • It can be either the mother tongue or an acquired language be the source language, so that the target language varies accordingly. Examples of the latter case have some Belgian poet from the period between the world wars ( among them Roger Avermaete and Camille Melloy ), which themselves have translated their texts into Flemish, in each case only shortly after the completion of the originals in the acquired, but completely dominated French language.
  • The self- translation may be some time after the completion of the original result, or even during the process, so that the two versions developed almost simultaneously and influence each other. These two types are sometimes referred to as Konsekutivselbstübersetzung or simultaneous self- translation.
  • The self- translation can also relate to more than one ( native or acquired ) target language. This is, for example, the case with writers such as Fausto Cercignani, Alejandro Saravia and Luigi Donato Ventura.

List of possible motives

  • The elitist character of a given language can stimulate the self- translation of this into a local language, eg from Latin into a vernacular language in the Middle Ages and the early modern period.
  • The cultural dominance of a given language in a multilingual society can stimulate self- translation of a minority in the dominant language.
  • The cultural dominance of the national language can stimulate self- translation from one dialect.
  • The cultural dominance of a given language in an international context can stimulate self- translation of the national language in an internationally recognized language like English. However, English as a target language is more common in cases where the author emigrated to anglophone countries.
  • A perfect or nearly perfect bilingualism can stimulate self- translation in both directions, regardless of market-related considerations.
  • Dissatisfaction with the existing translations or distrust of the foreign translators can stimulate self- translation in both directions, regardless of market-related considerations.

Even translation to foreign translation

Apart from the intrinsic value of the secondary text, the self- translation to the foreign translation is often regarded as superior. The reason for this is that " the writer - translator is held as certainly appropriate against any foreign translators to recover the intentions of the author of the original ". Arguments against self- translation is based partly on the intrinsic value of the secondary text, but may also reflect specific socio- cultural considerations or trying to criticize dubious publishing procedures.

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