Year

1999

Degree Name

Master of Arts (Hons.)

Department

Department of Modern Languages

Abstract

(NOTE: Research thesis is available on-line *** Volumes 1 to 3 contain the author's Japanese translation as an appendix and is only available in Print)

The science of translation is informed by a diverse range of theoretical models. These models typically address linguistic aspects in the translation process and less often cultural aspects. To investigate the process of translation, it is useful to model translation in a variety of ways. For example, translation can be classified into types; it can also be considered in terms of translation equivalence, transference and translatability as well as in terms of linguistic and cultural considerations. However, the extent to which this modeling in fact informs the practice of translation is debatable.

The aim of this study is two fold. Firstly, it will contribute to the debate on the extent to which theory informs practice, and secondly, compare two translations from English into Japanese as a means of illustrating how the translator renders different versions depending on intention.

The method of this study involves the translation of the Australian novel, My Place by Sally Morgan. Firstly, the translation was conducted without reference to translation theory. Secondly, having read and considered the body of work on translation, the difficulties I faced in the process of translating My Place were then reassessed in theoretical terms in order to assist in understanding why difficulties in fact arose. Finally, an alternative translation of My Place by Kato Megumi was read and the similarities and differences with Kajikawa's translation noted.

The results of this study indicate that translation theory only partially informs translation practice due to a lack of incorporation of SL cultural consideration into the models. These, ifthey are present, are usually as secondary considerations following linguistic ones. This consequently reduces the usefulness of theory in practice, especially when translating a literary work such as My Place. Further, the comparison of the two translations reveals the different intentions of the translators. The Kajikawa version reveals a TL version which preserves the cultural colour and contexts of the original with some loss of readability, while the Kato version maintains readability with loss of SL cultural accuracy. In other words, Kajikawa is truer to the original while Kato is truer to the TL readership.

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Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.