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Early Attempts at Systematic Translation Theory 2

The document discusses early attempts at systematic translation theory in the 17th century, including the work of Dryden, Dolet, and Tytler. Dryden reduced translation to three categories: metaphrase for word-for-word, paraphrase for sense-for-sense, and imitation for free adaptation. Dolet set out five principles for translation including understanding the original author's sense and avoiding word-for-word renderings. Tytler established three rules for translation concerning faithful reproduction of ideas, style, and ease of the original composition.

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195 views7 pages

Early Attempts at Systematic Translation Theory 2

The document discusses early attempts at systematic translation theory in the 17th century, including the work of Dryden, Dolet, and Tytler. Dryden reduced translation to three categories: metaphrase for word-for-word, paraphrase for sense-for-sense, and imitation for free adaptation. Dolet set out five principles for translation including understanding the original author's sense and avoiding word-for-word renderings. Tytler established three rules for translation concerning faithful reproduction of ideas, style, and ease of the original composition.

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Translation Techniques Department

Theory of Translation
2020-2021

Early Attempts at
Systematic Translation Theory
Early Attempts at
Systematic Translation Theory
• In the seventeenth century, England marked
an important step forward in translation and
translation theory.
• At that time, translation into English was
almost always confined (locked up) to verse
renderings of Greek and Latin classics, some
of which were extremely free.
Early Attempts at
Systematic Translation Theory
Dryden, Dolet, Tytler
• Dryden (1631-1700) described the process of
translation in a way that had an enormous
(huge) impact on translation theory.
• He reduces the whole process of translation in
three categories which are:
• (1) METAPHRASE: word-for-word and line-by-line
translation, which correspond to literal
translation;
• (2) PARAPHRASE: translation with freedom,
where the author is kept in view by the translator,
so as never to be lost, but his words are not so
strictly followed by his sense; this
involves changing whole phrases and more or less
corresponds to faithful or sense-for-sense
translation.
• (3) IMITATION: leave both word and sense; this
correspond to Cowley’s very free translation and
is more or less adaptation.
Literal translation free translation adaptation
Word for word sense for sense

Metaphrase paraphrase imitation


ETIENNE DOLET, in his manuscript 1540 (The
way of translating well from one language into
another) set out 5 principles which are:

(1) the translator must perfectly understand the


sense and material of the original author, although
he should feel free to clarify obscurities (not
known/not clear)
(2) S/he should have a perfect knowledge of both SL
and TL
(3) S/he should avoid word-for-word renderings
(4) S/he should avoid Latinate and unusual form
(5) S/he should collect and connect word clearly to
avoid awkwardness.***
The First English Systematic study after Dryden was Alexander
Fraser Tytler’s (Essay on the principles of translation 1797)in
which he has three rules which are:

(1) the translation should give a complete transcript of the


ideas of the original work (faithfulness in content)

(2) the style and manner of writing should be the same


character with that of the original (faithfulness in form)

(3) The translation should have all the ease (move) of the
original composition. Which means to reproduce a copy of the
painting without imitating. (to adopt the soul of his author).

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