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Anthony Pym - Exploring Translation Theories

1.1 From theorizing to theories

Translators are theorizing all the time. They do more than solve problems, but once they have
encountered a translation problem, they usually have to decide between several possible
solutions. They need ideas in order to make that decision. (P. 1)

Yet translators are doing precisely that all the time, in split seconds. Whenever they have
doubts about that kind of decision, whenever they stop to think about why one rendition
might be better than others, they bring into play a series of ideas about what translation is
and how it should be carried out. They are theorizing. It is part of the regular practice of
translating. (P. 1)

The discussions between translators tend to focus on the rich problems, the ones that are hard
to solve, the ones that people disagree about. That is why theories tend to be about problem-
solving, even when a lot of what translators do is rather less interesting. (P. 2)

Sometimes this out-loud theorizing involves no more than a few shared words for the things
we are dealing with. For example, here I will refer to the ‘start text’ as the one we translate
from, and to the ‘target text’ as the translation we produce. By extension, I will talk about the
‘start language’ and the ‘target language’, or the ‘start culture’ and the ‘target culture’.
‘Translating’ would then be a set of processes leading from one side to the other. (P. 2)

When translators talk with each other, they mostly accept common terms without too much
argument. Straight mistakes are usually repaired quickly, through reference to usage, to
linguistic knowledge, or to common sense. (P. 3)

If different translators have come up with alternative renditions of the term guanxi, one of
them might argue that ‘translation should explain the start culture’ (so they will use the
Chinese term and insert an explanation). Another could say ‘translation should make things
understandable to the target culture’ (so they might just put ‘social network’). A third might
consider that ‘the translation should re-situate everything in the target culture’ (so they might
go for something like ‘old boys’ club’). And a fourth could insist that since the start text was
not primarily about politics or social relations, there is no need to waste time on an
ornamental detail: they might calmly eliminate all mention of guanxi. (P. 3)
1.2 Why people do not understand other theories
As theorizing turns into theory, the words are attached to other words to describe reasons and
work processes. Some theories develop names and explanations for multiple aspects of
translation, including names for the presumed blindness of other theories. (P. 3)

This particularly occurs when we find general ideas, relations, and principles for which there
is internal coherence and a shared point of departure. For example, one set of theories uses
the common terms ‘source’ (not ‘start’), ‘target’, and ‘equivalence’. (P. 3)

We sometimes find people arguing about translation problems and reaching nothing but
constant disagreement or mutual puzzlement. In such cases, the words are probably being
interpreted in very different ways. For example, one kind of theory may set about comparing
translations with non-translations, both in the same language. (P. 4)

1.5 Why study translation theories?

There is no empirical evidence for that claim, and there are good reasons to doubt its validity.
All translators theorize, not just the ones who express their theories in technical terms. In fact,
untrained translators may work more efficiently because they know less about complex
theories: they have fewer doubts and do not waste time reflecting on the obvious. (P. 7)

In fact, untrained translators may work more efficiently because they know less about
complex theories: they have fewer doubts and do not waste time reflecting on the obvious.
On the other hand, some awareness of different theories can be of practical benefit when
confronting problems for which there are no established solutions, where significant
creativity is required. (P. 7)

The theories can pose productive questions and sometimes point to successful answers.
Theories can also be significant agents of change, especially when they are made to challenge
endemic thought. (P. 7)

Awareness of a range of theories can help the translation profession in several ways. When
arguments occur, theories provide translators with tools not just to defend their positions but
also potentially to find out about other positions. The theories might simply name things that
people had not previously thought about. (P. 8)
but the technical term for a translation solution could help explain possibilities they had not
previously considered. In fact, that bit of theorizing might be of as much practical use to the
client as to the translator. The more terms and ideas you have, the more you can explore the
possibilities and limits of translation. Some knowledge of different theories can also be of
direct assistance in the translation process itself. (P. 8)

1.6 How should translation theories be studied?