Methods of translation and the search for equivalence : a survey and an evaluation based on Newmark's model

Abstract

This study is a descriptive survey of the current approaches to translation theory, methodology and practice. Peter Newmark' s views expounded in a number of his major works, form the basis of this survey. No superiority, however, is claimed at any part of this work for Newmark's model. Its importance lies mainly in its comprehensiveness, flexibility and functionality. Other approaches are reviewed and explained in this dissertation and their importance and relevance to the current translation methodology and practice are fully acknowledged. With this view in mind, this study aims, therefore, to present a theoretical account of the translation methodology based on Newmark's model. Newmark's survey of the methodology of translation encompasses a novel perspective of the translation process, it has a strong functional basis, and good potentials for evolvement In order for this survey and evaluation of the methodology of translation to be complete, chapter one is mainly devoted to presenting a concise historical survey of the development of translation since early times. Traditional translation theory has been intensively investigated surveying the main contributions from Cicero (106 - 43 BC) up to modern times. Chapter Two concentrates on the current approaches presented by modem linguistic scholars and translation theorists. This chapter argues that the function of a text is a significant criterion for the translation process in relation to translation methodology. Therefore, an attempt is made to present a survey of the major translation methods, namely the word-for-word, the literal, the semantic and communicative methods, later blended together in Newmark's 'unified theory'. Chapter three contains the analytical part of this study. An attempt is made to approach the analysis of a few translated texts aiming to reveal and relate text typology to the translation methodology. Having carried out this analysis, an evaluation of the major translation methods is presented in the appendix at the end of this chapter, followed by concluding remarks and comments. The conclusion of this thesis is presented in chapter four containing the main results of this study in the light of the proposed survey of methods of translation and the analysis of the texts. Furthermore, it highlights the main insights and concepts that have emerged from this study and suggests the direction for further studies.