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Article published In: Babel
Vol. 65:1 (2019) ► pp.26–50

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News translators’ para-textual visibility in South Korea

 | Ewha Womans University
Published online: 4 April 2019
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https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00076.hon
Abstract
This study aims to examine news translators’ para-textual visibility suggested through their names and other indicators of identity in TTs to gain clues to their status within media organizations. For this purpose, (1) whether translators’ identity is given in TTs, (2) what type of information, if any, is provided, and (3) how it is presented in terms of location, size, colour and space is explored. The corresponding data for ST writers, particularly reporters, are also analysed for comparison. The findings suggest that while more than half of the 11 organisations analysed present the translators’ identity in some form in the TTs, the full name is provided only by two organizations with one presenting the title of translators as a reporter and most of the identity indicators are visible only when readers scroll down several times to reach them. The identity indicators of reporters and other contributors, on the other hand, are provided in a very detailed and conspicuous manner. The findings show that translators, despite being one of the key contributors in news production, remain considerably invisible in the very texts they produce, indicating that they are denied the recognition and credit they deserve within media organisations, which can in turn reinforce their low status.
Résumé
Cette étude a pour objectif d’examiner la visibilité paratextuelle des traducteurs d’actualités, suggérée par leur nom et par d’autres indicateurs identitaires dans les textes cibles, afin d’obtenir des indications quant à leur statut dans les organisations médiatiques. Dans ce but, elle examine (1) si l’identité des traducteurs est mentionnée dans les textes cibles, (2) le type d’informations données, le cas échéant, et (3) le mode de présentation en matière d’emplacement, de taille, de couleur et d’espace. Les données correspondantes concernant les auteurs de textes sources, en particulier des journalistes, sont analysées à titre comparatif. Les résultats semblent indiquer que même si plus de la moitié des 11 organisations étudiées mentionnent l’identité des traducteurs sous l’une ou l’autre forme dans les textes cibles, le nom complet n’est signalé que par deux organisations, l’une d’elles indiquant que les traducteurs occupent la fonction de journalistes. Par ailleurs, la plupart des indicateurs identitaires ne sont visibles que lorsque les lecteurs font défiler le texte vers le bas à plusieurs reprises. Les indicateurs identitaires des journalistes et autres collaborateurs, en revanche, sont indiqués de manière très détaillée et visible. Bien que les traducteurs soient des contributeurs essentiels à la production d’actualités, les résultats indiquent qu’ils demeurent considérablement invisibles dans les textes mêmes qu’ils produisent. Cela montre que les organisations médiatiques leur refusent la reconnaissance et l’estime qu’ils méritent, ce qui peut, à son tour, renforcer leur statut inférieur.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical background
    • 2.1Translators’ visibility
    • 2.2Translators’ para-textual visibility
    • 2.3Para-textual visibility on online newspapers
  • 3.Method
    • 3.1News organizations to be analyzed
    • 3.2Data collection and analysis procedure
  • 4.Findings
    • 4.1Translators’ identity
    • 4.2Presentation of translators’ identity: Location, size, colour, spaces
      • 4.2.1Location
      • 4.2.2Size
      • 4.2.3Colour
      • 4.2.4Space
    • 4.3Indication of TT’s status as a translation
  • 5.Discussions and conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
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