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Article published In: Target
Vol. 1:2 (1989) ► pp.201–213

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Assessing Acceptability in Translated Children's Books

 | University of Joensuu
Published online: 1 January 1989
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https://doi.org/10.1075/target.1.2.05puu
The purpose of the study outlined in this article is to compare the acceptability of style in two contemporary Finnish translations of L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz with special reference to the effect of sentence structure on acceptability. For the purposes of this study, acceptability is defined in terms of the norms and expectations prevailing in the language and style of Fin-nish children's fiction which include the requirements of a high degree of readability and natural style. The hypothesis is that the use of complex nonfinite con-structions in one translation decreases readability and consequently lowers acceptability, whereas the other translation is expected to be more readable and acceptable due to its natural, dynamic style characterized by simple finite cons-tructions. The syntactic structures relevant to the readability of the translations are analysed with the help of two linguistic models: a modification of phrasestructure grammar and a propositional model. Three empirical tests, i.e. a cloze test, subjective assessment and a reading test, provide information about the readability and acceptability of the translations.
Résumé
Le présent article se propose de comparer l'acceptabilité du style de deux traductions contemporaines du Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum) en finnois, et d'examiner en particulier les effets produits sur elle par la structure phrastique. L'acceptabilité est, en l'occurrence, définie en termes de normes et d'attentes linguistiques et stylistiques imposées par la littérature finnoise pour enfants, dont les exigences en matière de lisibilité et d'un style naturel sont élevées. Une hypothèse est avancée: l'usage de constructions complexes et non finies dans la première traduction entraîne une baisse de la lisibilité et, corollairement, de l'acceptabilité, tandis que la seconde traduction atteint un niveau supérieur de lisibilité grâce à son style naturel et dynamique, dont témoignent les constructions simples et finies. Deux modèles linguistiques servent à décrire les structures syntaxiques: une version modifiée du modèle des règles symagmatiques, et un modèle d'analyse propositionnelle. Trois tests empiriques (un "cloze" test de lisibilité, un jugement subjectif et un test de lecture) informent sur la lisibilité et l'ac-ceptabilité des traductions.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Purpose of the Study
  • 3.Linguistic Analysis
  • 4.Measurement of Acceptability
    • 4.1Readability Test
    • 4.2Subjective Assessment
    • 4.3Reading Test
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (27)
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