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Article published In: Target
Vol. 15:2 (2003) ► pp.295–316

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Changes in word order in two Hebrew translations of an Ibsen play

 | Bar Ilan University, Israel
Published online: 12 May 2004
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https://doi.org/10.1075/target.15.2.05muc
This study examines differences in word order between two translations of Ibsen’s play An enemy of the people into Hebrew. Both versions were translated by Rivka Meshulach, with approximately 25 years between them. In the first version word order conforms to the norms of Classical Hebrew. In the second version, however, the translator changed word order so that the language would be closer to contemporary spoken Hebrew. This is illustrated through examples related to various syntactic constituents, including subject–predicate, predicate complements, parentheme and address forms. The reasoning behind this tendency focuses on the change in the norms of written language. As opposed to the normative restrictions which were widely accepted in written Hebrew just a generation ago, the current trend is for features of contemporary spoken language to be used in literature and theater.
Résumé
Cet article étudie la question de l’évolution de l’ordre des mots, à partir de deux traductions en hébreu de la pièce de Ibsen Un Ennemi du Peuple, effectuées par la même traductrice, RivkaMeshulach, à près de vingt-cinq ans d’intervalle. Dans la première version, l’ordre des mots obéit aux normes de l’hébreu classique, alors qu’il se trouve modifié dans la nouvelle version, afin de rapprocher le texte de l’hébreu parlé contemporain. Les exemples illustrant ces changements concernent divers éléments syntaxiques : sujet-prédicat, compléments d’objet, phrases entre parenthèses, types d’apostrophes. Ce phénomène s’explique par le changement intervenu dans les normes de la langue écrite. Contrairement aux normes strictes encore largement respectées il y a à peine une génération, la tendance actuelle favorise l’utilisation de nombreux éléments de l’hébreu parlé dans la littérature et au théâtre.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Word order: An overview
  • 3.Subject–Predicate (S–V) order in Hebrew
  • 4.Topicalization of the complements
  • 5.Placement of intensifiers
  • 6.Unique modifiers
  • 7.Parentheme and address forms
  • 8.Position of clauses
  • 9.Summary
  • Notes
  • References
References (40)
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