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Article published In: Target
Vol. 16:2 (2004) ► pp.201–226

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A nonlinear approach to translation

 | University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
Published online: 12 October 2005
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https://doi.org/10.1075/target.16.2.02lon
The main concern of this article is to approach translation from the view of nonlinear dynamics. Thus, it makes use of theories related to such a type of dynamics (chaos theory and complexity science). This concern develops on two levels: firstly, the article argues that the abandonment of the traditional conception of translation and the raising of the current one actually agree with the evolution perceived in a great number of domains, such an evolution pointing to the rejection of deterministic positions. Secondly, it also defends the view that the translation process is entirely typical of the processes of nonlinear dynamics. Accordingly, key notions from nonlinear dynamics (such as sensitivity to initial conditions, phase transition, attractor or edge of chaos) are shown to apply to the nature of translation.
Résumé
Le propos de cet article est d’aborder la traduction du point de vue de la dynamique nonlinéaire, en se base de la théorie du chaos et de la science de la complexité. Nous distinguons deux angles d’approche : en premier lieu, l’abandon de la conception traditionnelle de la traduction et la mise au point de celle que nous préconisons ici s’accordent avec l’évolution vers un rejet du déterminisme que l’on peut observer dans un grand nombre de domaines. En second lieu, le processus de la traduction offre tous les traits de la dynamique linéaire. Ainsi, quelques-unes de ses notions-clés (comme l’attention aux les conditions de départ, les phases transitoires, le bord du chaos) s’appliquent à la nature même de la traduction.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Linear and nonlinear dynamics
  • 3.From traditional to modern Translation Studies
  • 4.The translation process as a nonlinear system
    • 4.1Chaos and initial conditions: Information and meaning
    • 4.2Initial conditions and unpredictability of the target text
    • 4.3The emergence of the target text as a phase transition
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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