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Article published In: Target
Vol. 19:1 (2007) ► pp.21–44

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Exploring literary translation practice

A focus on ethos

 | Lessius Hogeschool, Antwerp
Published online: 2 August 2007
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.19.1.03fly
This article discusses findings from an ethnographic study of literary translation practice in the Netherlands and Belgium. The article focuses on one aspect of translation practice, namely translatorial ethos. It is argued that the forms of translatorial ethos visible in the data are complex in that they have a bearing both on textual and institutional practice and relations at one and the same time. More specifically, it is also argued that these complex professional stances and positionings need to be taken into account if we are to gain a better understanding of translational norms (. 1995. Descriptive Translation Studies and beyond. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar and Chesterman Andrew. 1993. “From ’is’ to ’ought’: Translation laws, norms and strategies”. Target 5:1. 1–20.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) or translational habitus (Simeoni, Daniel. 1998. “The pivotal status of the translator’s habitus”. Target 10:1. 1–39.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). Furthermore, it is argued in a more general sense that linguistic ethnography can provide clear indications of patterns of translational practice and therefore forms a useful means of inquiry in the context of translation studies.
Résumé
Le présent article traite des résultats d’une étude ethnographique de la pratique de la traduction littéraire aux Pays-Bas et en Flandre. Il est axé sur un aspect particulier de la pratique de la traduction, à savoir l’éthique (ethos) de la traduction. La thèse y est soutenue que les formes d’éthique de la traduction ressortant des données sont complexes, étant basées en même temps sur les pratique ainsi que sur les relations à la fois textuelles et institutionnelles. Plus spécifiquement l’article soutient qu’il faut prendre en compte les attitudes et positionnements en question afin d’en arriver à une compréhension meilleure des normes de traduction (. 1995. Descriptive Translation Studies and beyond. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar et Chesterman Andrew. 1993. “From ’is’ to ’ought’: Translation laws, norms and strategies”. Target 5:1. 1–20.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) ou de l’habitus de la traduction (Simeoni, Daniel. 1998. “The pivotal status of the translator’s habitus”. Target 10:1. 1–39.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). Finalement, dans un sens plus général on argumente que l’ethnographie linguistique peut fournir des indications précises concernant des modèles de la pratique de la traduction et qu’elle constitue ainsi un moyen d’enquête utile dans le contexte des études de traduction.
Article outline
  • 1Introduction
    • 1.1A thematic analysis of the interviewee data: Orders of salience
    • 1.2Ethos: A working definition
      • 1.2.1Of cannibals and adventurers.
      • 1.2.2Of bulldozers and antennae.
      • 1.2.3On developing the craft.
      • 1.2.4Skin to skin: Orders of readership.
      • 1.2.5The impassioned insane.
      • 1.2.6Protecting little children.
      • 1.2.7Setting tasks for typewriters.
      • 1.2.8The paradoxes of profession and persuasion.
    • 1.3Ethical orientations: An overview and a conclusion
  • References
  • Electronic sources
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