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Discussion published In: Target
Vol. 22:2 (2010) ► pp.331–346

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Discussion

Indeterminacy, multivalence and disjointed translation

 | Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao
Published online: 12 January 2011
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https://doi.org/10.1075/target.22.2.07jia
One of the most prominent linguistic features of classical Chinese poetry is syntactic indeterminacy, which brings about multivalence, i.e. multiplicity of connotation, and poses a great problem as well as daunting challenge to Chinese-English translators, for English is basically a language with syntactic determinacy. This paper examines two aspects of indeterminacy involved in classical Chinese poetry, arguing that ‘disjointed translation’ is probably the most inspiring way to cope with Chinese syntactic indeterminacy.
Résumé
Une des caractéristiques linguistiques les plus importantes de la poésie chinoise classique, c’est l’indétermination syntaxique, qui donne lieu à la multivalence, c’est-à-dire à la multiplicité des connotations. C’est l’un des grands problèmes, m!ême un des défis pour les traducteurs sinoanglais dans la mesure où l’anglais peut être considéré comme une des langues typiques de l’indétermination syntaxique. L’article qui suit étudie deux aspects de l’indétermination dans la poésie chinoise classique. La thèse est que la “traduction disjointe” offre sans doute la solution la plus opportune, en l’occurrence, lors du traitement de l’indétermination syntaxique.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.What is indeterminacy?
  • 3.Multivalence from indeterminacy
    • 3.1Indeterminacy from absence of pronouns
    • 3.2Indeterminacy resulting from absence of connectives
  • 4.Disjointed translation: A mimesis of syntactic indeterminacy
  • 5.Summary
  • Notes
  • References
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