Genre Analysis and the Translator

Carl James
University College of North Wales, Bangor

In this paper I shall attempt three tasks. First, to give a brief account of the recent history of genre studies, leading to a definition of the notion. Secondly, to contextualise the notion of genre, that is, I shall see what it has in common with, or adds to, other related notions current in Discourse Analysis. Finally, I hope to show how genre study might be integrated into programmes of translator training.

Table of contents

The term 'genre' is best known in literary studies, where it denotes conventional formats of writing such as Novelle, conte, sonnet, haiku and so on (Fowler 1982). 'Genre' in the literary domain has long been a concern of translation theorists (Lefevere 1975). Now however it has begun to be used in two other more practical domains: in the fields of English for Science and Technology (EST) and English across the Curriculum (EAC). This paper will suggest that 'genre' in the newer, broader sense holds some promise for the systematisation of translation studies in the first instance, and for the consequent improvement of translation quality.

Full-text access is restricted to subscribers. Log in to obtain additional credentials. For subscription information see Subscription & Price. Direct PDF access to this article can be purchased through our e-platform.

References

Alderson, J. Charles and Andrew H. Urquhart
eds. 1984 Reading in a Foreign Language. London: Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brown, Gillian and George Yule
1983 Discourse Analysis. Cambridge: The University Press.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bullock, Lord A.
1975 A Language for Life. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Buzan, Tony
1974 Use Your Head! London: BBC Publications.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Connor, Ulla and Robert B. Kaplan
eds. 1987 Writing across Languages: Analysis of L2 Text. Reading Massachussets: Addison Wesley.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
de Beaugrande, R. and W. Dressier
1981 An Introduction to Textlinguistics. London: Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dudley-Evans, Tony
1986 “Genre Analysis: An Investigation of the Introduction and Discussion Sections of MSc Dissertations”. Malcolm Coulthard, ed. Talking about Text. Birmingham University: English Language Research. 128–145.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
[ p. 41 ]
Fowler, Alistair
1982 Kinds of Literature: An Introduction to the Theory of Genres and Modes. Oxford: The Clarendon Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Grabe, William
1987 “Contrastive Rhetoric and Text-Type Research”. Connor and Kaplan 1987 . 115–137.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hakuta, Kenji
1974 “Prefabricated Patterns and the Emergence of Structure in Second Language Learning”. Language Learning 24. 287–298.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hatim, Basil
1984 “A Text-Typological Approach to Syllabus Design in Translator Training”. The Incorporated Linguist 23: 3. 146–149.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hoey, M.
1983 On the Surface of Discourse. London: George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Roller, Werner
1981 “Textgattungen und Übersetzungsäquivalenz”. Wolfgang Kühl- wein, Gisela Thome and Wolfram Wilss, eds. Kontrastive Linguistik und Überset- zungswissenschaft. München: W. Fink. 272–279.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lefevere, André
1975 Translating Poetry: Seven Strategies and a Blueprint. Assen-Amsterdam: Van Gorcum.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Savory, Theodore
1958 The Art of Translation. London: Cape.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Schank, Roger C. and Robert P. Abelson
1977 Scripts, Plans, Goals and Understanding: An Inquiry to Human Knowledge Structures. Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Swales, J.
1981 Aspects of Article Introductions. Language Studies Unit, Aston University in Birmingham, England.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Swales, John
1985 “A Genre-Based Approach to Language across the Curriculum”. Paper delivered to 1985 RELC Conference, Singapore.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tannen, Deborah
1984 Coherence in Spoken and Written Discourse. New Jersey: Ablex Publishers.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Toury, Gideon
1982a “Transfer as a Universal of Verbal Performance of L2 Learners”. FINLANCE 2. 63–78.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
1982b “The Communication Situation and the Production of Interference Forms by L2 Learners”. Regional English Language Centre Journal (Singapore) 13:2. 62–77.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Widdowson, H.G.
1978 Teaching Language As Communication. Oxford: The University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
1983 Learning Purpose and Language Use. Oxford: The University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wilss, Wolfram
1982 The Science of Translation: Problems and Methods. Tubingen: Gunter Narr.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wood, Alistair S.
1982 “An Examination of the Rhetorical Structures of Authentic Chemistry Texts”. Applied Linguistics 3:2. 121–143.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
 
Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue