On Achieving Equivalent Effect In Translation

In the whole corpus of translation studies produced ever since the emergence of the practice, heated debates have arisen mainly in two fields -linguistics and stylistics, while the effect a version would have on its intended receptor has been lesser touched upon. Yet any translation that affects the psychological world of its receptor differently than the original does should not be considered adequate. Based upon a tentative examination of the respective appropriateness and inappropriateness of traditionally discussed perspectives -linguistic and stylistic, this thesis proposes a broader view of the factors that would influence the way a translation affects its receptor. Following a general survey of schools of thought in this field with regard to equivalence in translation, in which any other form of the concept in question except that of effect is ruled out in establishing a legitimate criterion of a version, this thesis proceeds to enquire into the linguistic relevance in translation. The argument in this part goes from three perspectives -semantics, grammar and language form and is concluded by the notion that linguistic means in translation are necessary in achieving equivalence while linguistically equivalent texts are not necessarily identical in terms of effect. The following part of the thesis provides insight into the long-running debate between the free and the literal methods toward translation. The exploration into the dispute is based upon a comparison between their respective adequacy and inadequacy. This part, in like manner as the previous one, comes to the conclusion that the stylistic approach in translation is an indispensable but never once-and-for-all solution if equivalent effect is to be achieved. By virtue of the reasoning above, this thesis naturally presents the totality of all elements in the whole translation process (indeterminate factors as well as linguistic and stylistic considerations) as a guiding principle for practical translators in their work. Thus in the translating process, the translator should not only consider linguistic and stylistic associations, but he also should equally weigh, along with numerous other indeterminate factors, the cultural differences and the ultimate audience of his translation so as to guarantee a successful reproduction of the source effect. One notion that persists in the whole thesis is that due to considerable psychological diversity across cultures and even within the same cultural framework, any absolute convey of information is impossible, hence the infeasibility of the absolute identity of source and target effects.