Becoming A Translator

Becoming a Translator Second Edition

"Absolutely up-to-date and state of the art in the practical as well as theoretical aspect of translation, this new edition of Becoming a Translator retains the strength of the first edition while offering new sections on current issues. Bright, lively and witty, the book is filled with entertaining and thoughtful examples; I would recommend it to teachersoffering courses to beginning and advanced students, and to any translator who wishes to know where the field is today." Malcolm Hayward, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA "A very useful book . . . I would recommend it to students who aim at a career in translation as a valuable introduction to the profession and an initiation into the social and transactional skills which it requires." MikeRoutledge, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK Fusing theory with advice and information about the practicalities of translating, Becoming a Translator is the essential resource for novice and practising translators. The book explains how the market works, helps translators learn how to translate faster and more accurately, as well as providing invaluable advice and tips about how to dealwith potential problems such as stress. The second edition has been revised and updated throughout, offering: • • • • • a "useful contacts" section new exercises and examples new e-mail exchanges to show how translators have dealt with a range of real problems updated further reading sections extensive up-to-date information about new translation technologies.

Offering suggestions for discussion,activities, and hints for the teaching of translation, the second edition of Becoming a Translator remains invaluable for students on and teachers of courses in translation, as well as for professional translators and scholars of translation and language. D o u g l a s R o b i n s o n is Professor of English at the University of Mississippi, USA. His publications include Performative Linguistics(Routledge, 2003), The Translator's Turn, and Western Translation Theory from Herodotus to Nietzsche.

Becoming a Translator
An Introduction to the Theory and Practice of Translation Second Edition

Douglas Robinson

|3 Routledge
j j j ^ Taylor Si Francis Group LONDON AND NEW YORK

First published 1997 by Routledge Reprinted 1998, 1999, 2000, 2 0 0 1 , 2002 Second edition firstpublished 2003 bv Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX 14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Reprinted 2006, 2007 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor ^Francis Group, an injorma business © 1997, 2003 Doug Robinson Typeset in Perpetua and Futura by Keystroke, Jacaranda Lodge, Wolverhampton Printed and bound in GreatBritain by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing inPublication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN 978-0^1-15-30032-2 (hbk) ISBN 9 7 8 - 0 ^ - 1 5 - 3 0 0 3 3 - 9 (pbk)

Contents

List of Acknowledgements

figures

xi xiii

Introduction 1 External k n o w l e d g e : the user's v i e w
Internal andexternal knowledge Reliability 7 7 11 6

1 5

Textual reliability

The translator's reliability Timeliness Cost 17 Trade-offs 17 Discussion 19 13

Exercises 20 Suggestions for further reading 20

2 Internal k n o w l e d g e : the translator's v i e w
Who are translators? 22 Professional pride Reliability 24 25 24

21

Involvement in the profession Ethics 25 Income 28 Speed 28...