Abstracts
Abstract
This study proposes an empirical methodology to test the hypothesis that translation from Spanish into English results in reduced abstractness. The semantic area focused upon is the attribution of properties to specific entities by means of abstract nouns. Two levels of abstractness, conceptual and grammatical, are considered. Conceptual abstractness is linked to the referential content of the nouns, while grammatical abstractness involves the reified expression of properties as nouns, as opposed to other word classes. The study classifies the translation correspondences for nouns ending in the suffix -idad in the Spanish novels by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1939-2003) Los mares del Sur and Tatuaje. Such property-denoting nouns contribute to the construal of point of view. The methodology combines a quantitative approach with a qualitative, text-analytic selection of relevant items. Results indicate that abstractness is mainly reduced on the grammatical level although instances of diminished conceptual abstractness can also be observed. Compliance with language preferences may be aligning with readability norms affecting the target product, crime fiction, to undo reification of properties (namely explicitation and simplification). The results underscore the need to include semantic parameters in studies of translation tendencies.
Keywords:
- abstract nouns,
- grammatical metaphor,
- suffix,
- explicitation,
- simplification
Résumé
La présente étude propose une méthodologie empirique pour prouver l’hypothèse selon laquelle les textes anglais traduits de l’espagnol sont moins abstraits que les textes de départ. Le domaine sémantique choisi est l’attribution des propriétés à des entités spécifiques à l’aide des noms abstraits. Deux niveaux d’abstraction ont été considérés, soit le conceptuel et le grammatical. L’abstraction conceptuelle est liée au contenu référentiel des substantifs, alors que l’abstraction grammaticale est liée à l’expression réifiée de propriétés sous forme des substantifs. On a identifié et classé les correspondances de traduction pour les substantifs finissant par le suffixe -idad dans les romans espagnols de Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1939-2003) Los mares del Sur et Tatuaje. Ces substantifs contribuent à la caractérisation des procès mentaux des personnages. La méthodologie combine une approche quantitative et une approche qualitative afin de sélectionner et analyser manuellement les éléments pertinents. Les résultats montrent que l’abstraction se limite essentiellement au niveau grammatical, bien que des exemples de diminution de l’abstraction conceptuelle aient aussi été relevés. Le respect des préférences linguistiques, conjugué aux normes de lisibilité du produit (ici le roman policier), peut expliquer la tendance à éviter l’expression réifiée des propriétés (à savoir, l’explicitation et la simplification). Ces résultats mettent en relief la nécessité d’inclure des paramètres sémantiques dans les études sur les tendances de traduction.
Mots-clés :
- noms abstraits,
- métaphore grammaticale,
- suffixe,
- explicitation,
- simplification
Resumen
Este estudio propone una metodología empírica para comprobar la hipótesis de que los textos ingleses traducidos del español son menos abstractos que sus originales. El ámbito semántico seleccionado es la atribución de propiedades a entidades específicas por medio de nombres abstractos. Se consideran dos niveles de abstracción, conceptual y gramatical. La abstracción conceptual está vinculada al contenido referencial de los sustantivos, mientras que la abstracción gramatical implica la expresión reificada de propiedades en forma de sustantivos. Se obtienen y clasifican las correspondencias de traducción para los sustantivos que terminan en el sufijo -idad en las novelas españolas de Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1939-2003) Los mares del Sur y Tatuaje. Dichos sustantivos contribuyen a la caracterización de los procesos mentales de los personajes. La metodología combina un enfoque cuantitativo con un enfoque cualitativo mediante la selección y análisis manual de los elementos relevantes. Los resultados muestran que la abstracción se reduce principalmente en el nivel gramatical, aunque también se pueden observar ejemplos de disminución de la abstracción conceptual. El cumplimiento de las preferencias lingüísticas junto a la norma de legibilidad que afecta al producto (novela policíaca) puede explicar la tendencia a evitar la expresión reificada de las propiedades (es decir, la explicitación y la simplificación). Dichos resultados subrayan la necesidad de incluir parámetros semánticos en los estudios sobre tendencias de traducción.
Palabras clave:
- sustantivos abstractos,
- metáfora gramatical,
- sufijo,
- español-inglés explicitación,
- simplificación
Appendices
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10.7202/003425ar