OBLIQUE TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES IN TRANSLATION FROM NORWEGIAN INTO ENGLISH

OBLIQUE TRANSLATION TECHNIQUES IN TRANSLATION FROM NORWEGIAN INTO ENGLISH

Luiza Kashapova

student, Saint Petersburg State University,

Russia, Saint Petersburg

ABSTRACT

The aim of the article is to identify and analyse the oblique translation techniques used in the translation of Naïve. Super. by Erlend Loe. Tor Ketil Solberg translated the novel from Norwegian into English. This article provides a quantitative and qualitative analysis of data from the source text and the target text. The results of the analysis show that seven oblique translation techniques are applied in the translation of Naïve. Super., namely transposition, modulation, equivalence, adaption, omission/addition, generalization/particularisation, inversion and descriptive equivalent. The most frequently used translation technique is equivalence. The conclusion highlights the role of the oblique translation techniques in conveying the meaning and nuance of the Norwegian source text.

Keywords: translation, oblique translation techniques, Erlend Loe, Norwegian, English.

Introduction

Translation implies a process in which translators have to make several decisions in order to transfer both linguistic and extra-linguistic elements of the source text (ST) to the target text (TT). The highest difficulty for translators lies on the fact that they constantly need to find the correct approach to achieve the intended meaning of the message. According to Venuti, translation strategies “involve the basic tasks of choosing the foreign text to be translated and developing a method to translate it” [1, p. 240]. The ability to choose the correct translation technique is an indispensable skill that requires distinguishing one operational mechanism from another.

The complexity of translation process has generated numerous attempts to classify translation techniques. Vinay and Darbelnet study translation procedures through the prism of three linguistic levels, i.e. lexical, morphosyntactic and semantic. Vinay and Darbelnet highlight that it is “the way our mind works consciously and subconsciously” that is one of the key factors in choosing the right procedure [2, p. 10]. They define seven basic translation procedures, namely borrowing, calque, literal translation, transposition, modulation, equivalence and adaptation. The procedures, in turn, are classified as direct or oblique, to make a distinction between literal and oblique translation. Literal translation occurs when there is an exact lexical and structural equivalence between two languages that are very close to each other. Oblique translation is limited to situation in which the structural components of ST cannot be translated word-for-word without altering the grammatical and stylistic elements of TT.

Vinay and Darbelnet’s study had a considerable impact on other scholars. Their translation models have been regarded as a springboard for later classifications. Later studies present several classifications of translation strategies in accordance with the particular perspectives. Newmark distinguishes between translation methods, to refer to the mechanisms applied to the text on the whole, and translation procedures that are used for small language units and sentences [3, p. 45]. Baker introduces several categories of equivalence representing six different levels, namely equivalence at the word level, equivalence above word level, grammatical equivalence, textual equivalence and pragmatic equivalence [2].

The object of this research is the novel Naiv. Super. (TT: Naïve. Super.) by Erlend Loe. As for the plot, the 25-year-old narrator tries to find any meaning in his life and becomes captivated by scientific theories of time and relativity. The novel was first published in 1996. Tor Ketil Solberg translated the novel from Norwegian into English. Erlend Loe is a bestselling writer in Norway. He is one of the most famous Norwegian writers of the 1990s. His writing style is characterised by continuous repetitions, short sentences, cultural allusions, parody and combination of humour and melancholy. These features make the process of translation all the more complicated and create a fertile ground for a variety of translation techniques. The relevance of the research is connected with the increasing popularity of Norwegian literature abroad and, therefore, the demand for literary translation analysis.

Methods

The research employs a quantitative and qualitative analysis. The content analysis is conducted by using the classification of Vinay and Darbelnet who distinguish four basic oblique translation techniques, i.e. transposition, modulation, equivalence and adaption. The research also covers several translation techniques (omission, addition, generalisation, particularisation, inversion, descriptive equivalent) proposed in other classifications. The analysed data includes words, phrases and sentences from ST and TT.

Findings and Discussion

Chart 1 shows the results obtained during the research. Omission and addition, as well as generalisation and particularisation, are considered as opposing pairs.

Chart 1.  Distribution of Translation Techniques

According to Chart 1, the translator uses 7 oblique translation techniques and applies them on 68 data. The most frequent technique is equivalence (27%).

Transposition

Transposition involves a shift from one grammatical category to another without altering the meaning of ST. The technique is necessary between languages with different grammatical structures. In Naïve. Super. transposition is mostly illustrated within the framework of altering a part of speech:

ST: Det er idioti å legge sammen ting man har og ting man ikke har [6, p. 15].

TT: It’s stupid to add together things one has and things one doesn’t have [7, p. 10].

In some sentences Tor Ketil Solberg makes singular nouns in ST plural in TT:

ST: Heis er en fantastisk ting [6, p. 94].

TT: Elevators are brilliant [7, p. 85].

Modulation

Modulation is usually applied when ST and TT may appear dissimilar in terms of perspective. Modulation makes ST follow the natural patterns of TT. It changes the perspective and shifts the point of view of ST. As for Naïve. Super., the translator uses modulation in the context of subject-object relations:

ST: Jeg deler ikke hans oppfatning, men jeg syns det er fint at han er glad [6, p. 102].

TT: I don’t share his opinion, but I think it’s good that it is making him happy [7, p. 92].

ST: Resten av mine eiendeler fikk plass i en ryggsekk og to pappkasser [6, p. 12].

TT: The rest of my belongings I fitted into a rucksack and two cardboard boxes [7, p. 6].

Equivalence

Equivalence implies the use of a completely different expression to reformulate and transmit the same situation from ST to TT. It can be applied when two languages describe the same situation by different stylistic or structural means. This technique is dominant in the translation of the Norwegian novel. In TT collocations are often translated via reformulation:

ST: Vært på reisefot til stadighet [6, p. 8].

TT: Been travelling all the time [7, p. 2].

ST: Jeg bruker lang tid [6, p. 59].

TT: I’m taking my time [7, p. 54].

The translation made by Tor Ketil Solberg vividly illustrates that one can use several approaches in order to convey the same expression in different parts of ST. The choice is explained by the context:

ST: Til slutt spurte min bror om det var noe i veien [6, p. 10].

TT: In the end my brother asked me if something was wrong [7, p. 4].

ST: For det er noe i veien. Det er helt klart noe i veien [6, p. 36].

TT: Because there’s something the matter. There is clearly something the matter [7, p. 31].

Adaptation

Adaptation involves “changing the cultural reference when a situation in the source culture does not exist in the target culture” [4, p. 59]. It is connected with a cultural substitution when an element from ST is replaced with an equivalent element in TT. It allows one to make TT more understandable and familiar to the readers. Vinay and Darbelnet view equivalence-oriented translation as a procedure in which the same situation is replicated as in ST but different wording is used [2, p. 32]. Moreover, adaptation requires a reference to a new situation which has quite similar concept.

Books by Erlend Loe are rich in cultural allusions. The examples show how Tor Ketil Solberg solves the problem of cultural intranslatability by finding appropriate cultural equivalents to a children’s television program and songs:

ST: Det må ha begynt allerede da jeg så på Leikestove [6, p. 43].

TT: It must have started as early as when I used to watch Play School [7, p. 38].

ST: Og hvis det fungerer, utvider jeg med flere sanger. Fola Fola Blakken. Blåmann Blåmann, bukken min. Jeg vet en deilig have [6, p. 182].

TT: And if it works, I’ll expand with more songs. Goosy Goosy Gander, Old McDonald Had a Farm, Hickory Dickory Dock [7, p. 169].

Omission & Addition

Omission represents a redundancy of certain forms in two languages. If the meaning conveyed by a particular item is not vital enough to the development of the text, it can simply be compressed:

ST: Jeg fylte 25. Det er noen uker siden [6, p. 8].

TT: It was my 25th birthday. A few weeks ago [7, p. 1].

Addition is in opposition to the omission technique. The translator, therefore, adds more information in order to preserve the meaning of ST. In the examples below specificity is required so as to avoid misinterpretation:

ST: Fins og fins, sier han [6, p. 58].

TT: Exists, doesn’t exist – what’s the difference, he says [7, p. 53].

ST: Han hørte bankelyder, sier han [6, p. 67].

TT: He heard someone knocking something, he says [7, p. 61].

It is essential to note that this technique means no actual adding to the semantic content of the message. The main goal is to make the implicit in ST explicit in TT.

Generalisation & Particularisation

Generalisation is used when something in TT is expressed indicating the concepts with broader meaning. In other terms, one can refer to the superordinate term that denotes a general class. In the translation of Naïve. Super. generalisation mainly conveys the laconic style of the author. For example, the translator replaces ‘grandfather’ with ‘maternal grandfather’:

ST: I kveld tenker jeg på min morfar [6, p. 20].

TT: Tonight I’m thinking about my grandfather [7, p. 14].

Particularisation is characterised by a more precise or concrete term in TT.

ST: Jeg vet hvem som har regi på de mest idiotiske amerikanske TV-seriene [6, p. 42].

TT: I know who directs the most unintelligent American sitcoms and soaps [7, p. 37].

In this example the particularisation accentuates the main character’s attitude towards the American TV programs.

Other examples of generalisation and particularisation are shown in the table below:

Table 1.

Generalisation & Particularisation

Descriptive equivalence

Descriptive equivalence is a technique that is based on replacing the term or expression with a description of its form or function.

One practical advantage of the technique is that it can be used in a variety of contexts where formal equivalence is insufficiently clear. In Naïve. Super. the translator generalises the meaning of the Norwegian cultural words:

ST: Jeg oppretter et 829-nummer, betaler Børre et engangsbeløp, kanskje tusen kroner, og så annonserer jeg i Dagbladet og tar tolv eller femten kroner i minuttet fra dem som ringer [6, p. 182].

TT: I am going to open a premium-rate 829-number, pay Borre a one-off fee, maybe a thousand kroner, and then I'll advertise in a national newspaper and charge those who call twelve or fifteen kroner a minute [6, p. 168].

ST: De kunne knapt nok kjøpe noes om helst, ikke gå på kino, ikke spandere Solo på jentene, omtrent ingenting [6, p. 21].

TT: They could hardly buy anything, not go to the movies, not treat the girls to a soda, pretty much nothing at all [7, p. 16].

Conclusion

As it can be concluded from the analysis, there are 7 oblique translation techniques which are applied in the translation of Naïve. Super. by Tor Ketil Solberg. It seems necessary for an acceptable translation to produce the same (or at least similar) effects on the TT readers as those created in ST. Generally, the techniques illustrate either linguistic or cultural differences between two languages. A closer view at the Norwegian-English language pair shows that certain models and techniques compensate the inevitable or supposed losses of information so that the TT readership could benefit from the text as much as the ST readers do.

References:

1. Venuti, L. (1998). Strategies of translation. In M. Baker (Ed.), Encyclopedia of translation studies (pp. 240–244). London and New York: Routledge.
2. Vinay, J. P. and Darbelnet, J. (1995). Comparative Stylistics of French and English: a Methodology for Translation, translated by J. C. Sager and M. J. Hamel, Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins. 358 p.
3. Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. New York: Prentice Hall. 292 p.
4. Munday, J. (2001). Translation Studies: Theories and Applications. London Routledge. 376 p.
5. Baker, M. (1992). In Other Words: A Course Book on Translation. New York: Chapman and Hall. 353 p.
6. Loe, E. (1996). Naiv. Super.. Oslo: Cappelen Damm. 209 p.
7. Loe, E. (2005). Naïve. Super. (translated by Tor Ketil Solberg). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. 208 p.