On “The Nature and Role of Norms in Translation”
Translational activity has cultural significance. Since culture involves norms, translation is a norm governed activity (Toury 2000:198). According to Toury “socio-cultural constraints have been described along a scale anchored between two extremes: general, relatively absolute rules, on the one hand and pure idiosyncrasies on the other,” and right in the middle of these are found what is called norms (2000:199). Some norms are “more rule like (basic norms), some are weaker (secondary norms or tendencies), and some are almost idiosyncratic (tolerated behavior)” (ibid 2000:199,208).
Norms are constraints, and these constraints are not static, they change over time (ibid 2000:199). “Each type of constraint may, and often does move into its neighboring domain(s) through processes of rise and decline. Thus, mere whims may catch on and become more and more normative, and norms can gain so much validity that they become as binding as rules” or stop being deemed rules, and if the former is realized, in the course of time these constraints become norms (ibid 2000:1999). Norms are acquired by the individual during his/her socialization and always imply sanctions”, and one is evaluated by the society to the extent of her/his adherence to norms (ibid 2000:1999). Another important fact is stated by Herman’s that “non-compliance with a norm does not invalidate the norm” (cited by Toury 2000:200). “At the same time, there would normally be a price to pay for opting for any deviant kind of behavior” (Toury 2000:200), which means the deviant individual shall bear the consequences.
In translation, “initial norm” is constituted in two ways: translator’s subjecting herself/himself to the norms of the original text (adequacy), or subscription to those of the target culture (acceptability) (Toury 2000:201). Even if the translator wants her/his translation to be as adequate as possible, “shifts from the source text will be inevitable” (Toury 2000:201). “Actual translation decisions will necessarily involve some ad hoc combination of, or compromise between the two extremes implied by the initial norm” (Toury 2000:201). In other words, no matter how hard the translator might endeavour, no translation can be totally foreignizing or vice versa.
Preliminary norms are the norms regarding the translation policy (which source texts to be selected for translation) and the directness of translation (whether or not the translation is to be made from a mediating language or not, which languages are accepted as mediating languages, in the event of translation from a mediating language, is it overtly mentioned which mediating language the translation is made from) (Toury 2000:202). It can be said that norms affect the preparation period for the translation process, the translation process itself, and last but not least the product which is the result of such process. Preliminary norms are priceless for shedding light on asymmetric relations between languages, for example, is there a gap in the number of translations made from English into Turkish when compared to those made from Turkish into English? What are the mediating languages Turkish publishers tend to accept to translate from? Operational Norms govern the process of translation itself: “matricial norms govern the selecting of target language material. Omissions and additions may be determined by norms” (Toury 2000:202). Norms are not static, they change over time: “three types of competing norms can be observed in a society: the ones that dominate the centre of the system, the remnants of the previous ones and the rudiments of the new ones” (ibid 2000:205). So “who is allowed by a culture to introduce changes under what circumstances and under what circumstances such changes may be expected to occur and/or be accepted” (ibid 2000:206) can change over time, too.
Norms are not directly observable (ibid 2000:206). In the case of translation, only products, which are translated texts (“textual sources”) give information about the nature of norms (ibid 2000:207). There are also other kinds of texts, which Toury calls “extratextual sources” such as metatexts on translations, but Toury warns against the extratextual sources: “they are likely to lean toward propaganda and persuasion” (ibid 2000:207).
Reference:
Toury, Gideon (2000) “The Nature and Role of Norms in Translation” in The Translation Studies Reader ed. Lawrence Venuti, New York: Routledge.
Translational activity has cultural significance. Since culture involves norms, translation is a norm governed activity (Toury 2000:198). According to Toury “socio-cultural constraints have been described along a scale anchored between two extremes: general, relatively absolute rules, on the one hand and pure idiosyncrasies on the other,” and right in the middle of these are found what is called norms (2000:199). Some norms are “more rule like (basic norms), some are weaker (secondary norms or tendencies), and some are almost idiosyncratic (tolerated behavior)” (ibid 2000:199,208).
Norms are constraints, and these constraints are not static, they change over time (ibid 2000:199). “Each type of constraint may, and often does move into its neighboring domain(s) through processes of rise and decline. Thus, mere whims may catch on and become more and more normative, and norms can gain so much validity that they become as binding as rules” or stop being deemed rules, and if the former is realized, in the course of time these constraints become norms (ibid 2000:1999). Norms are acquired by the individual during his/her socialization and always imply sanctions”, and one is evaluated by the society to the extent of her/his adherence to norms (ibid 2000:1999). Another important fact is stated by Herman’s that “non-compliance with a norm does not invalidate the norm” (cited by Toury 2000:200). “At the same time, there would normally be a price to pay for opting for any deviant kind of behavior” (Toury 2000:200), which means the deviant individual shall bear the consequences.
In translation, “initial norm” is constituted in two ways: translator’s subjecting herself/himself to the norms of the original text (adequacy), or subscription to those of the target culture (acceptability) (Toury 2000:201). Even if the translator wants her/his translation to be as adequate as possible, “shifts from the source text will be inevitable” (Toury 2000:201). “Actual translation decisions will necessarily involve some ad hoc combination of, or compromise between the two extremes implied by the initial norm” (Toury 2000:201). In other words, no matter how hard the translator might endeavour, no translation can be totally foreignizing or vice versa.
Preliminary norms are the norms regarding the translation policy (which source texts to be selected for translation) and the directness of translation (whether or not the translation is to be made from a mediating language or not, which languages are accepted as mediating languages, in the event of translation from a mediating language, is it overtly mentioned which mediating language the translation is made from) (Toury 2000:202). It can be said that norms affect the preparation period for the translation process, the translation process itself, and last but not least the product which is the result of such process. Preliminary norms are priceless for shedding light on asymmetric relations between languages, for example, is there a gap in the number of translations made from English into Turkish when compared to those made from Turkish into English? What are the mediating languages Turkish publishers tend to accept to translate from? Operational Norms govern the process of translation itself: “matricial norms govern the selecting of target language material. Omissions and additions may be determined by norms” (Toury 2000:202). Norms are not static, they change over time: “three types of competing norms can be observed in a society: the ones that dominate the centre of the system, the remnants of the previous ones and the rudiments of the new ones” (ibid 2000:205). So “who is allowed by a culture to introduce changes under what circumstances and under what circumstances such changes may be expected to occur and/or be accepted” (ibid 2000:206) can change over time, too.
Norms are not directly observable (ibid 2000:206). In the case of translation, only products, which are translated texts (“textual sources”) give information about the nature of norms (ibid 2000:207). There are also other kinds of texts, which Toury calls “extratextual sources” such as metatexts on translations, but Toury warns against the extratextual sources: “they are likely to lean toward propaganda and persuasion” (ibid 2000:207).
Reference:
Toury, Gideon (2000) “The Nature and Role of Norms in Translation” in The Translation Studies Reader ed. Lawrence Venuti, New York: Routledge.
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