"Argumentation Signals" as a Tough Translation Task. Translation of the Connector zumal and of the Phrase da ja from German to Czech in Argumentative Texts

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989592%3A15210%2F19%3A73596102" target="_blank" >RIV/61989592:15210/19:73596102 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://anglistika.upol.cz/olinco2018proceedings/" target="_blank" >https://anglistika.upol.cz/olinco2018proceedings/</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

"Argumentation Signals" as a Tough Translation Task. Translation of the Connector zumal and of the Phrase da ja from German to Czech in Argumentative Texts

Original language description

The paper will use a comparative approach to focus on two linguistic argumentation signals (Rudolph 1983): the causal connector zumal and the phrase da ja composed of the causal connector da and the particle ja in German and their counterparts in Czech. The analysis is based on two assumptions: 1) The linguistic construction of arguments has an essential impact on their identification and potential (Anscombre 1983; Ducrot 1993; Atayan 2006; Kienpointner 2012); 2) An adequate transfer of argumentation structures is one of the parameters of equivalence in translation (Atayan 2007). In this respect, the term “argument” is perceived as support (or a reason) for a thesis claim, with the support reaching various degrees of transparency depending on the linguistic realization. The function of zumal and da ja as “argumentation signals” and the possibility of their transfer from German to Czech will be examined in three subsequent partial analyses to which the methodological approaches are adapted. The individual partial analyses are based on the following questions: I) What argumentation structures are signalled by the two linguistic devices in the source text? I assume that the two signals do not show support for the thesis claims explicitly, however, their use in argumentation leads to the shortening / reduction of the superficial linguistic structure of the argument. In the former case, the means of the shortening is the very connector, while in the latter case, it is rather the particle ja; which, however, tends to connect primarily with causal connectors in argumentative texts (Rinas 2006: §9.4.1.2). Out of these, I have selected the connector da, as it shows certain specifics. Based on a preliminary analysis, I assume the following structures in the examined “argumentation signals”: da ja C(onclusion) – expl. A(rgument) 1, 2... – impl. specification of the quality of A 1, 2 ... [it is evident that A 1, 2… supports C]. Assumed limitations: The subordinate clause introduced by the phrase da ja does not precede the clause in which the conclusion is realized. zumal C(onclusion) – expl. A(rgument) 1 – impl. A2, A3… [showing less relevance than A1] Assumed limitations: The subordinate clause introduced by the connector zumal does not precede the clause in which the conclusion is realized. In the subordinate clause introduced by zumal, one argument is realized. The aim of the first part of the analysis is to confront the argumentation structures which are supposed in the analysed signals with empiric data. The analysis is based on a corpus composed of selected argumentative texts from the fields of politics and culture. II) In what ways are these signals transfered into the target language, i.e. Czech? This partial analysis aims to verify, based on corpus data, whether the argumentation structure, or else the argumentation potential of the utterance, undergoes any changes. The analysis draws on the data from the InterCorp Parallel Corpus and the Czech-German Parallel Corpus. III) The third part of the analysis is essentially a direct continuation of the second part. Based on a test with 20 respondents, students of translation and interpreting, it focuses on the strategies developed by translators-beginners during the translation of these argumentation signals, or else on whether they are aware of the possible shifts in the equivalence of the argumentation structures. The aim of the final part of the analysis is to ascertain to what extent such signals are also relevant for the didactic approach to the translation of argumentative texts.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

D - Article in proceedings

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

60203 - Linguistics

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2019

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Article name in the collection

Language Use and Linguistic Structure

ISBN

978-80-244-5525-9

ISSN

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e-ISSN

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Number of pages

17

Pages from-to

431-447

Publisher name

Palacký University Olomouc

Place of publication

Olomouc

Event location

Olomouc

Event date

Jun 7, 2018

Type of event by nationality

WRD - Celosvětová akce

UT code for WoS article

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