Reprocessing texts. The fine line between retranslating and revising

Abstract

Retranslations are a frequent object of study in Translation Studies. They can be used as data for a number of research problems, or retranslation can be studied as a phenomenon on its own. There are no large-scale surveys on retranslation, however, let alone surveys that would be coupled with in-depth case studies, no doubt due to the laboriousness and complexity of the task. Our own interest in the issue started from a small-scale project testing the so-called Retranslation Hypothesis, but gradually our research expanded into a wider range of questions. We have addressed three main areas: the extent and proportion of retranslation in Finland; the motives for and reception of retranslations (publishers, critics); and finally, what happens to a text when it is either retranslated or revised (textual analysis). For this purpose, we have compiled three different sets of data from the Finnish context. These sets consist of synchronic data (retranslations and their reviews from the year 2000), diachronic data (charting the retranslation history of classics shortlisted in 1999 and 1887) and case studies (by e.g. Victor Hugo, Nikolai Gogol, Astrid Lindgren and Juan Valera translated into Finnish). This paper presents an overview of the results of our investigation, argues for a need for a comprehensive treatment of retranslation as a phenomenon, and discusses the implications of textual analysis for the understanding of the fuzzy area between retranslation and revision. The cases presented include Hugo’s Les Misérables , Gogol’s Dead Souls and Lagerlöf’s Gösta Berling .

The Significance of Hypotheses

“…Except, he adds, for some first translations that can also be great translations, if they do not age... which already makes his category rather problematic. Paloposki and Koskinen, 2010). )…”

Ideologically-adapted Translations: Challenge for Adequacy, Need for Retranslation

“…Retranslation means a second or further translation of a source text into the same target language (Paloposki & Koskinen, 2010). Advocates of this hypothesis claim that first translations are poor, whereas subsequent translations are better, since they can eliminate shortcomings and faults by transferring true essence of the source text (Sarajeva, 2003).…”

“…12, No. 9;2016 excusable, since the main intention of the translator is to make his translation easily accepted and adopted by the target audience. In addition to having a good command of working languages, being a master of translation techniques, and possessing in-depth knowledge of translation theory, in order to render the best version of a foreign masterpiece, the translator needs to have at least as much talent and artistic merits as the author of the original work.…”

“…12, No. 9;2016 struggle between rival ideologies as well (Bassnett & Lefevere, 1990). The role of politics in terms of the choice of source text to be translated and the strategy adopted as regards to that text cannot be ignored.…”

Revisiting “Retranslation Hypothesis”: A Comparative Analysis of Stylistic Features in the Persian Retranslations of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>

“…Contrary to the existence of many cases that conform to the underlying assumptions of "Retranslation Hypothesis", there are still several other cases which stand in the opposite direction (Koskinen & Paloposki, 2010). Therefore, a number of researchers to whom "Retranslation Hypothesis" is untenable criticizes the assumed chronological development of it.…”