Translation Studies

by Susan Bassnett

In the late 1970s a new academic discipline was born: Translation Studies. We could not read literature in translation, it was argued, without asking ourselves if linguistic and cultural phenomena really were translatable and exploring in some depth the concept of equivalence. Professor Bassnett tackles the crucial problems of translation and offers a history of translation theory, beginning with the ancient Romans and encompassing key 20th-century structuralist work. She then explores specific problems of literary translation through a close, practical analysis of texts, and completes her book with extensive suggestions for further reading.

Genres: Nonfiction, Language, Linguistics, Academic, Literary Criticism, Literature, Criticism

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Susan Bassnett is Professor of Comparative Literature in the Centre for Translation and Comparative Cultural Studies at the University of Warwick.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B...

Reviews

[Mohammed Asiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

انطباع
يعد هذا الكتاب من أهم الكتب في مجال دراسات الترجمة لكونه تعرض لمسائل دقيقة جدا في عملية الترجمة. تكلمت فيه المؤلفة عن نظرية الترجمة بين القائلين بوجودها واستحالتها، وانتقال المصطلح من الترجمة إلى التأويل إلى المقاربة. كما تطرقت للحديث عن تاريخ دراسات الترجمة في العالم الغربي وتطورها. أضافت وأضاءت المؤلفة جانبا مهما من جوانب دراسات الترجمة ألاوهي الترجمة الأدبية، وفرقت بين ترجمة الشعر، والنثر، والمسرح بنقاط تفصيلية وأمثلة توضيحية قلما أن تجدها في مكان آخر. ففي شرحها للترجمات الأدبية ظهرت براعتها في تطبيق كثير من المسائل النظرية التي تطرقت لها في بداية الكتاب مثل أنواع الترجمة، والأدوات التي ينبغي على المترجم مراعاتها مثل سياق اللغة الهدف واللغة الأصل والسياق الاجتماعي والثقافي لكل من اللغتين والجمهور المستهدف من الترجمة. في الحقيقة من يقرأ هذا الكتاب قد يخرج بانطباع استحالة الترجمة نظرا للمسائل المهمة والنقاط الحساسة التي ينبغي مراعاتهها أثناء الترجمة، ولكنها رجعت في آخر الكتاب ونبهت على ضرورة الاستمرار وعدم التوقف نظرا للحاجة الماسة إلى الترجمة في الوقت الحالي، تقول هذا الكلام وهي بريطانية، أي أن كثير مصادر المعرفة متاح لها ولكن الترجمة لا يمكن الاستغناء عنها. قامت المؤلفة ببراعة في نهاية الكتاب بسر قائمة لمجموعة كبيرة من الدراسات والكتب المتعلقة بالترجمة والترجمة المتخصصة أيضا لأنها ترى أن التخصص لا يزال ناشئا ويحتاج وقتا للنمو.


اقتباسات

هناك مفهوم خاطئ بأن الرواية ذات تركيب أبسط من القصيدة ولذلك فترجمتها أسهل من ترجمة القصيدة

لا توجد طريقة وحيدة صحيحة لترجمة قصيدة ما، كما لا توجد أيضا طريقة وحيدة صحيحة لكتابة قصيدة ما

إن القارئ متلقٍ سلبي للنص الذي يقدس حقيقته

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fine overview of translation studies as a discipline. Bassnett is pretty systematic in dealing with two major core concerns of translation theory--equivalence and meaning (I don't know if others would say these are THE major concerns, but Bassnett presents them as the central questions of the field)--across various approaches to translation as linguistic, as semiotic, as reader response based, and as performative. The book also provides brief overviews of the state of translation theory throughout (Western) history since the Roman period, identifying major concerns, shifts, views, and voices. Lastly, the book deals with some specific problems of translation, like translating poetry or drama.

[Sachin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most comprehensive and lucid introduction to a rapidly growing discipline.

[Samuel Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting a book about translation, a little boring if you aren’t passionate about translation.

[Sarahj33 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is nice short introduction to the field of translation theory. Since it is the first book I have read about translation, I cannot really comment on its accuracy or completeness, and I am a little concerned that it might be out of date (the version I read, from the library, was a 1988 printing.) Nonetheless, I found it clear and concise, and I especially enjoyed the examples Bassnett provided.

The book presupposes a background in literary criticism that I don't have, so it did send me running to the dictionary a lot, but for the target audience it would probably have been the perfect difficulty level. There is also a great bibliography and suggested reading list, and I plan to get started on that as soon as possible!

[Blue Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

You will not feel regret for buying this book for translation studies. A detail description on literary translation for poetry. If you are planning to do research on poetry, this is a good references. Besides that, this book also cover the history of translation as well. The part I loved the most is chapter 1 which is about the translation theories. Well, overall is a good book to read. =)

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good introduction to Translation Studies, with some good samples of different translations.

[Hosius Mr · Rating 3 out of 5]

نویسنده در این کتاب ابتدا به تاریخچه پیدایش صنعت ترجمه میپردازه، سپس مهمترین نظریه ها و نظریه پردازان در این صنعت رو معرفی و دیدگاه های اون ها رو بیان میکنه، و در ادامه به مقایسه شباهت ها و تفاوت های این نظریه ها می پردازه. (البته همه این مطالب به سورت خلاصه هستن و میشه گفت فقط نکات مهم معرفی و بررسی شدن)

[Francesca Di Nardo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting. The author explains her point of view, putting herself in contrast to the other and explaining their ideas too. She's pretty systematic, she divides in specific periods, step by step, all the little changes and developments of translation studies. I had to study this book for an exam, so I loved/hated it, but it gave me a chance to enrich the knowledge, that it is always good.

[Patrick Koroly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent introduction to the study, though clearly it’s from a time when its concepts were fairly novel and as such it belabors a lot of obvious points. If you’ve spent more than a year studying foreign languages in college or even if you’ve just read a lot of foreign literature, you’ve probably already gotten a decent feeling for most of the issues at hand.

[Guido E. Marchessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book accomplishes its goal of introducing someone to the prospect of translation studies. I would say this work is most desirable for anyone interested in studying translation theory but doesn't know where to begin.

[Zuzana · Rating 4 out of 5]

an informative and approachable introduction to the field

[Animesh Mitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introductory book on translation studies.

[Koy Rotana]

interesting book

[Mohammad Aboomar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a brief introduction to translation studies, with a heavy focus on literary translation.

[Augurey · Rating 5 out of 5]

[book 17/50 of 2024 reading challenge]

I had the opportunity to check both the English original version ,and the Arabic translation. Such a life saving book during research.

[Matej · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basic overview of the modern theories of translation studies, a quick introduction into the history of translation and a few insights into literary translation. A very good introduction into modern thinking behind (literary) translating, but for a deeper look into the theory and practice I would peruse a very extensive bibliography at the end of the book.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 3 out of 5]

a classic, the cultural turn of translation

[Tuğçe Aybars · Rating 1 out of 5]

açık sözlülüğümden ölcem:((

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A core book for any translation student or professional. Since I read it only this year, some points are now outdated (especially those related to technology and translation).

[Giulia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for uni

Very clear and informative.