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Tulkojums un dzimte: tulkošana feminisma laikmetā
Autore Luīze fon Flotova priekšvārdā atzinusi: "Šīs grāmatas temats ir tulkošanas un dzimtes jautājumu sarežģītās attiecības, kā arī literatūrkritikas darbi, kas radušies to rezultātā."
Grāmatas septiņās nodaļās lasītājs varēs izlasīt vēsturisku atskatu uz to, kādas problēmas sieviešu kustība saskata valodā; uzzināt, kā feminisma idejas un literatūra ir ietekmējušas mūsdienu tulkošanas praksi; par dzimtesapzinīga skatījuma ietekmi uz tulkošanu; kādas grūtības rodas tulkotājiem, kanoniskus darbus tulkojot atkārtoti; par konkrētu darbu kritiskiem vērtējumiem, kādi tiek veltīti dzimtesapzinīgajai tulkošanai, nākotnes perspektīvām un citiem interesantiem jautājumiem.
Grāmatu papildina glosārijs ar tematam būtisko jēdzienu un terminu skaidrojumu un plašs literatūras saraksts.
Pētījuma oriģināla redaktors Entonijs Pims (Anthony Pym) atzinis, ka šī grāmata īpaši noderēs studentiem, kas ar tulkošanas teorijām saskaras pirmo reizi; pasniedzējiem, kas cenšas iemācīt kritiskās domāšanas prasmi, un pētniekiem, kas meklē īsu pārskatu par tulkojumzinātnes tagadni un nākotni.
Grāmatas septiņās nodaļās lasītājs varēs izlasīt vēsturisku atskatu uz to, kādas problēmas sieviešu kustība saskata valodā; uzzināt, kā feminisma idejas un literatūra ir ietekmējušas mūsdienu tulkošanas praksi; par dzimtesapzinīga skatījuma ietekmi uz tulkošanu; kādas grūtības rodas tulkotājiem, kanoniskus darbus tulkojot atkārtoti; par konkrētu darbu kritiskiem vērtējumiem, kādi tiek veltīti dzimtesapzinīgajai tulkošanai, nākotnes perspektīvām un citiem interesantiem jautājumiem.
Grāmatu papildina glosārijs ar tematam būtisko jēdzienu un terminu skaidrojumu un plašs literatūras saraksts.
Pētījuma oriģināla redaktors Entonijs Pims (Anthony Pym) atzinis, ka šī grāmata īpaši noderēs studentiem, kas ar tulkošanas teorijām saskaras pirmo reizi; pasniedzējiem, kas cenšas iemācīt kritiskās domāšanas prasmi, un pētniekiem, kas meklē īsu pārskatu par tulkojumzinātnes tagadni un nākotni.
191 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 1997
8 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Luise von Flotow
34 books5 followersLuise von Flotow (* 1951) ist eine kanadisch-deutsche Übersetzungswissenschaftlerin und Übersetzerin. Sie leitet die School of Translation and Interpretation der University of Ottawa und lehrt dort seit 1995.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 24, 2016
Lo peor de acabar libros para el tfg es que HE DE EMPEZAR A REDACTAR EL TFG.
September 2, 2011
‘Translation and Gender. Translating in the ‘Era of Feminism” by Luise von Flotow is a noteworthy piece of writing concerning, as the title implies, the intersection of translating and gender studies. It evokes numerous issues determined by both of these disciplines and attempts to juxtapose and assess hitherto outcomes of their co-occurrence and mutual influence.
The first chapter describes historical background of feminism and the evolution of the concept of gender. It provides the reader with reasonable explanations why the need occurred to investigate the impact the language has on social roles and relations. Then, in a section called ‘Gender and the Practice of Translation’, the author goes on to explain the role of gender awareness in translation practice, the power it potentially bears to affect areas such as politics, culture, ethics as well as creating and challenging stereotypes. She presents several translating concepts of which the most intriguing is probably the interventionist stance. According to this theory the translator should claim the right to ‘correct’ the source text so that it reflects the translator’s (feminist) viewpoint (‘the truth’). Although Flotow does mark this standpoint as controversial, it is hard to miss her warm attitude towards ‘smuggling’ feminist ideas into the target text throughout the whole book. Subsequently, the reader is presented with a more valuable branch of the discussed discipline, viz. recovering some of the forgotten or, as Flotow suggests, deliberately ignored works produced by women in the past centuries. Irrespective of the militant tone in which the writer presents the reasons why they had been formerly rejected, it is most valuable to unearth and translate pieces of writing that might fulfill the gaps in the history of women’s thought.
Another chapter is devoted to revising different approaches to translation theory ranging from a trend to include metatexts (such as prefaces and footnotes in which the translator’s comments are presented) to the target text, to a stance justifying translator’s role as a reader’s educator. Interestingly enough, in this chapter Flotow critisises some of the functioning in the translation studies tropes and allegories, such as les belles infideles metaphor or the myth of Pandora, as being derogatory to women. How fragile the scholar’s confidence must be to make him/her perceive cultural heritage as threatening to his/her dignity the chapter does not discuss.
The next section treats of rereading and retranslating these works of women writers, as for which there is a suspicion that they ‘have been misinterpreted in ‘patriarchal translation’’. Again, despite belligerent wording, the author offers the reader interesting examples of women’s writings that have been distorted, ‘enriched’ or otherwise changed by a translator in order to make the translation fit his or her own convictions. Flotow observes the obvious need to rewrite such mistranslated feminist texts, but unfortunately fails to notice that what she calls “mistranslation” bears great resemblance to what she previously names “interventionist translation”. Apparently, the writer underestimated the power of perspective to change views and attitudes towards general rules.
In her book Flotow has also included a few words regarding criticism of feminist translation, not only coming from those who oppose the concept itself but also from within feminist circles. Most importantly, however, the author lists future perspectives and tasks for translation studies concerning the perception and role of gender in translating practice. One may contradict the answers given in her book, but the questions posed in it are undoubtedly valuable and thought provoking.
To conclude, Luise von Flotow’s text should be regarded as insightful as it is controversial. Although it is visible that the writer bases her theses on years of research and scholarly philosophical dispute, not many of her claims might be called objective. Nevertheless, it is worth reading mostly for it presents the striking power of translation to convey ideas almost unnoticeably. And for the realisation that translation should be used as a means of pursuing informative or artistic goals rather then a weapon of censorship in favour of any world view.
The first chapter describes historical background of feminism and the evolution of the concept of gender. It provides the reader with reasonable explanations why the need occurred to investigate the impact the language has on social roles and relations. Then, in a section called ‘Gender and the Practice of Translation’, the author goes on to explain the role of gender awareness in translation practice, the power it potentially bears to affect areas such as politics, culture, ethics as well as creating and challenging stereotypes. She presents several translating concepts of which the most intriguing is probably the interventionist stance. According to this theory the translator should claim the right to ‘correct’ the source text so that it reflects the translator’s (feminist) viewpoint (‘the truth’). Although Flotow does mark this standpoint as controversial, it is hard to miss her warm attitude towards ‘smuggling’ feminist ideas into the target text throughout the whole book. Subsequently, the reader is presented with a more valuable branch of the discussed discipline, viz. recovering some of the forgotten or, as Flotow suggests, deliberately ignored works produced by women in the past centuries. Irrespective of the militant tone in which the writer presents the reasons why they had been formerly rejected, it is most valuable to unearth and translate pieces of writing that might fulfill the gaps in the history of women’s thought.
Another chapter is devoted to revising different approaches to translation theory ranging from a trend to include metatexts (such as prefaces and footnotes in which the translator’s comments are presented) to the target text, to a stance justifying translator’s role as a reader’s educator. Interestingly enough, in this chapter Flotow critisises some of the functioning in the translation studies tropes and allegories, such as les belles infideles metaphor or the myth of Pandora, as being derogatory to women. How fragile the scholar’s confidence must be to make him/her perceive cultural heritage as threatening to his/her dignity the chapter does not discuss.
The next section treats of rereading and retranslating these works of women writers, as for which there is a suspicion that they ‘have been misinterpreted in ‘patriarchal translation’’. Again, despite belligerent wording, the author offers the reader interesting examples of women’s writings that have been distorted, ‘enriched’ or otherwise changed by a translator in order to make the translation fit his or her own convictions. Flotow observes the obvious need to rewrite such mistranslated feminist texts, but unfortunately fails to notice that what she calls “mistranslation” bears great resemblance to what she previously names “interventionist translation”. Apparently, the writer underestimated the power of perspective to change views and attitudes towards general rules.
In her book Flotow has also included a few words regarding criticism of feminist translation, not only coming from those who oppose the concept itself but also from within feminist circles. Most importantly, however, the author lists future perspectives and tasks for translation studies concerning the perception and role of gender in translating practice. One may contradict the answers given in her book, but the questions posed in it are undoubtedly valuable and thought provoking.
To conclude, Luise von Flotow’s text should be regarded as insightful as it is controversial. Although it is visible that the writer bases her theses on years of research and scholarly philosophical dispute, not many of her claims might be called objective. Nevertheless, it is worth reading mostly for it presents the striking power of translation to convey ideas almost unnoticeably. And for the realisation that translation should be used as a means of pursuing informative or artistic goals rather then a weapon of censorship in favour of any world view.
December 3, 2023
Lielisks darbs, kas rosina daudz pārdomu. Noteikti, ka nebūs interesanti visiem, bet ļoti ieteicamā literatūra tiem, īpaši - tām, kas ikdienā strādā ar tekstu.
December 3, 2024
solo lo leí para seminario, agradecida porque entendí un montón de conceptos e ideas, simplemente von flotow me carreó toda esta parte de la tesis, te amo, luise, un beso a tu cerebro
August 22, 2025
izcili
November 23, 2020
Translation is part of language and I strongly believe that as such translation also plays its part not only in the linguistic but also in the political agenda. Languages, and texts, have always been manipulated to the benefit of those in power and translation has been a key weapon in this enterprise. There are numerous texts that discuss translation as a means of dominating, of denying, of reducing the 'other'. There are also other texts (fiction and non-fiction) that talk about language and how through constructs like 'gender' or 'social classes' people have been controlled, subjected and abused.
Louise von Flotow focuses on Translation Studies and on Gender Studies to prove that we are living in a feminist era and that feminism can influence translation practices. She does not want to make us readers believe a feminist translation IS the right option, but introduces it as an alternative.
With a Historical Background section that serves as a starting point, von Flotow connects the Women’s Movement and the issues on ‘gender’ with how women have been represented in texts. Then shows how language and therefore texts and translations were approached by radical and reformist groups. While the latter believed a patriarchal language could be reformed, the former strongly considered patriarchal language (present in all spheres of society and in every institution) was the main cause for women’s oppression and that a new language that encapsulated women and their experiences was needed. This radical interventionism led to a more experimental female writing, to a revival of female authors that had long been forgotten, to the creation of new terms and the feminizing of language, among others.
Maria Tymoczko stated that every telling is a re-telling, every writing is a re-writing and every creation is a re-creation and through this work I believe von Flotow was working towards that. By showing these re-readings and re-writings of translation, readers are made aware other choices can also as valid as what has already been established as the 'norm'. And although what von Flotow mentions can only work in communities that actively demand for feminist texts it is a nice perspective to broaden our knowledge, especially if we work as translators.
Louise von Flotow focuses on Translation Studies and on Gender Studies to prove that we are living in a feminist era and that feminism can influence translation practices. She does not want to make us readers believe a feminist translation IS the right option, but introduces it as an alternative.
With a Historical Background section that serves as a starting point, von Flotow connects the Women’s Movement and the issues on ‘gender’ with how women have been represented in texts. Then shows how language and therefore texts and translations were approached by radical and reformist groups. While the latter believed a patriarchal language could be reformed, the former strongly considered patriarchal language (present in all spheres of society and in every institution) was the main cause for women’s oppression and that a new language that encapsulated women and their experiences was needed. This radical interventionism led to a more experimental female writing, to a revival of female authors that had long been forgotten, to the creation of new terms and the feminizing of language, among others.
Maria Tymoczko stated that every telling is a re-telling, every writing is a re-writing and every creation is a re-creation and through this work I believe von Flotow was working towards that. By showing these re-readings and re-writings of translation, readers are made aware other choices can also as valid as what has already been established as the 'norm'. And although what von Flotow mentions can only work in communities that actively demand for feminist texts it is a nice perspective to broaden our knowledge, especially if we work as translators.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews