Discursive Mediation in Translation : Living History and Its Chinese Translations

This book explores the actual process of mediation operation in the translation process and the interaction between mediation and social structure. It defines mediation in translation in a parameterized manner, characterizing the linguistic properties of mediation for ease of mediation identification. On this basis, it puts forward an integrated systematic approach to map out mediation operation at the text level and discuss the interactive relationship between mediation and social structure, with a view to unveiling how the source text is altered for the purpose of power balance in the translation process. It is a key read for those interested in better understanding of how translators mediate in the translation process so as to maneuver a text to achieve a certain purpose, thereby increasing mediation efficiency and avoiding potential pitfalls in mediation operation. It will be of interest to students and scholars in translation studies, professional translators, as well as those working in language and culture, intercultural communication, and cultural studies. Preface Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction: Towards a Discursive Approach to Mediation 1.1 Why Mediation? 1.2 Why Discursive? 1.3 Data Collection: Living History and the Publication of Its Translations in the Chinese Market 1.4 About This Book Bibliography Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Mediation in Translation 2.1 Globalization, Translation and Mediation 2.2 Mediation Versus Manipulation 2.3 An Overview of the Conceptualization of Mediation in the Field of Translation 2.4 Redefining Mediation in Translation 2.5 Summary Bibliography Dictionaries Chapter 3: Towards a Model of Mediation Investigation 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Mediation and the Dialectic-Relational Approach of CDA 3.3 Constructing an Integrated Theoretical Model for the Investigation of Mediation 3.3.1 The Micro-Analytical Model: A Linguistic Approach to Textual Mediation in Translation 3.3.2 The Macro-Analytical Model: A Sociocultural Approach to Mediation and Social Structure 3.3.2.1 Mediation, Power and Power Relations 3.3.2.2 Mediation and Ideology 3.3.2.3 Mediation and Norms 3.4 Factual Information Collection: Qualitative Interview 3.4.1 Interview Forms and Prospective Interviewees 3.4.2 Interview Strategies 3.4.3 Ethics 3.5 Summary Bibliography Chapter 4: The Micro-Model: A Linguistic Approach to Textual Mediation in Translation 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Translation Process Revisited 4.3 A Linguistic Approach to Textual Mediation in Translation 4.3.1 Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration 4.3.2 Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 4.3.2.1 Beaugrande’s Typology of Concepts and Relations 4.3.2.2 Halliday’s Functional Grammar 4.3.2.3 Halliday’s Functional Grammar Versus Beaugrande’s Typology 4.4 Summary Bibliography Dictionaries Chapter 5: Discursive Mediation in Action 5.1 Introducing the Corpus 5.2 Interviews with the Three Publishers 5.2.1 Interview Procedures 5.2.2 Interview Questions and Replies 5.3 Comparative Text Analyses of Living History and Its Chinese Translations 5.3.1 Case Study I: The U.S. Decision to Participate in the UN Women’s Conference (See Appendix A) 5.3.1.1 The English Text 5.3.1.2 The CT Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.3.1.3 The YL Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.3.2 Case Study II: Travelling in Romania (See Appendix B) 5.3.2.1 The English Text 5.3.2.2 The CT Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.3.2.3 The YL Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.3.3 Case Study III: The Story of Lazio (See Appendix C) 5.3.3.1 The English Text 5.3.3.2 The CT Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.3.3.3 The YL Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.3.4 Case Study IV: Life at Wellesley (See Appendix D) 5.3.4.1 The English Text 5.3.4.2 The CT Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.3.4.3 The YL Version Mediation at the Stage of Information Selection and Configuration Mediation at the Stage of Information Presentation 5.4 Summary Bibliography Text Materials Dictionaries Chapter 6: Mediation and Social Structure 6.1 Locating the Social Background of the Mediation Action 6.1.1 The Social Context of the Publication of Living History 6.1.2 The Social Contexts of the Publication of the Two Chinese Translations 6.1.2.1 Translation Publication in Taiwan 6.1.2.2 Translation Publication in the Chinese Mainland 6.2 Discussion 6.2.1 Mediation in the Translation of All Cases 6.2.2 Mediation Patterns and Power/Ideologies/Norms 6.2.3 Occasional Inconsistency in the Mediation Process 6.2.4 Mediation, Faithfulness and Loyalty 6.3 Summary Bibliography Untitled Chapter 7: Conclusion 7.1 An Overview 7.2 Suggestions for Future Research Bibliography Appendices Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E