Student Number : 0413378Y - MA research report - School of Literature and Language Studies - Faculty of Humanities / The purpose of this research report is to examine Rwandan folktales from a cultural point of view and discuss how they could be translated into English by taking into account cultural aspects that are typical of Rwandan culture. It also aims at discussing some strategies which translators can use in order to solve culture-related problems while translating Rwandan folktales into the English language for an international audience in general and for children in particular. To lay a theoretical foundation to this study, an overview of folklore, culture and the relationship between language, culture and translation is given. Theories underlying cultural translation and underlying children’s literature and its translation are also discussed. Although the study aims at analysing Rwandan folktales in general, it focuses on four folktales. These are analysed and culture-bound problems that a translator may encounter when translating them are brought to the fore. In addition, one of them is translated as an illustration and a discussion of strategies used to address culture-bound problems is provided.

Thesis in compliance with the requirements for the Doctor's Degree in Technology: Language Practice, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / This research deals with the development of a model of interpreting services for a newly merged multilingual University of Technology, the Durban University of Technology. The rationale for the study was the urgent need to give students whose mother tongue is not the medium of instruction (i.e. English) equity of access to higher-degree education. The research was carried out within a critical realist approach, which seeks to transform society by practical application of theory. Unlike previous studies in interpreting, this research focuses on the service provision aspect of interpreting. It falls within the field of educational interpreting, but goes beyond the classroom situation in considering other university interpreting needs, such as seminars and in-house conferences, graduation and other ceremonies, operational meetings and labour-related meetings. Franck‟s modelling process was used to formulate a theoretical model of the interpreting service delivery mechanism using data gathered during visitations to local and international universities. The theoretical model, or system of essential functions, was used to arrive at the applied aspect of the mechanism, termed an empirical model of interpreting service delivery. The model was then validated in terms of its application in various contexts at the Durban University of Technology. It is suggested that the theoretical and practical models developed have application not only for educational interpreting, but also in other interpreting contexts. The models are also considered to have relevance for service delivery in general, which is a critical issue at present in South Africa.

Thesis (MPhil (African Languages))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Financial institutions are among the key players in the economic growth of the country. The success of these institutions is, among other things, dependent on the support of the members of the public. This shows that it is important that the relationship between the two parties is sound. One of the ways of sustaining the communication between the financial institutions and the members of the public is to ensure that the information from the institutions reaches the clients/customers or prospective supporters. Since there is a wide range of the members of society in terms of language, culture and educational levels, it is crucial that the financial institutions take note of these factors. The implication is that the information that is communicated to the clients or customers should be available in the language that the clients/customers are familiar with. Previously, most of the information was communicated in English and Afrikaans. With the introduction of eleven official languages in South Africa, this indicated a need for material that is translated into different languages. The aim of this thesis is to investigate whether there is material available from the financial institutions that is translated into isiXhosa. If it is available, I would like to know whether it is reader-centred and whether it communicates with the target reader. The evaluation of the existing translated material is done by using samples of brochures which are drawn from three institutions. Using the views of some of the theoretical approaches to translation, I do a critical analysis of the translated material. In order to have a balanced evaluation of the translated material, the views of the members from the community are tested through interviews and by using questionnaires. In the conclusion, I highlight the results of my findings and observations which are based on the responses that the participants gave.

Thesis (MPhil (Afrikaans and Dutch))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / In this study the problems surrounding the source language orientated translation of metaphors in general, and more specifically the source language orientated translation of Biblical metaphors, is investigated. A new Afrikaans translation of the Bible will soon be undertaken. This translation is meant to be source language orientated. The translators responsible for the translation are in need of guidelines to ensure the effective source language orientated translation of metaphors. In the literature study a general overview of the phenomenon called ‘metaphor’ is given, in order to equip translators with the required theoretical knowledge to successfully identify, analyse and describe metaphors. It is followed by an overview of metaphor translation in general. The theoretical approach to metaphor translation of Dagut, Stienstra and Schäffner relies heavily on the difference between conceptual and linguistic metaphors. This approach is identified as useful for source language orientated metaphor translation. The background and translation principles of the Ou Afrikaanse Vertaling (OAV) and the Nuwe Afrikaanse Vertaling (NAV) are investigated after the literature study. The distinctive approaches of these two Bible translations are criticised by virtue of the knowledge gained from the literature study in the previous chapters. Furthermore, a working hypothesis regarding the source language orientated translation of metaphors is formulated. This hypothesis is tested during the empirical study by means of nine metaphors from the Psalms. The nine metaphors are translated using a model which analyses the metaphors and translates them in a source language orientated way. On the basis of the literature and empirical study, a series of conclusions are made. These are applicable to metaphor translation in general, as well as specifically source language orientated metaphor translation. Suggestions that apply specifically to the new Afrikaans translation of the Bible are also made.

Thesis (D.Litt.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Relevance theory has seriously challenged the theoretical soundness of formal and functional equivalence as Bible translation methods. In Translation and relevance: Cognition and context, Gutt (1991) argued that relevance theory provides translators with the best available framework for understanding and practicing translation. In his effort to provide a comprehensive account of translation, he proposed two new approaches to translation: direct translation and indirect translation. He did not, however, develop direct and indirect translation into well-defined approaches to translation. This study explores the viability of direct and indirect translation as approaches to Bible translation. First, by applying insights drawn from relevance theory, it spells out the theoretical and practical implications of these approaches in an attempt to develop them into well-defined translation methods. The explication of the two new approaches shows how and why relevance theoretic approaches to translation differ from formal and functional equivalence. In addition to describing the general approach of direct and indirect translation, it also demonstrates how each approach handles specific translation issues such as figurative language, implicit information, ambiguity, and gender-biased language. Then, by using them to translate the epistle to Titus, the study tests the practical effectiveness of each new approach. This lengthy application yields many examples of how relevance theory provides translators with valuable guidance for making difficult translation decisions. It emphasises the need for translators to take measures to bridge the contextual gap between the source context and the receptor context, illustrating how this can be done by providing footnotes in a direct translation or by explicating implicit information in an indirect translation. The study closes with a brief assessment of the two new approaches and some suggestions for further research. The conclusions show both the value and the limitations of the results of this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Relevansieteorie bevraagteken ernstig die teoretiese basis van formele en funksionele ekwivalensie as metodes van Bybelvertaling. Gutt (1991) het in Translation and relevance: Cognition and context geargumenteer dat relevansieteorie vertalers voorsien van die beste beskikbare raamwerk vir die verstaan en beoefening van vertaling. In sy poging om 'n omvattende beskrywing van vertaling daar te stel, het hy twee nuwe benaderings voorgestel: direkte vertaling en indirekte vertaling. Hy het egter nie direkte en indirekte vertaling ontwikkel tot goed gedefinieerde benaderings tot vertaling nie. Hierdie studie ondersoek die lewensvatbaarheid van direkte en indirekte vertaling as benaderings tot Bybelvertaling. Eerstens word aan die hand van insigte ontleen aan relevansieteorie die teoretiese en praktiese implikasies van hierdie benaderings verken met die doel om dit te ontwikkel tot goed gedefineerde metodes van vertaling. Die uiteensetting van hierdie twee nuwe benaderings toon hoe en waarom relevansieteoretiese benaderings tot vertaling verskil van formele en funksionele ekwivalensie. Benewens 'n beskrywing van die algemene benadering van direkte en indirekte vertaling, demonstreer die uiteensetting hoe elke benadering spesifieke aangeleenthede soos beeldspraak, implisiete inligting, dubbelsinnigheid en gender-bevooroordeelde taal, in vertaalpraktyk hanteer. Vervolgens stel die ondersoek die praktiese effektiwiteit van elke nuwe benadering op die proef deur dit te gebruik om die brief aan Titus te vertaal. Hierdie omvangryke toepassing lewer verskeie voorbeelde waar relevansieteorie vertalers van waardevolle riglyne voorsien om moeilike besluite oor vertaling te maak. Dit benadruk die noodsaaklikheid vir vertalers om spesiale maatreels te tref om die kontekstuele gaping te oorbrug tussen die bronkonteks en die reseptorkonteks, en word geillustreer deur in 'n direkte vertaling voetnotas te gebruik en deur in 'n indirekte vertaling implisiete inligting eksplisiet te maak. Die ondersoek word afgesluit met 'n kort evaluering van die twee benaderings en met enkele voorstelle vir verdere navorsing. Die gevolgtrekking toon beide die waarde en die beperkings van die resultate van hierdie ondersoek.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chinese / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chinese / Master / Master of Philosophy

M. Tech. Language Practice / The activity of translation has a long-standing tradition and has been widely practiced throughout history, but in the rapidly changing world, its role has become of paramount importance. Advertising, as the engine of commerce, plays a critical role in the success of a company in this increasingly commercialized society. He further points out that in the age of global economy, effective translations can be crucial when businesses are targeting a foreign market. The purpose of the study was to explore the effect translation has on the "persuasiveness" of an advertisement, or what is left thereof, after it has been translated from the source language into the target language - in this case from English to Sepedi. Specifically, the study sought to identify a workable approach within which a translator can maximally operate in translating persuasive advertisements from English to Sepedi.

Li Hoi-Ying. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-120). / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.iii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Background --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1 --- Strategies in Machine Translation Systems --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Direct MT Strategy --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Transfer MT strategy --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Interlingua MT Strategy --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- AI Approach --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Statistical Approach --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- Grammars --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- Sublanguages --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4 --- Human Interaction --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5 --- Evaluation for Performance --- p.23 / Chapter 2.6 --- Machine Translation between Chinese and English --- p.25 / Chapter 2.7 --- Problems and Issues in MTCML --- p.29 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Linguistic Characteristics of the Corpus --- p.29 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Strategies for problems in MTCML --- p.31 / Chapter 3 --- Segmentation --- p.34 / Chapter 3.1 --- Strategies for Segmentation --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2 --- Segmentation algorithm in MTCML --- p.36 / Chapter 4 --- Tagging --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1 --- Objective --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2 --- Approach --- p.41 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Category and Sub-category --- p.41 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Tools --- p.45 / Chapter 5 --- Analysis --- p.48 / Chapter 5.1 --- Linguistic Study of the Corpus --- p.48 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Imperative Sentences --- p.49 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Elliptical Sentences --- p.50 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Inverted Sentences --- p.52 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Voice and Tense --- p.53 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Vocabulary --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2 --- Pattern Extraction --- p.54 / Chapter 5.3 --- Pattern Reduction --- p.56 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Case Study --- p.56 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Syntactic Rules --- p.61 / Chapter 5.4 --- Disambiguation --- p.62 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Category Ambiguity --- p.63 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Structural Ambiguity --- p.65 / Chapter 6 --- Transfer --- p.68 / Chapter 6.1 --- Principle of Transfer --- p.68 / Chapter 6.2 --- Extraction of Templates --- p.71 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Similarity Comparison --- p.72 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Algorithm --- p.74 / Chapter 6.3 --- Classification of Templates --- p.76 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Classification --- p.76 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- A Class-based Filter --- p.79 / Chapter 6.4 --- Transfer Rule-base --- p.80 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Transfer Rules --- p.81 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Rule Matching --- p.84 / Chapter 6.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.85 / Chapter 7 --- Generation --- p.87 / Chapter 7.1 --- Sentence Generation --- p.87 / Chapter 7.2 --- Disambiguation of Homographs --- p.90 / Chapter 7.3 --- Sentence Polishing --- p.91 / Chapter 8 --- System Implementation --- p.95 / Chapter 8.1 --- Corpus --- p.95 / Chapter 8.2 --- Dictionaries and Lexicons --- p.97 / Chapter 8.3 --- Reduction Rules --- p.100 / Chapter 8.4 --- Transfer Rules --- p.102 / Chapter 8.5 --- Efficiency of the System --- p.104 / Chapter 8.6 --- Case Study --- p.105 / Chapter 8.6.1 --- Sample Result and Assessment --- p.105 / Chapter 8.6.2 --- Results of Segmentation and Tagging --- p.107 / Chapter 8.6.3 --- Results of Analysis --- p.108 / Chapter 8.6.4 --- Results of Transfer --- p.110 / Chapter 8.6.5 --- Results of Generation --- p.110 / Chapter 9 --- Conclusion --- p.112 / Bibliography --- p.117 / Chapter A --- Programmer's Guide --- p.121 / Chapter B --- Translation Instances --- p.125

Buddhist translation has a long history and has become one of the most important translation activities in the new millennium. It plays an important role in popularizing the Buddhist doctrine and in facilitating the exchange of views on the Dharma between East and West. / But the sheer volume of texts to be translated and the complex nature of Buddhist translation bring challenges to translators. The use of electronic translation tools might provide a way out. To explore translation technology for the rendition of Buddhist texts and to evaluate its possible contributions, my research introduces six computational approaches to Buddhist translation. They highlight the significance of combining human intelligence and artificial intelligence in the process of translation. / I hope my research will help revolutionize Buddhist translation in the information age. It will also provide new insights into translation technology, Translation Studies, Buddhist studies, and translation activities in other domains. / The present research consists of 10 parts: Chapter 1 is the introduction, with the objectives and methodology explained. Chapter 2 (i) redefines Buddhist translation in a global context, and (ii) introduces the idea of translating Buddhist texts with technology. Chapters 3-8 explore the six approaches to bring technology and Buddhist translation together. Chapter 3 discusses the use of existing translation tools (e.g., translation engines and translation memory databases) and electronic resources (e.g., electronic Buddhist dictionaries). Chapter 4 presents a dialogue-based approach highlighting the interaction between human translators and virtual translation assistants. Chapter 5 examines a stepwise approach featuring human-aided natural language processing in a series of translation sub-tasks. Chapter 6 concerns itself with a hint-based approach involving computer-assisted human translation based on the automatic generation of translation tips and instant suggestions. Chapter 7 focuses on a collaborative approach to the open translation of Buddhist texts. Chapter 8 studies a new form of e-text that provides readers with new ways to interact with not only the target text but also other readers and translators. Chapter 9 examines possible ways to integrate the six approaches in different translation scenarios. Chapter 10 is the conclusion. / This study is a pioneer attempt to (i) explore computational approaches to the rendition of Buddhist texts and (ii) examine how these approaches might change the world of Buddhist translation in the digital era. / 蕭世昌. / Advisers: Sin Wai Chan; Yau Yuk Chong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-09(E), Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 306-318) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Xiao Shichang.