Publications

Publication details [#8365]

Katan, David. 2002. Mediating the point of refraction and playing with the perlocutionary effect: a translator's choice? In Herbrechter, Stefan, ed. Cultural studies: interdisciplinarity and translation (Critical Studies 20). Amsterdam: Rodopi. pp. 177–196.
Publication type
Article in jnl/bk
Publication language
English
Source language
Target language

Abstract

Translators have an extremely important responsibility in communicating ideas to society. Much of what we read, from Aesop and the Bible to Voltaire and Weil is (re-)created by an invisible and little respected writer, the translator. This paper explores two fundamental areas: the possible refractions and perlocutionary effects that can be engendered by a translator; and secondly, what possibilities a translator has given the traditional subservience to a habitus which values translator invisibility and fidelity to the source text. A proposal is made for the translator to take more responsibility for the potential perlocutionary effects through taking a third, disassociated perceptual cognitive position. From this position the various forces acting on the translator and the translation can be controlled through mediation focussed on the benefit to the reader.
Source : Abstract in book