《A Tale of Two Translation Theories (Relevance Translation etc.)》.pdf

Journal of Translation, Volume 1, Number 2 (2005) 35 A Tale of Two Translation Theories David J. Weber1 David Weber joined SIL in 1969 and, with his wife Diana, began fieldwork among the Quechua of Huánuco in central Peru. He holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of California at Santa Cruz. and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from UCLA. He and Diana have been involved in linguistic research, Bible translation, and educational development. David has written or collaborated on a number of books related to linguistics and literacy and has developed computer programs for morphology and dialect adaptation. As an International Linguistic Consultant with SIL, he teaches periodically at SIL courses in U.S. universities and most recently in Lima, Peru. Abstract This paper considers two theories of communication and the theories of translation shaped by them. First, the Code Model of communication is characterized and reasons are presented for why it is an inadequate and misleading theory of communication. Then Source-Meaning- Receptor theories of translation that were shaped by the Code Model are characterized and their inadequacies surveyed. Second, the Relevance Theory of communication is introduced. Then Gutt’s Relevance Theory based theory of translation is sketched and its dramatic implications for translation are surveyed. Finally, broader implications of the shift from a Code Model to a Relevance Theory perspective are consi