Transposition

Brief Description

This course explores the mechanics of structural shifts in translation, focusing centrally on Vinay and Darbelnet’s "Transposition" procedure. It bridges comparative linguistic theory with practical application, examining how translators alter grammatical categories across languages to maintain semantic equivalence and natural phrasing. The module also engages with modern theoretical critiques, providing a balanced view of prescriptive versus discourse-based translation strategies.

Target Audience

Master 1 students in Modern and Contemporary Criticism.

General Objectives

• Identify and Apply: Recognize instances requiring obligatory transposition and effectively apply optional transpositions to enhance stylistic flow.

• Compare Terminologies: Understand how foundational translation scholars (like Catford, Newmark, and Nida) conceptualize and categorize structural shifts.

• Critique Methodologies: Critically evaluate the limitations of micro-linguistic translation procedures against broader, discourse-oriented approaches.

• Enhance Practical Fluency: Develop the intuitive ability to transition seamlessly between differing syntactic structures of source and target languages.