《Literary Style and Translation》.ppt

* * 7. Literary style and translation What is style? Style is the characteristic manner of expression in prose or verse; it is how a particular writer says things. ----a mode of expressing thought in language (a manner of expression characteristic of an individual, period, school, or nation) ----a manner or tone assumed in discourse, or ----the custom or plan followed in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typographic arrangement and display. What is the difference between those sentences? My beloved parent has just passed to his heavenly reward. b.My dear father has just expired. c.My dear father has just died. d.My dad has died. e.My old man just kicked the bucket. (hyperformal, literary,dignified) (normal, factual) (formal, unemotional) (informal, plain) (slangy, colloquial, lacking in respect) In my opinion he is not the man whom we desire. b. I believe that he is not the man whom we want. c. I don’t think he’s the man we’re looking for. d. ‘Fraid he’s not our man. Martin Joos The Five Clocks, 1967 Style of a language may be classified from ‘high’ to ‘low’ on a five-point scale: frozen Formal Consultative Casual intimate Madame Chairman, Mrs. Vice-president, Honored Guests, Faculty and Friends: I feel most deeply honored to have been invited to speak to such an illustrious gathering tonight … ( Frozen). Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m exceedingly grateful to have been asked to present … (Formal) Good evening, Friends, Our chairman, Jean Monrovia, asked me to share some of my current research in sociolinguistics and I hope it will be useful to you in your English classes next week. (Casual) d. Hi, everyone, Jean asked me to come on over and rap a bit about the stuff I’m into in sociolinguistics….(Intimate) Style varies in: Character Subject matter Old/new Oral/written Private/documentary General/artistic …… Is style translatable? “文如其人”——中国 “风格即其人”le style