Towards a Theory of Good Translation
Theoretical Explorations in Translation Studies - Readings Empowered by Systemic Functional Linguistics - Bo Wang
M.A.K. Halliday † [+]
University of Sydney (Emeritus)
M.A.K. Halliday, who died in April 2018, was born in Yorkshire in 1925. He was trained in Chinese for war service with the British army; studied in China, taught Chinese in Britain for a number of years, then moved into linguistics, becoming in 1965 Professor of General Linguistics at University College London. In 1975 he was appointed Foundation Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney, where he remained until his retirement.
Description
Halliday raises a fundamental question, i.e. what is a theory of good translation. He first contrasts the linguist’s translation theory with that of the translator’s, classifying them into theories studying “how things are” and and theories studying “how things ought to be”. Relating translation theories to linguistics, he then categorizes translation theories into two kinds: the linguist’s indicative theory and the translator’s imperative theory. He also provides thought-provoking comments on system, equivalence and translation practice.