Allusion as Translation Problem

273 Pages·2014·3.45 MB·English

Allusion as Translation Problem:
Portuguese Versions of Second Isaiah as Test Case

by
Kenneth A. Cherney, Jr.

Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at
Stellenbosch University

Supervisor: Prof. C. H. J. van der Merwe
Co-supervisor: Prof. H. L. Bosman

December 2014
Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za
Declaration
I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this dissertation is my own original
work and has not previously in its entirety or in part been submitted to any university for a degree,

Signature:

Date: November 6, 2014

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Abstract
An allusion in the source text poses a serious problem for a translator. A relevance-theoretic
approach would define an “allusion” as the re-use of language from a prior text such that, by calling
the prior text to mind, an implied reader is aided in his/her attempt to plausibly reconstruct the
alluding author’s meaning. For this to happen, the reader’s “context” in the relevance-theoretic
sense must include the source of the borrowed language. To explicate the connection for the reader,
however, can thwart the pragmatic effects of an allusion, since these often require maintaining
some “openness” in the text; hence the translator’s dilemma.
Isaiah 40-55 (Deutero-Isaiah or DtI), a richly allusive text, furnishes an ideal test case for a
descriptive translation study (DTS) focused on this source-text feature. This investigation of eleven
Portuguese versions will attempt to determine whether and how the translators’ decisions with
regard to DtI’s allusions might be accounted for. Source-oriented approaches to translating often
tend toward lexical concordance; therefore, these approaches—in theory—should tend to preserve
instances of vocabulary that is shared between an alluding- and an alluded-to text. Target-oriented
approaches (e.g. “functional equivalence”) are more interested in contextual clarity than lexical
concordance; these could then be expected to produce target texts that are less allusive. Increased
sophistication in translation theory should result in more sophisticated approaches to allusion in
translating. Collaborative and coordinated translation projects should produce more allusive target
texts than those whose procedures are more piecemeal.
The investigation reveals less correlation than expected between general source-orientedness and
allusiveness in the target text. Target-oriented approaches—e.g., classical functional
equivalence—do tend to produce less allusive target texts. In addition, there is a correlation
between a translation project’s organization and the perspicuity of allusion in the target text, but it
is mostly negative. That is, projects that do their work piecemeal produce unallusive versions, but
more collaborative and coordinated projects still leave many inter-textual resonances inaudible.
It appears that translations will preserve this source-text feature in a way that tends toward
randomness unless the perspicuity of inter-textual allusions is articulated as a conscious value in
translating. Above all, “allusion-friendly” translating will require target cultures that want more
allusive Bibles. Translators, as “model readers” themselves, will need to recognize the presence
and function of allusions in the source text and make the attempt to represent these in translation
a priority.

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Opsomming
Sinspeling in ’n bronteks kan ʼn aansienlike probleem skep vir ʼn vertaler. ʼn Relevansie-teoretiese
benadering definieer “sinspeling” as die hergebruik van taal uit ʼn vroeëre teks tot so ʼn mate dat ʼn
veronderstelde leser, deur die vroeëre teks voor die gees te roep, in sy/haar poging om die
sinspelende outeur se bedoeling te rekonstrueer, gesteun word. Om dit te bewerkstellig, moet die
leser se “konteks,” in die relevansie-teoretiese sin van die woord, die bron van die ontleende
taaluiting insluit. Om die verband aan die leser te verklaar kan egter die pragmatiese effekte van ʼn
sinspeling teenwerk, aangesien sinspeling as sulks dikwels die handhawing van ʼn mate van
“openheid” in die teks vereis; vandaar die vertaler se dilemma.
Jesaja 40-55 (Deutero-Jesaja of DtJ), ʼn teks met baie gevalle van sinspeling, bied die ideale
geleentheid vir ʼn beskrywende vertalingstudie (BVS) wat op hierdie brontekskenmerk fokus.
Hierdie ondersoek van elf Portugese vertalings sal poog om te bepaal of en hoe die vertalers se
vertaalkeuses met betrekking tot DtJ se sinspelings verklaar kan word. Bron-georiënteerde
benaderings tot vertaling neig dikwels tot leksikale konkordansie; daarom behoort hierdie
benaderings – in teorie – te neig om die gevalle van woordeskat wat tussen ʼn sinspelende en ʼn
opgesinspeelde teks gedeel word, weer te gee. Teiken-georiënteerde benaderings (bv.
“funksioneel-ekwivalente benaderings”) stel meer in die verstaanbaarheid van uitdrukkings in die
konteks waarin dit gebruik word as in leksikale konkordansie belang; van hierdie vertalings sou
dan verwag kon word om teikentekste op te lewer wat minder sinspelend is. Toenemende
sofistikasie in vertalingsteorie behoort tot meer gesofistikeerde benaderings tot sinspeling in
vertaling te lei. Gesamentlike en gekoördineerde vertalingsprojekte behoort meer sinspelende
teikentekste voort te bring as die waarvan dit nie die geval is nie.
Die ondersoek openbaar minder korrelasie as wat verwag is tussen algemene bron-
georiënteerdheid en sinspeling in die teikenteks. Teiken-georiënteerde benaderings neig wel om
minder sinspelende teikentekste te produseer. Daar is boonop ʼn korrelasie tussen ʼn
vertalingsprojek se organisasie en die duidelikheid van sinspeling in die teikenteks, maar die
korrelasie is meestal negatief. Dit wil sê, projekte wat hul werk stuksgewys doen, produseer nie-
sinspelende weergawes, maar meer gesamentlike en gekoördineerde projekte laat steeds baie
intertekstuele resonansies nie tot hulle reg kom nie.
Dit blyk dat hierdie brontekskenmerk slegs op ‘n lukrake wyse in ’n vertaling tot sy reg sal laat
kom, tensy die duidelikheid van intertekstuele sinspelings as ʼn bewuste waarde in die vertaling
uitgespel word. Bowendien, “sinspelingsvriendelike” vertaling sal teikenkulture vereis wat meer
sinspelende Bybels wil hê. Vertalers, as “modellesers” hulself, sal die teenwoordigheid en funksie
van sinspelings in die bronteks moet herken en die poging om hierdie in vertaling te
verteenwoordig ʼn prioriteit maak.
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Contents
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... iii
Opsomming .................................................................................................................................... iv
Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... xiii
Acknowledgments......................................................................................................................... xv
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Problem, Purpose, and Scope ................................................................................................ 1
1.1.1 Problem ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1.1 The Source Side ....................................................................................................... 1
1.1.1.2 The Target Side ........................................................................................................ 2
1.1.2 Purpose ........................................................................................................................... 2
1.1.3 Scope .............................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Assumptions, Methodology, and Hypotheses ....................................................................... 3
1.2.1 Assumptions ................................................................................................................... 3
1.2.2 Methodology ................................................................................................................... 4
1.2.3 Hypotheses...................................................................................................................... 6
1.3 Relevance .............................................................................................................................. 7
1.4 Outline ................................................................................................................................... 7
2. Allusion and the Translator ......................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Allusion—Approaches in Literary Criticism ...................................................................... 10
2.2.1 Romanticism ................................................................................................................. 10
2.2.2 New Criticism ............................................................................................................... 11
2.2.3 Structuralism and Post-Structuralism ........................................................................... 11
2.2.4 Allusion, Influence, and Intertextuality ........................................................................ 14
2.3 Allusion as Communication Problem ................................................................................. 15
2.3.1 A Code Model .............................................................................................................. 15
2.3.2 A Pragmatic Model ....................................................................................................... 16
2.3.3 Grice ............................................................................................................................. 17
2.3.4 Relevance Theory ......................................................................................................... 19
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2.4 Allusion as Translation Problem ......................................................................................... 22
Figure 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 24
2.4.1 Implications for Translators of Literary Approaches ................................................... 25
2.4.2 Implications of Communication Approaches: A Code Model .................................... 25
2.4.3 Implications of Communication Approaches: A Pragmatic Model ............................. 26
2.4.4 Implications of Communication Approaches: A Relevance-Theoretic Model ............ 27
2.5 Application .......................................................................................................................... 29
3. The Alluding Text: “Second Isaiah” ......................................................................................... 31
3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 31
3.2 Formation of Isaiah ............................................................................................................. 31
3.2.1 From Unity to Diversity ............................................................................................... 31
3.2.2 From Diversity to Unity ............................................................................................... 34
3.2.3 The Impasse .................................................................................................................. 36
3.2.4 DtI as Alluding Text: Rationale.................................................................................... 37
3.3 Alluded-To Texts in DtI ...................................................................................................... 39
3.3.1 What Constitutes a “Text”? .......................................................................................... 39
3.3.2 Extra-Isaiah Allusions: Rationale ................................................................................. 40
3.4 The Allusions ...................................................................................................................... 41
3.4.1 Previous Studies of Inner-Biblical Allusion ................................................................. 41
3.4.2 DtI’s Allusions: The Sample ........................................................................................ 45
3.4.2.1 Isaiah 40:2 and Leviticus 26:41, 43 ....................................................................... 46
3.4.2.2 Isaiah 40:6-8 and Psalm 103:15-17........................................................................ 47
3.4.2.3 Isaiah 40:26,28 and Psalm 147:4,5 ........................................................................ 48
3.4.2.4 Isaiah 42:17 and Exodus 32:4,8 ............................................................................. 49
3.4.2.5 Isaiah 43:13 and Deuteronomy 32:39 .................................................................... 51
3.4.2.6 Isaiah 45:2 and Psalm 107:16 ................................................................................ 52
3.4.2.7 Isaiah 48:21 and Psalm 78:15,20 ........................................................................... 53
3.4.2.8 Isaiah 49:8 and Psalm 69:14 .................................................................................. 54
3.4.2.9 Isaiah 50:2 and Numbers 11:23 ............................................................................. 55
3.4.2.10 Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 2:1 .................................................................................. 56
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4. Methodological Considerations ................................................................................................ 58
4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 58
4.2 A Functional Translation Analysis ...................................................................................... 58
4.2.1 Descriptive Translation Studies .................................................................................... 58
4.2.2 Skopostheorie and Christiane Nord .............................................................................. 60
4.2.3 Margret Ammann’s Model for Übersetzungskritik ...................................................... 61
4.2.3.1 Target Culture Function ......................................................................................... 62
4.2.3.2 Intratextual Coherence Within the Target Text ..................................................... 62
4.2.3.3 Source Culture Function ........................................................................................ 63
4.2.3.4 Intratextual Coherence in the Source Text ............................................................. 63
4.2.3.5 Coherence Between Source and Target Texts ....................................................... 64
4.2.3.6 Adaptations in the Present Study ........................................................................... 64
4.2.4 Language Variation—Portugal and Brazil ................................................................... 64
5. The Versão Almeida and Its Offspring ..................................................................................... 67
5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 67
5.2 Portuguese Bible Translating in the Middle Ages and Renaissance ................................... 68
5.2.1 Ad fontes! – Source Texts and Bible Interpretation on the Iberian Peninsula .............. 68
5.2.2 Target Texts—The Problem of Vernaculars ................................................................ 69
5.2.2 Pre-Reformation Bible Translating in Portugal ............................................................ 70
5.3 The Reformation and Its Aftermath .................................................................................... 71
5.3.1 Reformation Bibles ....................................................................................................... 71
5.3.2 The Bible in Counter-Reformation Roman Catholicism .............................................. 72
5.3.3 Protestantism Reaches the Lusophone East .................................................................. 74
5.4 The Versão Almeida ............................................................................................................ 75
5.4.1 João Ferreira de Almeida (1628-1691), Bible Translator ............................................. 75
5.4.2 Versão Almeida Isaiah (1751) ...................................................................................... 76
5.4.2.1 Target Culture (TC) Function ................................................................................ 77
5.4.2.2 Intertextual Coherence in TT ................................................................................. 79
5.4.2.3 Intertextual Coherence Between Source Text (ST) and Target Text (TT) ............ 81
5.4.2.3.1 Isaiah 40:2 and Leviticus 26:41,43 ................................................................. 82
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5.4.2.3.2 Isaiah 40:6-8 and Psalm 103:15-17 ................................................................. 84
5.4.2.3.3 Isaiah 40:26-28 and Psalm 147:4,5 ................................................................. 85
5.4.2.3.4 Isaiah 42:17 and Exodus 32:4,8 ...................................................................... 86
5.4.2.3.5 Isaiah 43:13 and Deuteronomy 32:39 ............................................................. 88
5.4.2.3.6 Isaiah 45:2 and Psalm 107:16......................................................................... 89
5.4.2.3.7 Isaiah 48:21 and Psalm 78:15,20.................................................................... 90
5.4.2.3.8 Isaiah 49:8 and Psalm 69:14............................................................................ 92
5.4.2.3.9 Isaiah 50:2 and Numbers 11:23 ....................................................................... 93
5.4.2.3.10 Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 2:1............................................................................ 94
5.4.2.3.11 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 95
5.4.3 Introduction: Versão Almeida Revisions ...................................................................... 96
5.4.3.1 The Tradução Brasileira (1917) ............................................................................ 97
5.4.3.1.2 Target Culture (TC) Function ......................................................................... 97
5.4.3.1.3 Intertextual Coherence in TT .......................................................................... 98
5.4.3.2 The Versão Almeida Revista e Corregida (ARC)................................................ 100
5.4.3.2.1 Target Culture (TC) Function ....................................................................... 100
5.4.3.2.2 Intertextual Coherence in TT ........................................................................ 101
5.4.3.3 The Versão Almeida Revista e Atualizada no Brasil (ARA) ............................... 102
5.4.3.3.1 Target Culture (TC) Function ....................................................................... 102
5.4.3.3.2 Target Text (TT) Coherence ......................................................................... 105
5.4.3.3.3 Intertextual Coherence, Versão Almeida Revisions ...................................... 107
5.4.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 117
6. Post-Almeida Roman Catholic Versions in Portuguese .......................................................... 119
6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 119
6.1.1 Relay Translations ...................................................................................................... 119
6.1.2 Target Culture: Pombalismo in Portugal .................................................................... 120
6.1.3 António Pereira de Figueiredo (1725-1797), Bible Translator ................................... 121
6.1.4 Figueiredo’s Bíblia Sagrada ....................................................................................... 125
6.1.4.1 Target Text (TT) Coherence ................................................................................ 125
6.1.4.2 Coherence Between Source and Target Texts ..................................................... 128
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6.1.4.2.1 Lev 26:41,43 and Isaiah 40:2 ........................................................................ 129
6.1.4.2.2 Psalm 103 (Vg 102):15-17 and Isaiah 40:6-8 ............................................... 129
6.1.4.2.3 Isaiah 40:26-28 and Psalm 147 (146):4,5...................................................... 131
6.1.4.2.4 Isaiah 42:17 and Exodus 32:4, 8 .................................................................. 131
6.1.4.2.5 Isaiah 43:13 and Deuteronomy 32:39 .......................................................... 132
6.1.4.2.6 Isaiah 45:2 and Psalm 107 (106):16 .............................................................. 133
6.1.4.2.7 Isaiah 48:21 and Psalm 78 (77):15,20 ........................................................... 134
6.1.4.2.8 Isaiah 49:8 and Psalm 69 (68):14 .................................................................. 135
6.1.4.2.9 Isaiah 50:2 and Numbers 11:23 ..................................................................... 136
6.1.4.2.10 Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 2:1 (1:15) ............................................................... 136
6.1.4.2.11 Conclusions ................................................................................................. 137
6.2 The Bíblia Sagrada of Matos Soares (1933) ..................................................................... 137
6.2.1 Matos Soares, Bible Translator .................................................................................. 137
6.2.2 Target Culture Function.............................................................................................. 138
6.2.3 Target Text Coherence ............................................................................................... 141
6.2.4 Coherence Between Source and Target Texts ............................................................ 144
6.2.4.1 Lev 26:41,43 and Isaiah 40:2 ............................................................................... 144
6.2.4.2 Psalm 103 (Vg 102):15-17 and Isaiah 40:6-8 ...................................................... 144
6.2.4.3 Isaiah 40:26-28 and Psalm 147 (Vg 146):4, 5 ..................................................... 145
6.2.4.4 Isaiah 42:17, Exodus 32:4,8, and 1 Kings 12:28 ................................................. 145
6.2.4.5 Isaiah 43:13 and Deuteronomy 32:39 .................................................................. 146
6.2.4.6 Isaiah 45:2 and Psalm 107 (106):16..................................................................... 147
6.2.4.7 Isaiah 48:21 and Psalm 78 (77):15,20.................................................................. 147
6.2.4.8 Isaiah 49:8 and Psalm 69 (68):14......................................................................... 148
6.2.4.9 Isaiah 50:2 and Numbers 11:23 ........................................................................... 149
6.2.4.10 Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 2:1 (1:15) ..................................................................... 149
6.2.4.11 Conclusions ........................................................................................................ 150
6.3 The Bíblia Ilustrada (1957-1970) ..................................................................................... 151
6.3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 151
6.3.2 Target Culture Function—Divino Afflante Espiritu and Dei Verbum ........................ 151
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6.3.3 Target Text Coherence ............................................................................................... 152
6.3.4 Coherence Between Source and Target Texts ............................................................ 154
6.3.4.1 Isaiah 40:2 and Leviticus 26:41, 43 ..................................................................... 154
6.3.4.2 Isaiah 40:6-8, Psalm 103:15-17 ........................................................................... 155
6.3.4.3 Isaiah 40:26,28 and Psalm 147:4 ......................................................................... 157
6.3.4.4 Isaiah 42:17; Exodus 32:4,8; and 1 Kings 12:28 ................................................. 159
6.3.4.5 Isaiah 43:13 and Deuteronomy 32:39 .................................................................. 161
6.3.4.6 Isaiah 45:2 and Psalm 107:16 .............................................................................. 162
6.3.4.7 Isaiah 48:21, Exodus 17:6, and Psalm 78:15, 20 ................................................. 163
6.3.4.8 Isaiah 49:8 and Psalm 69:14 ................................................................................ 165
6.3.4.9 Isaiah 50:2 and Numbers 11:23 ........................................................................... 167
6.3.4.10 Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 2:1 ................................................................................ 168
6.3.5 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 169
6.4 The Nova Tradução dos Freis Capuchinhos (1992-1998) ............................................... 170
6.4.1 Target Culture Function.............................................................................................. 170
6.4.2 Target Text Coherence ............................................................................................... 172
6.4.3 Coherence Between Source and Target Texts ............................................................ 174
6.4.3.1 Isaiah 40:2 and Leviticus 26:41,43 ...................................................................... 174
6.4.3.2 Isaiah 40:6-8, Psalm 103(102):15-17 ................................................................... 174
6.4.3.3 Isaiah 40:26,28 and Psalm 147(146-147):4. ........................................................ 176
6.4.3.4 Isaiah 42:17; Exodus 32:4,8; and 1 Kings 12:28 ................................................. 178
6.4.3.5 Isaiah 43:13 and Deuteronomy 32:39 .................................................................. 180
6.4.3.6 Isaiah 45:2 and Psalm 107:16 .............................................................................. 181
6.4.3.7 Isaiah 48:21, Exodus 17:6, and Psalm 78(77):15, 20 .......................................... 182
6.4.3.8 Isaiah 49:8 and Psalm 69:14 ................................................................................ 184
6.4.3.9 Isaiah 50:2 and Numbers 11:23 ........................................................................... 185
6.4.3.10 Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 2:1 ................................................................................ 186
6.4.4 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 187
7. Portuguese “Functional Equivalence” Versions ..................................................................... 188
7.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 188
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