Experiences in Translation

Ronald R. Henry is director of the School of Translators and
Interpreters at Laurentian University.

This is not a handbook of systematic exposition on translation method.
Based primarily on a series of lectures given at the University of
Toronto in the fall of 1998, Eco discusses a series of translation
experiences followed by theoretical considerations on the art.

In the first part, the examples revolve around the concept of good
“faithful” translation as opposed to the poor “literal” kind.
The preference is for the communication of sense and effect rather than
translating words, since there are no true synonyms in the same language
let alone from one language to another. especially since translation is
a transmutation “not between two languages, but between two
cultures.” Sense and effect are also shown to relate to, among other
things, connotation, age of the text, rhythm, compensating for losses,
and rewriting with an eye to culture, time, and place. But is this still
translation?

That question leads to the second part of the book, the theoretical
considerations. This section begins with a review of Jakobson’s
reading of Peirce and leads to Eco’s elaboration on translation
(intralinguistic, extralinguistic, and intersemiotic) as acts of
interpretation. He then recapitulates his assertion that Jakobson shows
how interpretation of a semiotic item needs “to translate” into
another. In subsequent brief developments, Eco usefully differentiates
between translation and transcription of codes. For example, Morse
allows no freedom in interpretation. He further points out the
limitations of summary as interpretation, revisits the issue of same
effect as aesthetic effect, and attempts to classify and redefine
interpretation, translation, and transmutation. Now, if you have not yet
caught several glimpses of him, the semiotician flourishes. He departs
from translation into varieties of interpretation and the passage into
forms of expression other than language with a passion. He is at his
best here, away from his weaker, often elementary, ostentatiously
learned examples relating to literal translation and polysemia. Although
he knows there can be only one appropriate sense in a context adequately
referring to a given situation, he repetitively blurs the issue by
citing as many meanings for words out of context as possible.

Not exactly revelation, but he does offer an interesting, albeit
summary classification, of forms of interpretation that includes
translation of natural languages.