左哈尔的Polysystem_Theory(多元系统理论)

1、Chapter 5Polysystem TheoryIntroduction of Itamar Even-ZoharProfessor Emeritus of Culture Research, of University of Tel AvivCultural theorist, not a translation theorist. One of forerunners of translation studiesItamar Even-Zohar(Picture taken 1993,Santiago de Compostela)Command a working knowledge

2、of : Hebrew (mother tongue), Arabic, English, French, Swedish, Spanish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian, Russian, German, Icelandic, and a few other languages. System PolysystemSystem:lThis concept is introduced by Tynjanov.lElements, Tynjanov argued, do not exist in isolation, but always in an interrela

3、tionship with other elements of other systems. systemsLiterary structureSemi-literary structureExtraliterary structureinterrelateddecidingSpecific element functionSystem PolysystemEven-Zohar adopted Tynjanovs concept of system. He developed the polysystem hypothesis while working on a model for Isra

4、eli Hebrew literature. In a series of papers written from 1970 to 1977 and collected in 1978 as “Papers in Historical Poetics”历史诗学论文集历史诗学论文集, he first introduced the term “polysystem” to refer to the entire network of correlated system within society. Thus it is a global term covering all of the lit

5、erary system, both major and minor existing in a given culture.PolysystemLiterary SystemExtraliterary SystemCanonized formNon-canonized formesteemed discourses and genres:Poetryless worthy genres:Childrens literaturePopular fictionPatronageSocial conditionsEconomicsInstitutional manipulation He is n

6、ot specifically a translation theorist, but a cultural theorist. But his pioneering work continues to exert considerable influence on translation, particularly when studying translation in emerging cultures or cultures in crisis. His thinking about translations led him to some of the most provocativ

7、e hypotheses about literary system.Polysytem with translation theories “It is necessary to include translated literature in the polysystem. This is rarely done, but no observer of the history of any literature can avoid recognizing as an important fact the impact of translations and their role in th

8、e synchrony and diachrony of a certain literature”. (Even-Zohar, 1978) Just as the philosopher Chomsky uses linguistics to study how the human brain function in his philosophy, Even-Zohar regards translated literature as an effective way to study how the polysystem pose effect on translated literatu

9、re. He believes through the analysis of the relationship of translated to original literary works, he could arrive at a better understanding of the nature of polysystem.Polysytem with translation theoriesPolysystem theory Even-Zohar incorporated the data collected from his observations on how transl

10、ations function in various societies. He developed an approach ”Polysystem theory” to explain the function of all kinds of writing within a given culture. His data showed that translated literature functions differently depending upon the age, strength, and stability of the particular literary polys

11、ystem.Polysystem determines the polysystem theory Even-Zohar explored the relationship between the translated texts and the literary polysystem in three aspects:1. Reclassifications of the position of translation within varying cultural systems.2. How texts to be translated are selected by the recei

12、ving culture.3. How translated texts adopt certain norms and functions as a result of their relation to other target language system.Reclassification Previous classification:All the translations were invariably classified as secondary system. The literary translation was considered secondary activit

13、y, mechanical, rather than creative, neither worthy of serious critical attention. Even-Zohar argued: It depends! Not all polysystems are the same. Such classification was inaccurate.Polysystems of larger, older culturesAnglo-American& FrenchLength and self-sufficiency of their traditionsRelegate tr

14、anslated literature to the margins of societySecondary systemReason: Have All！Well-developed literary traditionsMany different kinds of writingOriginal writing produces innovations in ideas and forms independent of translation In this historical situation, translation often (but not necessarily alwa

15、ys) assumes forms already established as a dominant type within a particular genre, and the translated literature tends to remain fairly conservative, adhering to norms which the “higher” forms have already rejected. Interestingly, despite playing a secondary role, translations produced under these

16、circumstances may paradoxically introduce new ideas into a culture while at the same time preserving traditional forms.Polysytem of younger or smaller nationsIsrael & the Low CountriesThe translated literature played a more central roleReason: To learn All！拿来主义拿来主义Three circumstances:Maintaining a p

17、rimary position 1. When a literature is young, or in the process of being established.i.e. Israel; Czech in 19th ；我国清末明初；我国清末明初Translation fulfills the need of a young literature to use its new language for as many different kinds of writing as possible. Since it cannot create all forms and genres,

18、translated texts may serve as the most important for a certain amount time.Three circumstances:Maintaining a primary position 2. When a literature is “peropheral”, or “weak” or both.i.e. Israel; the Low Countries；我国文革期间；我国文革期间They cannot produce all the kinds of writing a stronger, larger system can

19、thus its inability to produce innovations and subsequent dependency upon translation to introduce precedent-setting texts. In such circumstances, translated texts serve not only as a medium through which new ideas can be imported, but also as the form of writing most frequently imitated by “creative

20、” writers in the native language.Three circumstances:Maintaining a primary position 3. When a literature is experiencing a “crisis”, or turning point.i.e. North American in the 60s; 五四前后五四前后,文革后文革后Established literary models no longer stimulate the new generation of writers who then turn elsewhere f

21、or ideas and forms.Why Israel attaches so much importance to translated literature?Geographical crossroadIsraelIntellectual contactsSocial forcemultilingualismreligioneconomyWestern cultureDiplomatic forceMajor literatureexiles“Third World ”cultureCanon literarySocial crossroadHistorical forceGlobal

22、ization of “Israelis situation”The above situation is not only the Israel was in, but also all the nations on the earth are in. As the globalizations in commerce, culture and other aspects, no nation is an island. All the countries are at the crossroads, all are the center, and all are exposed to th

23、e poly-interactions. So highlight the importance of translation is crucial.The future of the world may depend upon the accurate translation of one word. -Pall EngleTo understand ones past, ones identity, an understanding of translation in and of itself is crucial; translation ceases to be an elite i

24、ntellectual “game”, a footnote to literary scholarship, but becomes fundamental to the lives and livelihood of everyone in the entire region (and maybe the world). -Edwin Gentzler 我国学者张南峰先生对“多元系统理论”在翻译学的建立方面所产生的影响也给予了极高的评价，认为：“在西方，令翻译研究取得学科地位并走到学术研究系统中心的，是多元系统理论以及其他文化学派的翻译理论和研究模式”。 In summary, Even-

25、Zohar recognized both the “primary ”(creating new items and models) as well “secondary” (reinforcing items and models) importance of translated literature in literary history.Classification of the position of translation within caring cultural systemsHow translated texts adopt certain norms and func

26、tions as a result of their relation to other target language systems.（翻译规范行为策略都是如何受其他相关系统影响的）（翻译规范行为策略都是如何受其他相关系统影响的）translated literature is itself a system with primary and secondary positions occupied by different texts. Translation strategies depend on the position of translated literature withi

27、n the polysystem.Translated literature resumes:A primary position:Function: To introduce “new” to the receiving cultureResults:1.translators feel freer to break the literature conventions of the receiving language; 2.Translated texts closely reproduce the original texts forms and textual relations.

28、Translated text is often a more “adequate” match of the source text which may in turn lead to innovations to the recieving culture.译本更接近原著Translated literature resumes:A second position:Function: To find ready-made models in the receiving culture.Results:1.translators will stick to receiving culture

29、s conventional models and they will confrom the original form in the source texts to pre-established norms in the receiving culture. 2.Translated texts may revise or change the original texts forms and textual relations. Translated text will show lower degree of adequacy of the source text.译本与原著差异较大

30、 Primary adequate source Introducing new work into receiving culture19th century Anglo-American translations Secondarynon- adequate sourceFinding ready-made models at the expense of the originalCertain modern translations (Nidas Bible translation) The position of translation influence on translation

31、 normsComments on PolysystemAdvantages: Even-Zohars polysystem theory demonstrates an advance in the development of translation studies specifically and translation theory in general. It is the integration the study of literature with the study of social and economic forces of history.Comments on Po

32、lysystemAdvantages: 1. His attention and thought given to the role of translation within a literary system , is traditionally ignored by literary theorists. 2. By expanding frequently on linguistic models or undeveloped literary theories, and embedding translated literature into a larger cultural context. 3. Even-Zohar opened the way for translation theory to advance beyond prescriptive aesthetics.Comments on PolysystemProblems: 1. His work and hypnoses focused primarily upon the literary, the extraliterary was significantly absent from his analysis. 2. His tendency to overge