Friedrich Schleiermacher “On the Different Methods of Translation”

Inês Barreiros nº158502

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Friedrich Schleiermacher

biography

"On the Different Methods of Translating"

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Interpretation vs Translation

Paraphrase and Imitation

Conclusion

The 2 Methods

Friedrich Schleiermacher

• 21 November 1768 – 12 February 1834;
• German Reformed theologian, philosopher, and biblical scholar;
• Founder of secular hermeneutics;
• "Father of Modern Liberal Theology"
• Leader of German Romanticism.

"On the Different Methods of Translating"

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Essay presented in Prussian Academy of Sciences in 1813.

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Most Important points:

• Interpretation vs translation
• Paraphrase vs Imitation
• 2 methods of translation

Interpretation vs translation

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Interpretation an easy task

• Interpretation is oral translation;
• It's comprehensible to anyone with knowledge of both the matter under discussion and the language;
• Interpreter follows rules and settings within a given specific framework that is not very challenging as compared with translation.

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Translation a more difficult domain

• It's more important as it involves challenging task of not only maintaining spirit of the text but also the spirit of the author.

Paraphrase and Imitation

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Paraphrase is more common in the sciences, while imitation prevails in the arts.

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“Both procedures, however, cannot satisfy that person who, inspired by the value of a foreign masterpiece, wants to communicate its power to those who speak his own language, and who has the stricter concept of translation in mind”. - Friedrich Schleiermacher

Friedrich Schleiermacher

“In my opinion, there are only two (paths). Either the translator leaves the writer alone as much as possible and moves the reader toward the writer, or he leaves the reader alone as much as possible and moves the writer toward the reader”

The 2 Methods

Reader- to- Author (Foreignization)

Author- to- Reader (Domestication )

• Preserves the integrity and authenticity of the source text;

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• Challenges the target audience;

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• Retains elements of the source language and culture in the translated text.

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• No effort and no exertion from reader;

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• Makes the translated text conform to the linguistic and cultural norms of the target language and audience;

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• Makes the translation feel natural and familiar to the target audience, as if it were originally written in the target language.

Schleiermacher fails to refer to any actual translation that can be considered as solution to his own identified problems:

• How to deal with writer and reader approach (two different cultures)?

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• How to present spirit of the language and spirit of the writer?

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Conclusion

Friedrich Schleiermacher's insights into translation transcend his time.

His framework encourages translators to navigate the tension between fidelity to the source text and adaptation for the target audience thoughtfully .

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