| Author: | Zhang, Gao |
| Title: | Primings and translations: keyword analysis from a corpus-driven approach |
| Advisors: | Li, Dechao (CBS) |
| Degree: | DALS |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Subject: | Translating and interpreting Lexicology Discourse analysis Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Faculty of Humanities |
| Pages: | iv, 136 pages |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The study investigates a group of four keywords (i.e.慰问, 问题, 可以, 其实) and their translations by situating their patterns of use within lexical priming theory (Hoey, 2005). It reviews the relevant literature on lexical priming and the bilingual mental lexicon and proposes an integrated framework for operationalizing lexical priming theory in the analysis and interpretation of data from a corpus-driven approach. The study draws on the experimental data from Tang's (2014) study and the observational data of a self-built interpreting corpus, collected from the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LegCo). The word 慰问, selected from the experimental data, and 问题, 可以, and 其实, selected from the observational data, are analyzed closely following the proposed framework. Two general corpora from the TenTen corpus family are also used for the investigation of these words' priming effects. Some specific patterns are found for each keyword. The polysemy of 慰问 is found to be the main reason for the high rate of failure in translating it. The analysis of 问题 shows that it can be translated as question, problem, or issue depending on the semantic or pragmatic priming triggered in the source speech. The translations of 问题 also show that LegCo interpreters tend to use expressions primed with formality rather than ones primed with informality. The word 可以 is most often (41%) translated as can, which substantially overlaps with 可以 in priming and collocation. In some contexts that specifically indicate a time or a commanding voice, the word 可以 is translated as could, will, or should. It is also found that may is consistently used when 可以 occurs in a speech given by the president of the council. The interpreters are conscious of the textual and social contexts and tend to choose a word that is primed to associate with such contexts, be they textual or social. The analysis of 其实 shows a direct correspondence for it in only a small proportion (18%) of translations. It is only when the word is used in its literal meaning, deviating from its established primings, that it is translated as actually or in fact. Omissions of the three keywords, which are also analyzed, show consistent patterns. It is found that the stronger the weighting of a collocate, the more likely it is that it will be retained in the translation. In contrast, the weaker the priming, the more likely it is that only a part of the collocate will be retained. Furthermore, priming conflict and nesting, and the priming of being a discourse marker, are all found to be relevant to omission. Overall, the findings regarding all four words show that interpreters tend to seek a translation that is similar to the source speech in terms of priming. This similarity can be found in different types of priming, including collocates, semantic or pragmatic associations, colligations, textual collocations, textual semantic associations, and textual colligations. The study concludes by discussing its methodological and theoretical implications and the potential for applying lexical priming theory to the different branches of translation studies and interpreting studies. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5271.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.41 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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