Once a text is read and subconsciously interpreted, it becomes a perceived reality.
What is it that makes a text a text, though? What distinguishes a string of syllables, words, and sentences from a meaningful text?
Turning to research, any text has to meet seven standards of textuality in order to fulfil its function.
It is not only translators who adhere to these standards. It is, however, beneficial to remind oneself of what they are.
- Cohesion – concerns the way in which the actual words are connected within a sequence of a text. Cohesion defines the general readability of a text.
- Coherence – concerns the way in which the underlying concepts and relations of a text are mutually accessible and relevant. Coherence defines the general accessibility of a text.
- Intentionality – determines whether the text fulfils the author’s intention. Does the author have an intention and a target reader in mind. Is the purpose of the text made clear enough?
- Acceptability – determines whether the text has relevance for the target audience. I.e., even though the text may have a value in- and for itself, it may be completely irrelevant and even useless for the target audience. A text will be successful if the reader’s expectations are met in terms of culture, conventions, etc.
- Informativity – relates to whether the text is expected or unexpected, known or unknown, explicit or implicit in the way it conveys information to the target readership.
- Situationality – relates to the situation within which the text was produced. Ignoring the context or not re-presenting the situation in which it was created can cause misinterpretation or misunderstanding.
- Intertextuality – relates to the fact that texts often require knowledge of previous texts to which they relate implicitly or explicitly.
When the requirements for efficiency, effectiveness, and appropriateness have been met, it is now time to polish it smoothly both in the source and target language. Welcome to the next level!
0 Comments