Question 1

In Western translation theory, what was the contribution of Cicero?&#10;A) He consolidated the word-for-word translation method popular in Ancient Rome&#10;B) He translated the speeches of Greek orators in a word-for-word fashion&#10;C) He translated the speeches of Greek orators through creative imitation

Accepted Answer

Cicero contributed to Western translation theory through his concept of "imitatio" which involved a creative imitation of the original text rather than a strict word-for-word translation. This approach emphasized the importance of capturing the style, tone, and overall artistic quality of the original work.

Question 2

In Western translation theory, what translation method did St Jerome say he was using?&#10;A) He preferred word-for-word over sense-for-sense translation&#10;B) He preferred sense-for-sense over word-for-word translation&#10;C) He preferred sense-for-sense over word-for-word translation except in the translation of the Bible

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

In Dao'an's writing about the translation of the Buddhist sutras into Chinese, which of the following does he note as difficulties?&#10;A) Directing the message to a new audience&#10;B) Changing the purpose of the text&#10;C) The special status of the source text

Accepted Answer

Dao'an notes that one of the difficulties of translating the Buddhist sutras into Chinese is directing the message to a new audience with different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Additionally, he acknowledges the special status of the source text in its original language and the difficulties inherent in translating its complex and nuanced meanings. Therefore, options A and C are both correct. There is no mention of changing the purpose of the text as a difficulty, making option B incorrect.

Question 4

What was a key difficulty for the Arab translators of Greek scientific texts in the Abb&#196;&#129;sid period?&#10;A) To ascertain the truth of the source texts&#10;B) Whether to translate, borrow or explain technical terms&#10;C) To ensure stylistic consistency across translations

Accepted Answer

Arab translators faced a key difficulty in deciding whether to translate, borrow, or explain technical terms from the Greek scientific texts. They had to choose the appropriate and understandable Arabic words for the terms, which often required immense scholarly expertise and creativity.

Question 5

What was the importance of the translation method of Martin Luther?&#10;A) He interspersed German with Latin and thereby raised the profile of German&#10;B) He translated into everyday German and thereby helped to strengthen the German language.&#10;C) He translated into a highly formal German and thereby helped to strengthen the German language

Accepted Answer

Martin Luther's translation of the Bible into everyday German, known as Lutherbibel, was an important factor in the development of the German language. It helped to standardize German and make it a language of learning and literature, as well as strengthening the sense of German national identity. This translation also helped to spread Protestantism and played a significant role in the Reformation.

Question 6

Dryden proposed three methods of translation. Which corresponds to literal or word-for-word translation?&#10;A) Metaphrase&#10;B) Paraphrase&#10;C) Imitation

Accepted Answer

Metaphrase corresponds to literal or word-for-word translation, where the translator tries to adhere as closely as possible to the original language, sometimes at the expense of fluency and ease of reading in the target language. B) Paraphrase involves expressing the meaning of the original text in a more natural and fluent manner in the target language, while C) Imitation is a type of translation where the translator tries to capture the style, tone, and even cultural references of the original text in the target language, often using creative liberty.

Question 7

Which of the following is the most important of Tytler's 'laws' of translation?&#10;A) Accuracy to the source text content&#10;B) Preservation of the author's way of writing&#10;C) Naturalness of target language expression

Accepted Answer

Accuracy to the source text content is the most important of Tytler's 'laws' of translation because it ensures that the meaning of the original text is conveyed accurately in the target language.

Question 8

Which of the three translation principles of Yan Fu refers to elegance/gracefulness?&#10;A) d&#225;&#10;B) x&#236;n&#10;C) y&#196;&#402;

Accepted Answer

Yan Fu's translation principle of "yǎ" (雅) refers to elegance or gracefulness in translation, emphasizing the aesthetic aspect of the translated text.

Question 9

What is Schleiermacher's preferred translation strategy?&#10;A) To move the reader towards the writer&#10;B) To move the writer towards the reader&#10;C) To find a balance between writer and reader

Accepted Answer

Schleiermacher's preferred translation strategy is to move the reader towards the writer, meaning the translation should bring the reader into the cultural and linguistic context of the original text, rather than adapting the text to fit the reader's context.

Deck 2: Translation Theory Before the Twentieth Century