Ganesh Devy’s Views on Translation Theory

Ganesh Devy’s Views on Translation Theory

 Name: Nilay N. Rathod

Paper 208: Comparative Literature & Translation Studies

Subject Code: 22415

Batch: M.A. Sem-4 (2021-23)

Roll No: 17

Enrolment No:4069206420210030

Email Address: rathodnilay2017@gmail.com

Submitted to: Department of English, Maharaja

Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Introduction:

In "Translation Theory: An Indian Perspective", GN Devy explores the history of translation in India and its significance for Indian literature. Devy argues that the process of translation has been essential to the development of Indian literature, allowing for the creation of new forms and styles through the adaptation of foreign works (Asaduddin). He emphasizes the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity in India and calls for the recognition of the country's many regional literatures. Devy's work contributes to a growing body of scholarship on translation in India and highlights the role of translation in shaping global literary traditions.

Devy examines the relationship between translation and the evolution of Indian literary history in this article. then He underlines the value of moulding translation as it relates to conserving and promoting Indian literature and the rich linguistic and cultural legacy of India. Devy also talks on the difficulties that translators encounter in keeping the originality, ideas, and essence of the original work while making it understandable to a larger audience. Devy urges for a clearer awareness of the function translation plays in creating cross-cultural understanding and dialogue. He makes the case that translation plays a significant cultural role in doing so.

Western Metaphysics and Translation studies:

The development of Western metaphysics was a major event in the history of thought. It was the exploration of this work which lead to a better understanding of the structure and foundations of knowledge. It is accepted that the origin of this thinking began with the Ancient Greek philosophers and continued through each period to the present day. This then is the main idea that Western metaphysics was developed over time and is constantly evolving.

As a result, it's critical to understand the relationship between Western metaphysics and the ever-changing world, which has important implications for translation. When trying to translate and understand this concept in a different language or culture it is essential to gain an understanding and insight into the metaphysics of the language and culture before translating. By doing this, it enables the translator to become more familiar with the cultural and meanings behind the words being translated. This can offer a more accurate translation, as the translation is more likely to match the original of the text from the original language and culture.

Overall, Western metaphysics and translation are two concepts that are closely intertwined and must be taken into consideration when trying to gain a deep and meaningful understanding of the subtleties of language, thought and culture. The translating text should accurately reflect the metaphysics of the original language and culture in order to gain maximum understanding. The combination of these two aspects helps to improve the success of a translation and ensure that the message is accurately communicated to the intended audience.

Many scholars in the subject of translation theory have discussed the complex phenomenon of translation. The quote "Translation is the wandering existence of a text in permanent exile" by J. Hillis Miller is frequently used as an example to describe the difficulties literary translations encounter. Literary translations are viewed as a fall from the original and are not accorded the same importance as original works since Western aesthetics is based on the philosophical precondition of the fall and exile. The Western individualism and guilt metaphysics are evident in this guilt of translations. GN Devy has talked about the value of translation as a way to open up new literary possibilities from an Indian perspective. According to him, translation is a creative activity that enhances the literary traditions of both the source and the target languages in addition to being a way of communication between languages. (Devy) Therefore, while Western aesthetics sees translation as an exile and fall from the original, Indian perspectives see translation as a creative process that enriches the literary traditions of both the source and target languages. These perspectives show the diversity of thought and understanding of translation across different cultures and traditions.

 

Over the past two centuries, translation has played a pivotal role in disseminating literary movements across linguistic boundaries. One notable example is the Anglo-Irish literary tradition, which has produced renowned writers such as Shaw, Yeats, Joyce, Beckett, and Heaney. This tradition emerged from the practice of translating Irish works into English, initiated by Macpherson in the late eighteenth century (Cronin, 1996). Similarly, Indian English Literature owes its conventions to the translation activities of Indology during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many Anglo-Irish and Indian English writers have also been skilled translators themselves.

In settler colonies like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, modern literary traditions have emerged from the cultural "translation" of settlers adapting to new environments (Ashcroft, Griffiths, & Tiffin, 2002). Post-colonial writing in former Spanish colonies in South America, African colonies, and other regions has alsorecognized the significance of translation as a vital factor for creativity (Bassnett & Trivedi, 1999). The origins of various literary movements and traditions can be traced back to acts of translation.

 

In-depth analysis reveals that translation not only facilitates the exchange of ideas and narratives across cultures but also fosters the development of new literary styles and movements. For instance, translation has enabled cross-cultural fertilization, allowing authors to draw inspiration from foreign literary works and incorporate them into their writing (Gentzler, 2008). Moreover, translation serves as a bridge between different cultural contexts, allowing authors to transcend linguistic barriers and reach a broader audience. This process has led to the growth of global literary traditions, as well as the enrichment of local ones (Venuti, 2008).

 

Transferring meaning from one language to another entails a difficult process called translation. However, monolingual data and contexts have served as the foundation for most linguistic developments that have examined the relationship between meaning and structure, making them unsuitable for comprehending translation action (Pan and Zhang). Even the revolutionary theory of structural linguistics falls short of explaining the complexities of translation. Roman Jakobson proposed three categories for translations in his essay on the linguistics of translation: 1. translations from one verbal order to another within the same language system,

2. translations from one language system to another language system,

3. and translations from a verbal order to another system of signs (Munday). Jakobson asserts that a complete semantic equivalence as the final objective of a translation act is not possible, which renders poetry untranslatable. He maintains that only a 'creative translation' is possible, a view supported by formalistic poetics, which considers every act of creation as a completely unique event.

On the other side, historical linguistics provides helpful foundations for explaining linguistic changes, such as the idea of semantic distinction and phonetic glides. While though semantic divergence accounts for most linguistic variations within a single language, they also clearly display phonetic glides. Yet, when a new language emerges, the severity of such glides becomes more obvious. In other words, there are usually phonological variations between two closely related languages, thus synonymy within a single language cannot be conceptually the same as synonymy between two languages. However, it is feasible to consider synonymy between two related languages (Marais). Translating meaning from one language to another includes translating words, which is a challenging undertaking. Although linguistic advancements have aided in our understanding of translation activity, they are insufficient because they are primarily based on monolingual data. While it is challenging to obtain synonymy between two different languages, it is conceivable to consider it between two related languages. Historical linguistics provides useful grounds for explaining linguistic developments.

The concept "translating awareness" describes how some cultures in Third World nations are able to communicate fluently in a variety of languages, understanding them as a continuum of signs and meanings rather than as discrete, independent systems. Communities try to preserve their linguistic and cultural identities; therefore this phenomenon is especially noticeable in nations where a colonial language has attained privileged status (Devy). The existence of translating consciousness and communities with this ability is a reality, particularly in Third World countries where colonial languages hold privilege. In India, several languages are used simultaneously by language communities creating a continuous spectrum of signification. The prevalent theories on foreign-language acquisition based on chronological gaps and value-based indicators fail to capture the natural multilingualism present in countries like India. Chomsky's semantic universals work within the limits of monolingual Saussurean linguistic materialism, but in actual practice, translating consciousness treats source and target languages as parts of a larger continuous spectrum. Structuralists' unwillingness to acknowledge any non-systemic or extra-systemic significance has limited their ability to explain synonymy in translation activity. A linguistic theory based on multilingual perspective or translation practice could bring clarity to this area.

In addition to being a language issue, translation is also an artistic and ideological one that is directly tied to the issue of literary history. Literary translation involves more than just translating a text; it also entails translating an ordered sub-system of signs from one language into another, corresponding ordered sub-system of signs from a related language. Translation, then, is an effort to revive the original in a different language arrangement and chronological context. The original work continues to exist in its original position once the translation process is complete; there is no transposition of significance or indications. While origins and sequentially play a role in both literary history and translation study's issues, they are comparable. Yet, neither field has successfully addressed the issue of origin. As translation has been crucial to the formation of contemporary Indian literatures, literary societies with a "translating consciousness" may have a different perspective on the subject of the beginnings of literary traditions (Nida).

 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, translation has been instrumental in shaping literary movements and traditions over the past two centuries. By enabling the exchange of ideas and narratives across linguistic borders, translation has fostered creativity and innovation in literature, contributing to the development of rich and diverse literary traditions around the world. As a crucial condition for creativity, translation has not only allowed authors to adapt and draw inspiration from foreign works but also facilitated the growth of global literary traditions and the enrichment of local ones. By connecting different cultural contexts and bridging linguistic barriers, translation continues to play a vital role in the evolution of literature and the dissemination of literary movements across the globe (Baker, 2018). According to Indian metaphysics, the soul migrates from one body to another and repeated birth is the substance of all animate creations. Significance, including literary significance, is ahistorical in Indian view, as it is not subject to the laws of temporality. Therefore, Indian literary theory does not place undue emphasis on originality, as elements of plot, stories, and characters can be used repeatedly by new generations of writers. The true test of literary excellence lies in the writer's ability to transform, translate, restate, and revitalize the original. Thus, Indian literary traditions are essentially traditions of translation, emphasizing the importance of the creative process over originality. By alluding to Indian metaphysics, we can gain a new perspective on the significance of translation and its role in literary traditions.

Works Cited:

Asaduddin, M. Translation and Indian Literature: Some Reflections.

Ashcroft, Bill, et al. The Empire Writes Back: Theory and Practice in Post-Colonial Literatures. Routledge, 2003.

Baker, Mona. Translation and Conflict: A Narrative Account. Routledge, 2018.

Bassnett, Susan, and Harish Trivedi. Post-Colonial Translation: Theory and Practice. Psychology Press, 1999.

Cronin, Michael. Translating Ireland: Translation, Languages, Cultures. Cork University Press, 1996.

Devy, Ganesh. “Translation and Literary History: An Indian View.” Postcolonial Translation, Routledge, 1998.

Gentzler, Edwin. Translation and Identity in the Americas: New Directions in Translation Theory. Routledge, 2008.

Marais, Kobus. “Introduction: Translation and Development.” The Translator, vol. 24, no. 4, Oct. 2018, pp. 295–300. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/13556509.2019.1602306.

Munday, Jeremy. “Theories of Translation.” The Cambridge Handbook of Translation, edited by Kirsten Malmkjær, Cambridge University Press, 2022, pp. 13–33. Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108616119.002.

Nida, Eugene. “Linguistics and Ethnology in Translation-Problems.” WORD, vol. 1, no. 2, Aug. 1945, pp. 194–208. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/00437956.1945.11659254.

Pan, Hanting, and Meifang Zhang. “Translation and Linguistics.” The Cambridge Handbook of Translation, edited by Kirsten Malmkjær, Cambridge University Press, 2022, pp. 238–57. Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108616119.013.

Venuti, Lawrence. The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation. Routledge, 2017. 

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