Text complexity as an indicator of translational style
A case study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/lhs.35709Keywords:
text complexity, translational style, systemic functional linguistics, the Platform SutraAbstract
This paper is to explore the applicability of the concept of text complexity within systemic functional linguistics to the analysis of translational stylistics. Text complexity is measured in terms of grammatical intricacy and lexical density. The case study concerns four English translations of the Platform Sutra, which is itself a composite text consisting of the Chan master Huineng's personal narrative, public sermons, ritual instruction and conversations with students. Text complexity of the four translations is analysed both intertextually and intratextually. Intertextually, degrees of text complexity of Huineng's words in different translations are compared; intratextually, the variation of text complexity of Huineng's words in different registers within one translation is investigated. Differences among translations are interpreted in terms of the translating purposes and strategies, as well as the translator's attention to the inherent heterogeneity of the source text.
References
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Bielefeldt, C. and Lancaster, L. (1975). T’an Ching (Platform Scripture). Philosophy East and West 25 (2): 197–212. https://doi.org/10.2307/1397941
Castello, E. (2002). Tourist Information Texts: A Corpus-based Study of Four Related Genres. Padova: Unipress.
Castello, E. (2008). Text Complexity and Reading Comprehension Tests. London: Peter Lang.
Cheng, K. (2011). The Dharmic Treasure Altar-Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. Taipei: Vairocana Pulishing Co., Ltd.
Cleary, T. (1998). The Sutra of Hui-neng, Grand Master of Zen: With Hui-neng’s Commentary on the Diomand Sutra. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications.
Eggins, S. (1994). An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics. London: Pinter Publishers.
Fang, Z. (2006). The language demands of science reading in Middle School. International Journal of Science Education 28 (5): 491–520. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690500339092
Fang, Z. (2016). Text complexity in the US Common Core State Standards: A linguistic critique. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy 39 (3): 195–206.
Goatly, A. (2008). Explorations in Stylistics. London: Equinox.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1971). Linguistic function and literary style: An inquiry into the language of William Golding’s The Inheritors. In S. Chatman (Ed.) Literary Style: A Symposium, 330–368. London and New York: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1989). Spoken and Written Language. Melbourne: Deakin University.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994). Spoken and written modes of meaning. In D. Graddol and O. Boyd-Barrett (Eds) Media Texts, Authors and Readers: A Reader, 51–73. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2002). On grammar. In J. J. Webster (Ed.) The Collected Works of M. A. K. Halliday, Volume 1, 158–172. London and New York: Continuum.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2003). Some grammatical problems in scientific English. In M. A. K. Halliday and J. R. Martin (Eds) Writing Science: Literacy and Discursive Power, 76–94. London: Taylor and Francis.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2009). Methods-techniques-problems. In M. A. K. Halliday and J. J. Webster (Eds) Continuum Companion to Systemic Functional Linguistics, 59–86. London: Continuum.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2013). Meaning as choice. In L. Fontaine, T. Bartlett, and G. O’Grady (Eds) Sytemic Functional Linguistics: Exploring Choice, 15–36. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139583077.003
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Hatim, B. and Mason, I. (1990). Discourse and the Translator. London: Longman.
Heng, Y. (1977). The Sixth Patriarch’s Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra. Boston, MA: Buddhist Text Translation Society.
Humphreys, C. (1973). Forward to new edition. In C. Humphreys and Mou-lam Wong (trans.) The Sutra of Wei Lang (or Hui Neng), 5–7. New York: Hyperion Press.
Izquierdo, I. G., and Borillo, J. M. (2000). The degree of grammatical complexity in literary texts as a translation problem. In A. Beeby, D. Ensinger, and M. Presas (Eds) Investigating Translation: Selected Papers from the 4th International Congress on Translation, 65–76. London: John Benjamins Publishing.
Ji, Y. and Shen, D. (2004). Transitivity and mental transformation: Sheila Watson’s The Double Hook. Language and Literature 13 (4): 335–348. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963947004046284
Jorgensen, J. (2012). The figure of Huineng. In M. Schlutter and S. F. Teiser (Eds) Readings of the Platform Sutra, 25–52. New York: Columbia University Press.
Kennedy, C. (1982). Systemic grammar and its use in literary analysis. In R. Carter (Ed.) Language and Literature, 83–100. London: Allen & Uniwin.
Lassen, I. (2003). Accessibility and Acceptability in Technical Manuals: A Survey of Style and Grammatical Metaphor. London: John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/ddcs.4
Lin, B. (2015). Functional stylisitics. In V. Sotirova (Ed.) The Bloomsbury Companion to Stylistics, 57–77. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Low, S. (2010). A Preliminary Study of Liuzu Tanjing: With a Focus on Cheng Kuan’s Version. (MA), Taipei: National Taiwan Normal University.
Malmkjær, K. (2003). What happened to God and the angels: An exercise in translational stylistics. Target 15 (1): 37–58. https://doi.org/10.1075/target.15.1.03mal
Marco, J. (2000). Register analysis in literary translation: A functional approach. Babel 46 (1): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.46.1.02bor
Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (1995). Lexicogrammatical Cartography: English Systems. Tokyo: International Language Sciences Publishers.
Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2002). Combining clauses into clause complexes: A multi-faceted view. In J. Bybee and M. Noonan (Eds) Complex Sentences in Grammar and Discourse: Essays in Honor of Sandra A. Thompson, 235–319. London: John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/z.110.13mat
Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2015). Register in the round: Registerial cartography. Functional Linguistics 2 (9): 1–48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40554-015-0015-8
Merlini Barbaresi, L. (2003). Complexity in Language and Text. Pisa: Edizioni Plus (Università di Pisa).
Montin, E. (2002). The Grammar of Scientific English: A Corpus-based Analysis of Lexical Density and Grammatical Intricacy. (Undergraduate), Padua: University of Padua.
Muller, C. (2006). A Korean contribution to the Zen canon. In S. Heine and D. S. Wright (Eds) Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism, 43–64. Oxford University Press.
Nørgaard, N. (2003). Systemic Functional Linguistics and Literary Analysis: A Hallidayan Approach to Joyce – A Joycean Approach to Halliday. Odense: University Press of Southern Denmark.
Sauro, S. and B. Smith. (2010). Investigating L2 Performance in Text Chat. Applied linguistics 31 (4): 554–577. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amq007
Simpson, P. (1993). Language, Ideology and Point of View. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203312612
Toolan, M. J. (1988). Narrative: A Critical Linguistic Introduction. London: Routledge.
Ure, J. (1971). Lexical density and register differentiation. In G. E. Perren and J. L. M. Trim (Eds) Applications of Linguistics: Selected Papers of the Second International Congress of Applied Linguistics, 443–452. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wong, M. (1930). Sutra Spoken by the Sixth Patriarch, Wei Lang, on the High Seat of the Gem of Law (Message from the East). Shanghai: Yu Ching Press.
Wu, C. (2000). Modelling Linguistic Resources: A Systemic Functional Approach. (PhD), Sydney: Macquarie University.
Wu, C. (2009). Corpus-based research. In M. A. K. Halliday and J. J. Webster (Eds) Continuum Companion to Systemic Functional Linguistics, 128–142. London: Continuum.
Yampolsky, P. B. (1967). The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch: The Text of the Tun-Huang Manuscript with Translation, Introduction, and Notes. New York: Columbia University Press.
Yampolsky, P. B. (2011). The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. In W. T. de Bary (Ed.) Finding Wisdom in East Asian Classics, 128–135. New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/columbia/9780231153973.003.0010
Yu, H. (2017). How should Huineng speak: Text complexity in translations of the Platform Sutra. New Voices in Translation Studies 16, 1–22.
Yu, H. (2016). Recreating the image of Chan Master Huineng: Roles of MOOD and MODALITY. Functional Linguistics 3 (1): 1–20.
Yu, H. (2017). Recreating the image of Chan Master Huineng: The role of personal pronouns. Target 29 (1), 61–84.
Baur, L. (1998). Loni Baur-Life as Service: From Buddhist Nun to Ukiah Attorney. 24 October, 2017. Retrieved from http://creation-designs.com/gracemillennium/sojourn/Fall97/html/l_baur.html
Biber, D. (1988). Variation across Speech and Writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511621024
Biber, D. (1992). On the complexity of discourse complexity: A multidimensional analysis. Discourse Processes 15 (2): 133–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/01638539209544806
Bielefeldt, C. and Lancaster, L. (1975). T’an Ching (Platform Scripture). Philosophy East and West 25 (2): 197–212. https://doi.org/10.2307/1397941
Castello, E. (2002). Tourist Information Texts: A Corpus-based Study of Four Related Genres. Padova: Unipress.
Castello, E. (2008). Text Complexity and Reading Comprehension Tests. London: Peter Lang.
Cheng, K. (2011). The Dharmic Treasure Altar-Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. Taipei: Vairocana Pulishing Co., Ltd.
Cleary, T. (1998). The Sutra of Hui-neng, Grand Master of Zen: With Hui-neng’s Commentary on the Diomand Sutra. Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications.
Eggins, S. (1994). An Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics. London: Pinter Publishers.
Fang, Z. (2006). The language demands of science reading in Middle School. International Journal of Science Education 28 (5): 491–520. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690500339092
Fang, Z. (2016). Text complexity in the US Common Core State Standards: A linguistic critique. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy 39 (3): 195–206.
Goatly, A. (2008). Explorations in Stylistics. London: Equinox.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1971). Linguistic function and literary style: An inquiry into the language of William Golding’s The Inheritors. In S. Chatman (Ed.) Literary Style: A Symposium, 330–368. London and New York: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1989). Spoken and Written Language. Melbourne: Deakin University.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994). Spoken and written modes of meaning. In D. Graddol and O. Boyd-Barrett (Eds) Media Texts, Authors and Readers: A Reader, 51–73. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2002). On grammar. In J. J. Webster (Ed.) The Collected Works of M. A. K. Halliday, Volume 1, 158–172. London and New York: Continuum.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2003). Some grammatical problems in scientific English. In M. A. K. Halliday and J. R. Martin (Eds) Writing Science: Literacy and Discursive Power, 76–94. London: Taylor and Francis.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2009). Methods-techniques-problems. In M. A. K. Halliday and J. J. Webster (Eds) Continuum Companion to Systemic Functional Linguistics, 59–86. London: Continuum.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2013). Meaning as choice. In L. Fontaine, T. Bartlett, and G. O’Grady (Eds) Sytemic Functional Linguistics: Exploring Choice, 15–36. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139583077.003
Halliday, M. A. K. and Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2014). Halliday’s Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203783771
Hasan, R. (1987). The grammarian’s dream: Lexis as most delicate grammar. In M. A. K. Halliday and R. P. Fawcett (Eds) New Developments in Systemic Linguistics: Theory and Description, 184–211. London: Pinter.
Hatim, B. and Mason, I. (1990). Discourse and the Translator. London: Longman.
Heng, Y. (1977). The Sixth Patriarch’s Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra. Boston, MA: Buddhist Text Translation Society.
Humphreys, C. (1973). Forward to new edition. In C. Humphreys and Mou-lam Wong (trans.) The Sutra of Wei Lang (or Hui Neng), 5–7. New York: Hyperion Press.
Izquierdo, I. G., and Borillo, J. M. (2000). The degree of grammatical complexity in literary texts as a translation problem. In A. Beeby, D. Ensinger, and M. Presas (Eds) Investigating Translation: Selected Papers from the 4th International Congress on Translation, 65–76. London: John Benjamins Publishing.
Ji, Y. and Shen, D. (2004). Transitivity and mental transformation: Sheila Watson’s The Double Hook. Language and Literature 13 (4): 335–348. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963947004046284
Jorgensen, J. (2012). The figure of Huineng. In M. Schlutter and S. F. Teiser (Eds) Readings of the Platform Sutra, 25–52. New York: Columbia University Press.
Kennedy, C. (1982). Systemic grammar and its use in literary analysis. In R. Carter (Ed.) Language and Literature, 83–100. London: Allen & Uniwin.
Lassen, I. (2003). Accessibility and Acceptability in Technical Manuals: A Survey of Style and Grammatical Metaphor. London: John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/ddcs.4
Lin, B. (2015). Functional stylisitics. In V. Sotirova (Ed.) The Bloomsbury Companion to Stylistics, 57–77. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Low, S. (2010). A Preliminary Study of Liuzu Tanjing: With a Focus on Cheng Kuan’s Version. (MA), Taipei: National Taiwan Normal University.
Malmkjær, K. (2003). What happened to God and the angels: An exercise in translational stylistics. Target 15 (1): 37–58. https://doi.org/10.1075/target.15.1.03mal
Marco, J. (2000). Register analysis in literary translation: A functional approach. Babel 46 (1): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.46.1.02bor
Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (1995). Lexicogrammatical Cartography: English Systems. Tokyo: International Language Sciences Publishers.
Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2002). Combining clauses into clause complexes: A multi-faceted view. In J. Bybee and M. Noonan (Eds) Complex Sentences in Grammar and Discourse: Essays in Honor of Sandra A. Thompson, 235–319. London: John Benjamins. https://doi.org/10.1075/z.110.13mat
Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2015). Register in the round: Registerial cartography. Functional Linguistics 2 (9): 1–48. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40554-015-0015-8
Merlini Barbaresi, L. (2003). Complexity in Language and Text. Pisa: Edizioni Plus (Università di Pisa).
Montin, E. (2002). The Grammar of Scientific English: A Corpus-based Analysis of Lexical Density and Grammatical Intricacy. (Undergraduate), Padua: University of Padua.
Muller, C. (2006). A Korean contribution to the Zen canon. In S. Heine and D. S. Wright (Eds) Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism, 43–64. Oxford University Press.
Nørgaard, N. (2003). Systemic Functional Linguistics and Literary Analysis: A Hallidayan Approach to Joyce – A Joycean Approach to Halliday. Odense: University Press of Southern Denmark.
Sauro, S. and B. Smith. (2010). Investigating L2 Performance in Text Chat. Applied linguistics 31 (4): 554–577. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amq007
Simpson, P. (1993). Language, Ideology and Point of View. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203312612
Toolan, M. J. (1988). Narrative: A Critical Linguistic Introduction. London: Routledge.
Ure, J. (1971). Lexical density and register differentiation. In G. E. Perren and J. L. M. Trim (Eds) Applications of Linguistics: Selected Papers of the Second International Congress of Applied Linguistics, 443–452. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wong, M. (1930). Sutra Spoken by the Sixth Patriarch, Wei Lang, on the High Seat of the Gem of Law (Message from the East). Shanghai: Yu Ching Press.
Wu, C. (2000). Modelling Linguistic Resources: A Systemic Functional Approach. (PhD), Sydney: Macquarie University.
Wu, C. (2009). Corpus-based research. In M. A. K. Halliday and J. J. Webster (Eds) Continuum Companion to Systemic Functional Linguistics, 128–142. London: Continuum.
Yampolsky, P. B. (1967). The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch: The Text of the Tun-Huang Manuscript with Translation, Introduction, and Notes. New York: Columbia University Press.
Yampolsky, P. B. (2011). The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. In W. T. de Bary (Ed.) Finding Wisdom in East Asian Classics, 128–135. New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/columbia/9780231153973.003.0010
Yu, H. (2017). How should Huineng speak: Text complexity in translations of the Platform Sutra. New Voices in Translation Studies 16, 1–22.
Yu, H. (2016). Recreating the image of Chan Master Huineng: Roles of MOOD and MODALITY. Functional Linguistics 3 (1): 1–20.
Yu, H. (2017). Recreating the image of Chan Master Huineng: The role of personal pronouns. Target 29 (1), 61–84.
Published
2019-05-28
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Yu, H., & Wu, C. (2019). Text complexity as an indicator of translational style: A case study. Linguistics and the Human Sciences, 13(1-2), 179-200. https://doi.org/10.1558/lhs.35709
