A typology of translation solutions

Abstract

An eight-term pedagogical typology of translation solutions has been compiled and taught in two Masters classes, one in the United States and the other in South Africa. The results suggest that the typology is robust enough to be pedagogically effective in the two situations if and when the teaching stresses a series of points: 1) the nature of its "problem-solving" premises has to be explained carefully, 2) the typology should be presented as a list of ways to address problems that cannot be solved using the norms of standard languages or "cruise" mode translation procedures, 3) it should be presented as being open-ended, inviting new solutions and new combinations of the main solution types, 4) its theorisation should be kept as simple as possible, in the interests of pedagogical clarity, and 5) the application of the typology should emphasise its status as a discourse of resistance to the tradition of "either-or" approaches to translation decisions.