Hansard translation : problems and issues in the translation and editing of verbatim reports of parliamentary proceedings
Abstract
The aim of this study is to analyse Hansard publications with regard to the language and grammatical contents thereof in a multilingual South Africa. Chapter 1 defines the problem and the purpose and relevance of the study as well as the field of research and the scope of the study. Chapter 2 provides the background and historical development of Hansard as a publication. This is followed by a discussion of the prevailing conventions and expectations of this publication and the political importance attached to it within South Africa as well as other countries of the world. Chapter 3 reviews translation theories formulated by various language experts, and considers the viability of these in relation to Hansard publications in South Africa. The impact of culture on this conventional verbatim publication is investigated and comparisons are drawn between the translations of the different South African languages. Consideration is given to how practical and feasible the verbatim convention of Hansard is in the written reproduction of political speeches in the floor languages used in the National Parliament and the nine Provincial Legislatures, as well as the expectation of verbatim translations of such speeches and debates. Chapter 4 provides an extensive number of examples and discussions of typical language and translation errors found in the different Hansard publications of South Africa. Chapter 5 analyses the editing techniques of the editors of Hansard publications and the accessibility to the readers of the end product. Chapter 6 provides the findings and conclusions and makes suggestions for a change in the conventional verbatim approach that is still followed -to the detriment of the end product -in the majority of the publications studied for this research project. This chapter also offers suggestions for further research that could be of benefit to this field of study.
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