The thesis deals with translation in the specialized field of art history. It includes an overview of different approaches to translation for art and architectural history applications, a brief history of translation of art-related texts and how it has influenced the formation of the canon of Western art. Further on, it discusses the differences between language for general purposes (LGP) and language for specific purposes (LSP), such as that used in art history, and the ways in which new terms in art are coined. The linguistic concepts of terminology, equivalence and false friends are explained and illustrated. The main part of the thesis consists of the analysis of ten common translational errors that I encountered during my academic research and work as an art historian and proof-reader at the two biggest Slovenian art galleries. The examples are analysed with the help of dictionaries, glossaries, corpora and literature on the theory of translation. The purpose of this thesis is to shed light on some linguistic mistakes and dilemmas that may not be recognized as such by the lay readership, but may cause misunderstanding, and to provide their suitable equivalents in the target language. The thesis also includes background professional advice for translators working in the field of art history, both professional translators and art historians who find themselves in the role of a translator.
|
