Translation, direct quotation and decontextualisation

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the interrelationships between one form of reported speech, verbatim quotation, and processes of translation. Starting from a survey of reporting practices in one institutional domain (parliamentary records), attention is drawn to parallel processes in areas of translation as diverse as dubbing, subtitling and literary translation. These parallels raise the possibility of a common discourse‐oriented paradigm for analysis. Such a project will have to include a re‐assessement of the culturally‐dominant criteria for adequate translation and quotation. A view is advocated which prioritises recontextualisation. Additionally, it is important for both fields of enquiry to harmonise with developments within social analysis which foreground the internationalisation of symbolic practices on a global scale. Thus, rather than simply subsume translation studies under an umbrella heading (that is translation is discourse practice), its perceptual salience as a separate field of enquiry must be safeguarded in view of a much‐needed critique of monolingual thinking within language study.