Edwin Joseph Mohatlane’s research while affiliated with University of the Free State and other places

The paper introduces the translatorial action theory as a shift from the linguistic to the functional paradigm in Sesotho translation. The reason that prompted this view is that the equivalence principle had always narrowed and limited the scope of operation of the Sesotho translator only to the production of the target text. In doing so, the subject-object dialectical relationship that the Sesotho translator should have with the commissioner as well as the target group that he translates for, is neglected. The paper introduces Holz-Mänttäri’s translatorial action theory as the birth of a new paradigm in Sesotho translation. The results in this paper reflect the significance of the translation brief as a crucial mechanism that ensures the transactional relationships (between the translator, the initiator and the target readers) in the Sesotho translation. The equivalence principle, which had always been fore-grounded as the determining factor for a good translation, was discovered to be technocratically dehumanising. The study recommends that commissioners should henceforth mind the fact that the translator is not only called upon to produce a translation but the translator goes beyond by being engaged in cross-cultural communication and a mediated communication that qualifies the translatorial action as the new paradigm in Sesotho translation.

The paper challenges the straight-jacket perception among some translation scholars that a source text-oriented translation (translationese)is a vice whereas a target text-oriented translation is a virtue. The researcher argues that a source text-oriented translation which may sometimes presents itself as translationese, is subjected to the principle of indeterminacy in the same way as indeterminacy is also embedded in the target text oriented translation. The method applied to test the argument empirically, is, in fact, to determine the role of cultural context in the translation process to determine whether the translation is a virtue or a vice. It is also imperative to determine whether the purpose of translation (skopos)and the equivalence principle between the source text and the target text have an effect on determining the translation as a virtue or a vice. The results reflect that cultural context is crucial and justifies the virtue of translation. Unfortunately, the equivalence principle is limited only to a special case scenario, whereas purpose-driven translation may be regulated by the translation brief. The paper finds that the principle of indeterminacy operates as a fundamental doubt in translation events, and suggests that it could have caused a paradigm shift from equivalence to the introduction of skoposparadigm, where purpose instead of mere equivalence is the underlying determining factor.

Researchers in translation are most of the time quality conscious and aspire to determine the accuracy of the translated meaning as the source text (ST). They perceive back-translation as a reliable quality assurance mechanism. However, some of the clients maintain that back-translation is not an effective and efficient quality control mechanism. It is therefore the purpose of this paper to determine whether back-translation is a reliable quality control mechanism between the source text and the target text (TT). The researcher applies a hermeneutic phenomenological research method within the qualitative paradigm to amplify the findings in this study. The research techniques involve the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. The operative principle will be that both the first and the second forward translations will be reconciled to gather the prima facie evidence justifying the accuracy of back-translation. The results reflect ipso facto that if there is a flaw in a reconciled translation, there will be a flaw in the accuracy of a back-translation. Back-translation is dependent on the forward translation to determine the accuracy of translation. The results also reflect that back-translation lacks originality and creativity. The study concludes that though back-translation is commonly intended to determine ST-TT accuracy, it something fails to do so as back-translators are not the custodians and the first language speakers of the source language. The implications are that less research has been done on back-translation. The limitations of back-translation are that back-translation is commonly dependent on the forward translation and tend to be restricted to effectively determine the accuracy.

The study investigates the possibility of the indeterminacy principle being a perpetual feature of Sesotho translation. As modus operandi the researcher deals with the language propositions that scholars postulated regarding the dynamics of determinacy and indeterminacy. The text type, the skopos or purpose of translation and the translation strategy would be applied as operative principles. The results in this work reflect that translation is not reproduction but transformation of attempt to express meaning. The conclusion actually signifies that the principle of indeterminacy tends to be inherent translation feature depending on the complexity or complication of the source text to be translated. The study therefore sensitises both the professional and budding translators that there would possibly be alternatives to every translation rendered. The study recommends that the translator should be mindful of the possibilities of being subjected to the dynamics of determinacy and indeterminacy when dealing with language and meaning.

The paper challenges the traditional view that the source text serves as the norm against which the target text is modelled. The aim is to present the skopos theory in the place of the equivalence paradigm. The researcher moves from the premise that the dominant element in Sesotho translation is no longer the source text but the purpose. Taken from that perspective, this work presents an argument that the purpose of the source text does not necessarily have to determine the purpose of the target text. There is even no guarantee that the purpose in one culture will necessarily be the same in another culture. A change of purpose is also construed to suggest a reformulation of the translation. The result of this work is summarised in the view that the target text is the second original text. The paper recommends that prior any translation process, the translator should establish the purpose and be faithful to express it in translation so that ultimately a meaningful, culturally acceptable and purposeful translation can be produced.

This paper presents a critical account of the explicitation hypothesis which claims that translated texts in general, and the Sesotho translated texts in particular, are characterised as inherently universal. The researcher challenges the proposition that explicitation is an inherent universal feature of translation. Relative to this proposition, there is also a controversy among the translation critics regarding the universality of explicitation in translation. Some critics maintain that explicitation is an inherent translation universal as determined by the lexical and grammatical items that are implicit in the source text (ST). The big question that forms part of the argument in this paper is whether these items are always available in all source texts for explicitation to be reckoned as universal. It is for this purpose that critics present another different dimension of the argument. The explicitation hypothesis is perceived differently by other critics maintaining that explicitation is voluntary and optional as determined by the stylistic patterns employed by the translator. The paper aims to reflect on this argument around the universality of explicitation with a view to put it in its proper perspective. The results in this study reflect instances where explicitation appears to be inherent and universal whereas in some instances the Sesotho translation tends to be longer than the source text in accordance with the stylistic preferences of the translator. Novice translators as well as experienced translators are recommended to utilise explicitation to promote the meaningful translations that are culturally acceptable and linguistically accessible to the target readers.

Sesotho translators sometimes fall short to express optimally acceptable translations. The objective of this paper is therefore to demonstrate the translator’s role in constituting an optimally and culturally acceptable translation. In terms of the optimality theory, the translator has to deal effectively and efficiently with the emerging translation challenges. Translation identifies itself as a decision-making process. The translator has to undertake conscious decisions throughout the translation process to meet the needs of his target readership. With a view to develop a meaningful translation, decisions should be based on identified variables and ordered in a particular sequence. The results in this paper proof that failure to deal with the constraints effectively may eventually culminate in the production of a translation of poor quality. It may, perhaps, even operate against the loyalty principle towards the intended target readership. Otherwise, optimality in translation is based on the premise that a good translation is associated with good translator’s decisions regarding the text type, intended target readers, the context and the purpose of translation. It is only in this context that a functionally and culturally acceptable translation is delivered. Such an optimal translation is socially expected to be linguistically accessible to its intended readers. The paper suggests strong recommendations on the part of Sesotho translators to mind taking meaningful decisions so as to ensure that they produce optimal Sesothotranslations.

Various literary critics maintain conflicting views regarding the presentation of time in Sesotho drama. Some of the critics maintain that time in Sesotho drama characterises itself as socially based and as a result it reflects the daily pursuits of the Basotho. Some of the critics argue that time in Sesotho drama merely emulates the Western European modern time. The paper intends to explicate the application of time in Sesotho drama with a view to reflect on the said arguments.The paper is based on Maile’s Boiphetetso (Revenge), the Sesotho drama based on extra-marital relationship as a social problem. The results reflect that time in Sesotho drama should be analysed within its proper socio-cultural context. One basic observation levelled at this research work is that it is strongly recommended that the European standards should not be forced onto Sesotho drama as it has characteristics exclusive to itself. The fact that time in Sesotho drama lacks an element of precision does not compromise the quality and the integrity of Sesotho drama as it appears to be its inherent feature.