Simplification as a linguistic universal versus text readability enhancement
Simplification as a linguistic universal versus text readability enhancement

Summary/Abstract: Emerging from the theoretical assumptions voiced by Descriptive Translation Studies (Toury, 1995), the theory of translation universals (Baker, 1996) reflects the current trend in Translation Studies wherein the centre of gravity is shifted from source-oriented to target-oriented translation. The concept of translation universals has further shifted attention from comparing the quality of translated texts by making reference to their original source texts (the S-universals, Chesterman, 2004) to analysing their features by juxtaposing them with other texts in the target language (the T-universals), both translated and non-translated. By comparing the translated texts with other translated texts or other non-translated texts in the target language, some general (universal) patterns can be observed regarding the tendencies in the process of both interlingual (between two languages) and intralingual (within one language) rendering. While the idea of treating intralingual transfer as one of the subtypes of translation still evokes some discussions and controversy, it has been recently acknowledged by a growing number of scholars. Regardless of the status of intralingual transfer, both interlingual translation and intralingual rendering deploy similar simplification techniques, and pursue the same aim of making texts easier to read and understand, that is, making them more readable.

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