Sites of Scottish heritage in translation : representing memory, history and culture for the French speaking visitor

Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

Scotland boasts an extensive variety of castles, museums and other heritage sites which attract large numbers of domestic and international visitors each year. Such sites contribute significantly to the circulation of knowledge across linguistic and cultural borders and, in this context, interpretation (in the form of labels, wall panels, audio-guides, etc.) and interlingual translation play an essential role in ensuring that both domestic and international visitors can access and understand the past.This thesis is formed around a multiple case study carried out in six Scottish heritage sites. Focusing specifically on translations from English into French, the primary aim of this research project is to gain a better understanding of how translation choices can influence the experiences of French-speaking visitors and their overall perception of Scottish heritage. A secondary aim of the project is to get a better sense of the considerations which might drive or hinder translation provision for heritage bodies. This thesis thus explores heritage translation from three perspectives: (i) translation as a process, looking at the conditions under which translations are commissioned and produced; (ii) translation as a product, using Halliday’s model of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to identify translation shifts between source and target texts; and (iii) translation reception to discern whether and how language provision and translation shifts might impact the experience of visitors and their representation of Scottish cultural and historical heritage. Together, these three strands make it possible to pinpoint areas where translation is already well-utilised and well received and those where it can be improved, thus allowing the formulation of recommendations for best practice.
Date of Award14 Feb 2024
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • University Of Strathclyde
SponsorsUniversity of Strathclyde
SupervisorSharon Deane-Cox (Supervisor) & Philip Cooke (Supervisor)

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