Translators as agents of lexical transfer: evidence from the standardization of curacaoan papiamentu

Identifier:  TDX:1983

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX1983

Authors:  Parkins Ferrón, Courtney Garfield

Abstract:
This research investigates whether professional Curaçaoan Papiamentu translators act as agents of lexical transfer in Papiamentu and also whether they do so in a subservient manner. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach and is triangulated. The quantitative aspect of it develops on a questionnaire sample of 205 translators and non-translators. The qualitative aspect builds on an open-ended question on the questionnaire, an interview sample of three official language planners and on selected Papiamentu (non)translated texts. The results show that the translators make more lexical transfers than do the non-translators, and that language prestige, text sensitivity, employment stability, professional experience and formal training play important roles in this. Further, it is ultimately the language planners who carry out by consensus the formal admission of all lexical items into Papiamentu. But generally what English-to-Papiamentu lexical transfer implies is an overlooked agentive involvement of the translators rather than translator subservience in this process.