Abstracts
Abstract
This article discusses how, in addition to providing a definition for translation, the concept of equivalence may explain why we can say that sentence S in language L is a translation of sentence S1 in language L1. It analyzes two main kinds of equivalence that are used in analytical philosophy to define translation: semantic equivalence and functional equivalence. This analysis shows that drawing a distinction between semantic and functional equivalence is a way to understand the distinction between different levels or aspects of meaning. Both semantic equivalence, introduced by Gottlob Frege, and functional equivalence, proposed by Wilfrid Sellars, were developed in Donald Davidson’s theory of meaning. After discussing the limits of Davidson’s definitions of equivalence, this article will argue that functional equivalence is a reason for comparing Davidson’s philosophy to positions such as those expressed by Hans-Georg Gadamer’s hermeneutics.
Keywords:
- translation definition,
- equivalence,
- meaning,
- semantics/pragmatics distinction,
- analytical philosophy
Résumé
Cet article expose comment le concept d’équivalence a été utilisé pour définir la traduction, et comment ce même concept nous permet de dire pourquoi un énoncé dans une langue L est la traduction d’un énoncé dans une autre langue L1. Il analyse deux sens principaux utilisés dans la philosophie analytique pour définir la traduction : l’équivalence sémantique et l’équivalence fonctionnelle, afin de montrer que tracer la distinction entre ces deux sortes d’équivalence est une manière de comprendre la distinction entre différents niveaux ou aspects de la signification. Ces deux concepts, celui d’équivalence sémantique introduit par Gottlob Frege, et celui d’équivalence fonctionnelle proposé par Wilfrid Sellars, furent développés dans la théorie de la signification de Donald Davidson. Après avoir noté les limites des définitions d’équivalence chez Davidson, cet essai soutient que la notion d’équivalence fonctionnelle nous amène à comparer la philosophie de Davidson à des positions comme celles qui ont été exprimées par l’herméneutique de Hans-Georg Gadamer.
Mots-clés :
- définition de la traduction,
- équivalence,
- signification,
- distinction sémantique/pragmatique,
- philosophie analytique
Appendices
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