constructing pathways to translation - Higher Education Commission

Figure 2.8 Discourse Parameters (Adapted from Bell 1991:09)
2.6.6.2 DISCOURSE PARAMETERS AND RELEVANCE TO TRANSLATION:
The extent to which the Discourse draws a particular parts of the linguistics code, is
clearly indicated in the above figure in which the solid arrows indicate ‘more commonly’
and the doted arrows ‘less commonly’, the context to which discourse categories draw
on a particular part of the linguistic code.
Use and user- variation form the basis of Discourse Parameters. In the user- based
(dialect) variation, any individual can be grouped with others by virtue of sharing with
them particular qualifiable demographic characteristics, which, if not permanent, are
extremely long testing: gender, ethnicity, occupation, level of education, age at a given
time, place of origin. Speech as well as writing carry indications of age (temporal
dialect), of geographical origin (regional dialect), and social class membership (social
dialect).
The contrasting axis of use include the textual markers of relationship between addresser
and addressee(s), of the channel (s) chosen to carry the signal, and of the function played
by the Text as an example of human communication. Compared to Spoken Discourse,
Written Discourse has more limited options, and the writer’s personality is totally
submerged. He/she is left with no choices which can be appropriately made, which
permit satisfactory communication, and at the same time allow the writer to demonstrate
any individuality. The following figure clearly elucidates the user and use variation that
form the basis of Discourse Parameters.
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