Principle of Preserving Information Unmarkedness and Its Implications for Translation

Abstract

Information structure theory as one of the latest developments in linguistics can have implications for translation. The distribution of old and new information in a given discourse can affect linguistic coding in morphological, syntactic and phonological areas. This study pursues three goals; first, a principle under the title of "Preservation of Information Unmarkedness" is introduced which is a vital factor in linguistic coding of mental referents and propositions. Second, the effects of this principle on linguistic coding at morphological, phonological and syntactic areas are analyzed contrastively in English and Persian. Third, some of the implications of this contrastive study for translation are presented. The findings of the study revealed that the said principle in both languages affects the linguistic coding in all areas of syntax, morphology and phonology, but in different ways. The results also imply that translators should be more careful in replacing the morphological forms of source language, and more relaxed in translation of syntactic structures and prosodic patterns of SL. In other words, in these two latter areas (syntax and prosody), a literal translation has a higher chance of success than in morphology.