1) A pluricentric language has at least two standard varieties spoken in different countries by different ethnic groups. German and Serbo-Croatian are provided as examples. 2) When a language is spoken over a vast area, regional varieties develop, and languages tend to be defined by the nation, state, and language. 3) Translating and interpreting between standard varieties of pluricentric languages can present challenges both objectively in terms of terminology and vocabulary differences, and subjectively based on attitudes toward the varieties. 4) Translators and interpreters must be aware of these challenges and acquire additional competencies to work between the different standard varieties of pluricentric languages. The needs and preferences of the client

1. WITH EXAMPLES FROM
GERMAN AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA
JELENA KOSTIĆ-TOMOVIĆ
FACULTY OF PHILOLOGY, BELGRADE
PLURICENTRICITY OF LANGUAGES AS
A CHALLENGE FOR
TRANSLATORS/INTERPRETERS

2. What is a pluricentric language?
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A pluricentric language has at least two standard
varieties (codified or non-codified).
Standard varieties of a pluricentric language are
usually national varieties.
Therefore, a pluricentric language is spoken by at
least two ethnic groups who live in different
countries.
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3. Causes of pluricentricity
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If a language is spoken in a vast area, regional
varieties are inevitable.
One of the main features of a nation is its language,
and they tend to define through language (nation –
state – language).

4. Examples of pluricentric languages
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English (United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, Ireland, etc.)
France(France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg,
Quebec)
Spanish(Spain, Latin America)
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil, Angola etc.)
and many other languages.

5. German as a pluricentric language
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Three national centers:
Germany
Austria and
Switzerland
and three national ‘semi-centers’:
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg and
South Tyrol.
(Ammon et al., 2004)
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6. Situation in the former Yugoslavia
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Once:
Serbo-Croat/Serbo-Croatian
Now:
Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin

7. Looking from a different perspective
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“Serbo-Croatian, or Serbo-Croat, less
commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), is
a South Slavic Language and the primary language
of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and
Herzegowina, Montenegro. It is a pluricentric
language with four mutually intelligible standard
varieties.”

8. Pluricentricity and translation/interpreting
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Possible combinations:
monocentric language monocentric language,
monocentric language pluricentric language,
pluricentric language monocentric language i
 pluricentric language pluricentric language.
Different combinations– different levels of complexity
(language acquisition and translation/interpreting)

9. Challenges and difficulties
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In the process of translation/interpreting
differences between standard varieties
can be:
objectively important (affect comprehension)
and
subjectively imprtant (do not affect comprehension).

10. Objectivne aspects
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Different kinds of translation and interpreting–
different challenges:
technical translation – denotative equivalence
(terminology, vocabulary etc.)
literary translation – connotative and aesthetic
equivalence,
interpreting – denotative equivalence
(terminology, vocabulary etc)
and pragmatic equivalence.

11. Types of equivalence – an outline
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Types of equivalence in translation (Koller, 2001):
denotative equivalence
connotative equivalence
pragmatic equivalence
esthetic equivalence
textual equivalence
formal equivalence

12. Subjective aspects
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Subjective aspects:
do not affect comprehension;
based on attitudes toward other standard varieties
and/or their speakers and
can be equally or even more important for clients.

13. Subjective aspects
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translation: vocabulary, terminology, grammar,
ortography etc.
interpreting: all aspects of pronunciation,
vocabulary, terminology, grammar etc.

14. Implications for translators/interpreters
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Implications for translators/interpreters and for
teaching translation:
The clinet decides
(what kind of results he/she wants and whom he/she wants
to hire).
Key factor – market!
The fragmentation of the market
Nevertheless: additional competencies and skills required

15. THANK YOU!
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