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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 4.0 International License. How to cite this thesis / dissertation (APA referencing method): Surname, Initial(s). (Date). Title of doctoral thesis (Doctoral thesis). Retrieved from http://scholar.ufs.ac.za/rest of thesis URL on KovsieScholar Surname, Initial(s). (Date). Title of master’s dissertation (Master’s dissertation). Retrieved from http://scholar.ufs.ac.za/rest of thesis URL on KovsieScholar Emily Hobhouse’s speech at the inauguration of the Women’s Memorial in Bloemfontein in 1913 and its translation: A documents-of-life account By Natania du Plessis Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements in respect of the Master’s Degree MA Translation Studies in the Department of Linguistics and Language Practice at the University of the Free State Supervisor: Prof. Kobus Marais Co-supervisor: Prof. André Wessels January 2018 ABSTRACT This dissertation will investigate, through the methodology of documents of life, the factors that influenced Emily Hobhouse to write in English the speech for the inauguration of the Women’s Memorial in Bloemfontein in 1913 and to commission its Afrikaans translation. It will also examine the different translation choices that Hobhouse made in the translation process and what motivated these decisions. The study will construct a narrative by using the background provided by autobiographies, letters, diaries, newspaper articles, etc. to evaluate Hobhouse’s speech and to see if they might shed light on the writing of the speech and the consequent translation choices. Hobhouse was a controversial figure in the Anglo-Boer War because she sympathised with Afrikaner women and children. The British people accused her of being pro-Boer, but Hobhouse remained a patriotic Englishwoman whose only aim was to help people in need. The study shows that an agent’s personal history influences translation choices. It also shows that relationships with other people, specifically patronage relationships, play a vital role in the translation process and result. It introduces and examines the two concepts of reciprocal patronage and double patronage, and highlights how these two forms of patronage relationships can act as motivation for translation choices and how it influences the invisibility of the translator. This study is an interdisciplinary study between translation studies and history, using narratives of lives as the bridge. It will therefore point out that historical narratives influence translation choices of translators and are important to take into account when studying future translations and historical documents. To my knowledge, this study is a pioneer study, since the narratives of lives have been used in other studies, but not to determine whether documents of life and the events they refer to play a role in a translator’s agency. The study also introduces new concepts with regard to patronage in translation. i KEY TERMS Emily Hobhouse President M.T. Steyn Tibbie Steyn Translation Studies History Anglo-Boer War Concentration camps Documents of life Narrative Life story Frames Patronage Reciprocal patronage Double patronage Translator invisibility ii I declare that the dissertation hereby submitted by me for the Translation Studies Master’s degree at the University of the Free State is my own independent work and has not previously been submitted by me at another university/faculty. I furthermore cede copyright of the thesis in favour of the University of the Free State. I declare that I am aware that the copyright is vested in the University of the Free State. I hereby declare that all royalties as regards intellectual property that was developed during the course and/or in connection with the study at the University of the Free State, will accrue to the University. I declare that I am aware that the research may only be published with the Dean’s approval. Natania du Plessis 19 January 2018 iii PREFACE From a very young age, my father took me and my siblings and friends on exciting tours to various historical landmarks in our country. At first, my interest in these tours were limited to the excitement of taking trips with friends. However, somehow my father’s passion for history eventually grasped my mind and heart. After three years of teaching English, I realised that I wanted a change, and diverted my attention to Translation Studies. At first, I had no idea what my dissertation would be about, but I heard a talk about history and language. And so, my love for history and newly acquired interest in translation was about to be combined. I could not anticipate the road this research would take me on. I was confronted regularly with clashes between personal ideas and beliefs and other people’s convictions and research findings. As with any such study, several people guided and supported my process of searching and researching, doubting, celebrating and astonishment. From the registration date, to the final submission, my husband, Vian, was there, encouraging me and believing in me. His love has carried me through more than this dissertation. I also value the role that my parents played, not only motivating me, but also teaching me the value of persevering and helping me with various vital tasks. I could not have asked for two better supervisors than Professor Kobus Marais, with his constant reminder to put aside preconceived ideas, and Professor André Wessels, with his keen eye for detail. They went above and beyond, constantly ensuring that I was well-informed and providing me with insightful feedback. In addition, I would also like to thank Ingrid Kluyts, for helping with the editing details and Elsabé Brits for sharing her knowledge and very precious sources. Throughout this process, I have become acutely aware of people and their roles in my life. Without them, I would have been helpless. I conclude by thanking my Heavenly Father for sending these people on my path and for granting me the opportunity to conduct and finish this dissertation. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ i KEY TERMS ............................................................................................................................. ii PREFACE ................................................................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................... v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research problem............................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Research design and methodology................................................................................... 3 1.4 Ethical issues .................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................... 5 2.1 Development of Translation Studies ................................................................................ 5 2.2 Translator agency ............................................................................................................. 7 2.3 Translator decision making .............................................................................................. 9 2.4 Patronage as motivation for decisions ........................................................................... 11 2.5 Translator invisibility ..................................................................................................... 12 2.6 Critical humanism – studying the human subject .......................................................... 13 2.6.1 Human subjectivity and creativity .......................................................................... 14 2.6.2 Specific social and economic organisations ........................................................... 15 2.6.3 Intimate familiarity ................................................................................................. 16 2.6.4 Moral and political role ........................................................................................... 17 2.6.5 Radical and pragmatic empiricism .......................................................................... 17 2.7 Biography, structure and history .................................................................................... 17 2.8 Documents of life ........................................................................................................... 19 2.10 Baker’s Narrative Theory ............................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 25 3.1 Documents of life ........................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Posing problems ............................................................................................................. 25 3.3 Planning to compose the narrative ................................................................................