Definición e indefinición: Algunas divergencias en el uso del artículo entre el español y el alemán

Resumo

The use or the omission of the definite and indefinite article is a source of permanent prob-lems in language acquisition and translation. After briefly reviewing what several Spanish and German standard grammars have to say to this respect, we shall study in depth how the translators of Manuel de Lope’s La sangre ajena (The wrong blood [English translation by John Cullen]) into German and of Daniel Kehlmann’s Ruhm (Fame [English translation by Carol Janeway]) into Spanish deal with this challenge. For the purpose of a detailed analysis as to how the translators follow or deviate from normative usage in their versions, we shall pick out meaningful passages from both narratives and oppose them to their translated counter- parts. Furthermore, it is our intention to sound out the possible reasons the translators may have had for choosing one or the other option. This study will allow us to design a methodological strategy toward future translating and interpreting skills where the use of determiners is concerned.