L’écriture de l’article scientifique et ses premières traductions

Abstract

In the belief that looking at how language has developed historically can help us understand how it functions today, I would like to look at some of the earliest examples of translations of academic articles in vernacular languages. The very first academic periodical, the Journal des Sçavans, appeared in Paris on 5 January 1665. This was followed, only two months later, on 6 March 1665, by the Philosophical Transactions in London. The Journal des Sçavans, was edited by Denis de Sallo, at the instigation of Colbert, whose objective was to control new knowledge and use it to enhance the glory of Louis XIV. France was totally stable, and the economic and cultural centre of Europe. The Philosophical Transactions was a private enterprise begun by Henry Oldenburg, one of the secretaries of the Royal Society, as a means of augmenting his income. England had gone through one of the most chaotic half-centuries in its history but was then basking in the new-found hope of the Restoration. The Journal des Sçavans covered the whole range of new knowledge, including theology, law, and history, and was mainly made up of book reviews. The Philosophical Transactions was restricted to science and technology, and was based on the contents of Oldenburg’s postbag, which was voluminous due to his position as the centre of a network of scientific correspondence. The first issue of the Philosophical Transactions includes a translation of an item that had appeared in the first issue of the Journal des Sçavans. This therefore constitutes the very first translation of an academic article from one vernacular language to another. Study of some of the linguistic features (notably thematic structure and process types) of the two texts show that Oldenburg followed the French text closely, though he tidied up the organization to make it easier to follow. The Journal des Sçavans was suppressed after 13 weeks, but was revived at the beginning of the following years under the editorship of the Abbé Bignon. The issue for 11 January 1666, has a translation of an item which had appeared in the Philosophical Translations on 8 May 1665. The French text presents it as a summary, but it is closer to a translation of selected passages than a summary as such. Study of linguistic features again brings out differences between the two texts. Study of these texts is fascinating in its own right, but over and above their intrinsic interest, is the fact that these were the first attempts at translation of academic articles, and thus the development of the translation of academic articles can be seen as starting from this point.