Definition/explanation
In the process of indirect translation, the text that mediates between the ultimate source text (UST) and the ultimate target text (UTT); a translated version of the ultimate source text that serves as a stepping stone to the ultimate target text.
Related terms
synonyms: first-hand translation, intermediary text, intermediate text, mediating translation, pivot translation
antonyms: ultimate source text (UST), ultimate target text (UTT)
Use in context
"Thus, when one encounters translations from the first third of the 20th century, it is often difficult to determine whether they were textually mediated at all (and if so - whether the mediating text was in Russian, Yiddish or German) or whether they only show traces of second-order interference." (Toury 1995/2012: 175)
Example
In a situation where a text in Russian is translated into Portuguese via French, the text in Russian is what we call the ultimate source text (UST), the text in French is the mediating text (MT) and the text in Portuguese is the ultimate target text (UTT).
Corresponding terms in other languages
CA: text mediador
DE: REPLACE_WITH_CONTENT
EL: REPLACE_WITH_CONTENT
ES: texto mediador
FA: متن واسطه
FR: texte médiateur
FI: REPLACE_WITH_CONTENT
IT: REPLACE_WITH_CONTENT
PT: texto de mediação
PL: REPLACE_WITH_CONTENT
Note
1. The siglum MT also stands for "machine translation".
Reference
Assis Rosa, Alexandra, Hanna Pięta, and Rita Bueno Maia. 2017. "Theoretical, Methodological and Terminological Issues Regarding Indirect Translation: An Overview." Translation Studies 10 (2): 113-132.
Toury, Gideon. 1995/2012. Descriptive translation studies and beyond. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins.
HP