Theory of Translation 1 Introduction

 2.13.2.3 Sentence Meaning and Utterance Meaning 
In the contemporary period, some scholars have differentiated between the meaning 
of a sentence and an utterance. In their opinion, sentence meaning falls within the 
scope of Semantics and the utterance meaning is an area which falls under 
Pragmatics. Pragmatics is an extended study of Semantics. Pragmatics is concerned 
with the ways in which the meanings of utterances change in relation to the context of 
use, the time and the goals of the interlocutors. The sentences are context 
independent, i.e., they are not tied to any particular time and place whereas utterances 
are articulated in a particular context. Further, the utterances of everyday conversation 
are not full sentences but incomplete, if taken individually. For example: 
1)
Next Friday, if I can manage it. 
2)
You’ll just have to, won’t you? 

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The meaning of these sentences is the same as that of the full sentences from which 
they are said to be derived on a particular occasion of utterance. 
Particular kinds of sentences are related to particular kinds of utterances. i.e., 
declarative sentences are uttered to make statements, interrogative statements to ask 
questions etc. It is called as ‘the characteristic use’. However, a speaker may use a 
sentence uncharacteristically, to mean something different from what it 
characteristically means, e.g. the sentence, “It’s cold in here” has the form of a 
statement. But it could be used indirectly instead of “Close the window (please)” to 
get the listener to do something. Many such sentences are frequently used 
uncharacteristically and indirectly in everyday language. 
As stated earlier, semantics is a scientific study of the meaning expressed in language 
and obviously, it is central to the study of translation. In a literary text, explains 
Talgeri, “meaning is generated through internalization of the connotative content of 
the text” (p. 3). The literary text not only creates the meaning, but it also 
contextualizes the meaning. Literature makes use of the words with which the 
speakers of the language can associate the experience of their composite culture. 
To create an equivalent text, a translator has to exploit the resources of the language 
by skillfully handling the tools of semantic transformations in carrying over the 
meaning from the SL text to the TL text. He has to deal with the intended and 
interpreted meaning of the text. At the same time, he cannot afford to ignore 
ambiguity and other aspects of language. Otherwise, the translation may lead to 
miscommunication. So, the literary translator must be “semantically alert’, in the 
words of Geoffrey Leech, “to create an equivalent text” (Semantics, 41). For instance, 
note the difference between conceptual and stylistic meaning in the following 
sentences: 
(1) He put the key in his pocket. 
(2) He stuck the key in his pocket.
Thus, ‘meaning’ is a much wider term which includes the seven types of meanings. A 
literary work is a mass of indeterminate meaning, an attempt at communication in its 
flux. To create an equivalent text, the translator has to be alert precisely because the 

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structure embodies several complex processes. The more he knows the cognitive 
nature of meaning, the more the translation is semantically equivalent.