The Translation Fidelity Assessment – analysis of the potential of Low's Pentathlon as a basis for melic translation standards

Mikołaj Woźniak

doi:10.58683/dnswsb.1995

Published : 2025-04-01

Vol. 106 No. 3 (2024)

The Translation Fidelity Assessment – analysis of the potential of Low's Pentathlon as a basis for melic translation standards

Mikołaj Woźniak

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2808-3659

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58683/dnswsb.1995

Abstract

The article attempts to apply Peter Low's Pentathlon Principle as a cornerstone for standardizing the fidelity of melic translation. It was found that four of its factors (sense, naturalness, rhythm and rhyme) are relatively quantifiable and allow for a relatively objective text assessment. However, since the last one (singability) can be understood as a derivative of the remaining indicators, for evaluation purposes of the proposed Extended Model, it was replaced by a new element in the form of Style. On this basis, a five-level rating system was introduced for each analysed verse, summed by a weighted average. The new, enhanced combination was tested on two Polish translations of the Coldplay song "A Sky Full of Stars". To maximize the objectivity of quantification, each text was rated by several testers. It was confirmed that in its improved version, Low’s Pentathlon could be a promising quality assessment mechanism, particularly in high-level translations.

Keywords:

Low's Pentathlon, Translation Fidelity Assessment, Melic translation, Lyrical translation

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Woźniak, M. (2025). The Translation Fidelity Assessment – analysis of the potential of Low’s Pentathlon as a basis for melic translation standards. Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoły Bankowej W Poznaniu, 106(3). https://doi.org/10.58683/dnswsb.1995

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