The chromatic terminology associated with dyeing, in a diachronic perspective, provides a relevant case study for observing the evolution of forms and meanings in specialized vocabularies. This study explores the evolving relations between concepts and terms of colour during a pivotal period (1750-1836), when dyeing was transitioning from an empirical art to a discipline based on advances in chemistry. It further examines the communicative issues and challenges raised by the intercultural transmission of technical knowledge through translation. Based on a parallel corpus (French-Italian) of specialized texts with an applicative and/or didactic focus, it analyzes not only the phenomena of terminological creation, variation, obsolescence, and disappearance, but also of terminological normalization. Particular attention is paid to the challenges of translating chromatic terminology and the strategies adopted by translators. Far from being mere linguistic transpositions, translations acted as key catalysts for exchanging knowledge, spreading new practices, and standardizing colour terminology on the eve of the industrialization of textile dyeing.
Aspects diachroniques des termes de couleur de la teinture : enjeux communicatifs et traductifs
Piselli Francesca
2025
Abstract
The chromatic terminology associated with dyeing, in a diachronic perspective, provides a relevant case study for observing the evolution of forms and meanings in specialized vocabularies. This study explores the evolving relations between concepts and terms of colour during a pivotal period (1750-1836), when dyeing was transitioning from an empirical art to a discipline based on advances in chemistry. It further examines the communicative issues and challenges raised by the intercultural transmission of technical knowledge through translation. Based on a parallel corpus (French-Italian) of specialized texts with an applicative and/or didactic focus, it analyzes not only the phenomena of terminological creation, variation, obsolescence, and disappearance, but also of terminological normalization. Particular attention is paid to the challenges of translating chromatic terminology and the strategies adopted by translators. Far from being mere linguistic transpositions, translations acted as key catalysts for exchanging knowledge, spreading new practices, and standardizing colour terminology on the eve of the industrialization of textile dyeing.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
