Aspects of translation of science popularization texts: a study of two retextualizations into Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese

This article discusses differences in the representation of a science popularization text based on an analysis of two retextualizations of A brief history of time into Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP). Drawing on Systemic Functional Grammar (HALLIDAY, 1994; HALLIDAY; MATTHIESSEN, 2004), particularly on categories pertaining to the textual and interpersonal metafunctions of language, two chapters of each translated text were analyzed with a view to mapping Theme and Subject and comparing the implications of choices in each retextualization for constructions of particular representations. Results point to minor differences as regards Theme choice, though substantial differences concerning Subject were found in the two texts. These differences, together with additions and misreadings, signal divergent views, which become significant for the science popularization genre due to its communicative function in society.