Variation in translation: Entropy for Norwegian verbs based on Russian translations of the novel Sofies verden

Abstract

This pilot study explores translation variability between Norwegian and Russian verbs using entropy-based metrics. By analysing multiple Russian translations from the RuN-IT corpus, we quantify the (un)predictability of translation choices and identify various tense–aspect–mood (TAM) patterns that are of interest for contrastive grammar studies of Germanic and Slavic verbs. The findings from this pilot study confirm some earlier observations from research using parallel corpora, while at the same time identifying certain patterns overlooked by traditional methods. Methodologically, the article proposes verb entropy as a simple, reproducible metric for translation variation that can complement traditional parallel-corpus work.