Some Key Pitfalls in Literary Translation
Journal
Studies in Linguistics, Culture and FLT, Volume 8 - 2020, Exploring English Studies: Aspects of Language, Culture and Education
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Neshkovska, Silvana & Sonja Kitanovska-Kimovska
Abstract
Literary translation, despite the numerous rewards it offers both to translators
themselves and the humanity in general, is considered to be the most challenging type
of translation.
Research shows that numerous factors contribute to this state of affairs. The differences
between the source and target language and culture surely account for a large portion
of the challenges that arise in doing literary translation. In addition, literature abounds
with diverse literary genres – the most predominant ones being prose, poetry and plays.
Each of them features a set of specifc traits which when transferred into the target
language need to be addressed with special deliberation. Nevertheless, a plethora of
issues that literary translators grapple with are common to all three literary genres.
These encompass translating the title, the culture-specifc terms, slang, expletives,
subtext, style, etc.
This paper is intended to shed some light on these common pitfalls that recur in
translating diverse literary genres, and is intended to be of assistance to novice literary
translators. What makes the study particularly valid and authentic is the fact that the
points discussed are illustrated with instances of translation solutions extracted from
empirical studies of Macedonian translations of literary works originally written in
English.
themselves and the humanity in general, is considered to be the most challenging type
of translation.
Research shows that numerous factors contribute to this state of affairs. The differences
between the source and target language and culture surely account for a large portion
of the challenges that arise in doing literary translation. In addition, literature abounds
with diverse literary genres – the most predominant ones being prose, poetry and plays.
Each of them features a set of specifc traits which when transferred into the target
language need to be addressed with special deliberation. Nevertheless, a plethora of
issues that literary translators grapple with are common to all three literary genres.
These encompass translating the title, the culture-specifc terms, slang, expletives,
subtext, style, etc.
This paper is intended to shed some light on these common pitfalls that recur in
translating diverse literary genres, and is intended to be of assistance to novice literary
translators. What makes the study particularly valid and authentic is the fact that the
points discussed are illustrated with instances of translation solutions extracted from
empirical studies of Macedonian translations of literary works originally written in
English.
Subjects
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
Some key pitfalls in literary translation.pdf
Size
1.34 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):28d9c0ab6b79f021c84b51ccb31c2e16