|
The Juxtaposition of Comparative Literature and Translation Studies
in the Global Context
- - Bijay Kumar Das
Comparative Literature is not one but two, for it takes into its orbit two literatures for a study. The formal study of Comparative Literature as a subject goes back to the 19th century when there was a demand to go beyond narrow nationalism. There are three distinct approaches to the Comparative Literature-French, German and American. Similarly translation takes place not only between two languages-Source Language (SL) and Target Language (TL), but also between two literatures-Source Literature (SL) and Target Literature (TL). It is both an act of reading and writing. A translator reads a particular literature and writes it in another language which becomes the target literature. It is here that a translator becomes a comparatist and translation becomes a tool of Comparative Literature.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
The Implied Reader and Strategies of Translation
- - C L L Jayaprada
Most debates about the process of translation center on the notions of fidelity and betrayal or literal and free translation. Role of the reader also plays a major role in determining translation strategies, whether foreignized or domesticated, adopted by different practicing translators. The paper attempts analysis of the translation strategies adopted by the writer of this paper in texts such as `Foxtrot' meant for readers interested in postcolonial literatures, He Conquered the Jungle for native as well as non-native readers. Australian and Caribbean stories in Telugu for magazine readers who look for entertainment, poems and plays for Radio which supplement a performance in all India competitions and Tenali Raman's stories meant for children to demonstrate that the role of the reader and purpose of translation demand a variety of strategies from the hand of a single translator. Drawing on the theoretical notions of Theodore Savory, Susan Bassnett, Roman Jakobson and Lawrence Venuti, an attempt is made to analyze translation strategies and devices in texts meant for native, non-native readers, children, general readers and readers with some sophistication.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Translation Studies in Postcolonial/Globalization Era
- - Vikrant Sehgal
Translation of classical Indian texts into English was started by orientalist scholars like William Jones with a definite agenda to give the western reader a feel of the Indian mystique. The choice of texts and the strategies employed were in accordance with this agenda. This paper starts off from translation studies in Postcolonial/Globalized Era. The main body of the paper looks at postcolonial translation as a part of globalization, an attempt to give global dimensions to local/regional texts. It details the changes that a literary work undergoes in the process of being translated, specially when the target language is the language of the erstwhile colonizer and the target readership the so-called first world. The factors that influence the translator and can become problematic are taken up in detail. The first and foremost is the choice of the text in the source language and the reasons behind it. Fidelity to the source language text is taken up along with the strategies that the translator employs in translating what is strictly local/regional like folk songs, folk traditions, etc. Condensation or deleting what seems irrelevant in the source language text is another problem area. The paper quotes from translations or opinions on some of these issues expressed by translators. The paper concludes with apprehensions that postcolonial translation can destroy the local/regional authenticity.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Dynamics of Transcultural Transference: Translating from Telugu into English
- - Malathi Nidadavolu
After arriving in the US in 1973, I became intensely aware of the incongruities on the surface in the two cultures-American and Indian-and the commonalities beneath. Hit by culture shock, and encouraged by my American friends, I launched the website, thulika.net, in an attempt to demystify the stereotypical perceptions, and identify the underlying commonalities in our beliefs and customs. Reasons developed in course of time include the interests of the current generation Telugu youth: those who cannot read Telugu script and those who got used to English so well that they are comfortable reading the stories in English. Additionally, the site has been recognized as a valuable source for scholars in multicultural education and Telugu literature by the academy globally. Selection criteria have been based on: the stories that reflect our intrinsic values as opposed to the values newly developed in recent times; those that explain age-old customs specific to Telugu culture; and the stories that lend themselves to translation reasonably well. Problematic areas experienced in translation relate to: native flavor, dialectal variations, phrases peculiar to Telugu, proverbs, (those that are easily translatable and those that are not), humor, and structure and the Linguistic areas: pronouns, forms of address, and grammar, especially tense. Valuable experiences have been gained from interaction with the authors of source texts and critical scrutiny of the submissions of translators to our website.
© 2009 Malathi Nidadavolu. All Rights Reserved.
Translation as Transformation of Writing: Discussing Bama and Sivakami
- - Soumyashree Das
Translation involves a change, be it in the form of language or in the form of the subject itself. It brings along with it various intricacies. The concern begins with the language into which it is translated. This becomes even more complex when the translated text is a Dalit text, which is being translated into English-the colonizer's language. Literature with a capital `L', representing mainstream literature, is very different from Dalit literature. Yet again, Dalit literature written by Dalit women writers differs from both the mainstream and the `malestream' Dalit literature. It is interesting to note how Dalit women writers use the colonizer's language to articulate the internal colonization. This paper examines this problem by focusing on two specific works of Bama and Sivakami, providing further scope for discussion in this area. The questions that are raised through this paper remain open-ended, as ongoing debates can never have defined or fixed conclusions.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Translation or Transference: The Problematic of Cultural Specifics
- - S S Prabhakar Rao
Allen Tate has once observed, "Translation is for ever impossible and for ever necessary." Down the centuries there have been unending debates about loyalty to and freedom from the original in a translation-`formal equivalence' vs. `dynamic equivalence.' Whether a translation should read like a translation or like an original is still debated passionately. But it is possible to surmise that one should pursue the middle path agreeing on "maximum readability and feasible fidelity." The other problem relates to the carrying across of cultural specifics from the Source Language (SL) to the Target Language (TL). Terms, which have no equivalents in the TL, the author argues, may be transferred and expressions may even be literally translated so that optimum feel and flavor of the native culture can be re-created. He has cited the practice of Raja Rao in his path-breaking novel Kanthapura, in which he boldly translated Kannada expressions as well as transferred certain terms. The author devoted the second section of the paper to the problems he faced in his translation of short stories, classical poetry, a novel and a classical epic from Telugu into English and the tentative solutions he could arrive at. The author hopes that, despite the multiplicity of problems and the lack of encouragement and recognition, the tribe of translators will increase and contribute to the much-needed cultural synthesis in the world torn apart by fissiparous forces.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Literary Translation: Choices and Predilections
- - V V B Rama Rao
Literary Translation is an activity not to be considered an impossible task or looked down upon as less creative than writing poetry or fiction. If one were to embark upon this task by reading books on theories, it is bound to be a despairing exercise. Nobody seems to have done that. This literary/imaginative endeavor was started by many without knowledge of any theory or theories. In Telugu, literary creation began with the rendering of Sanskrit texts like The Ramayana and The Mahabharata. The bare essentials that go to make a successful practitioner, to begin with, are the love of literature and familiarity with the two languages, the language of the source text and the language into which it is rendered. Translation, generally, has come to be considered as a highly complex process, inaccessible and beyond the ken of understanding of enthusiasts, thanks to the ever expanding theories. Against this scenario, an interaction with actual practitioners would help the aspirants and enthusiasts sharpen their skills while leading to gain insights into the art and craft of this imaginative/literary exercise, call it rendering, transcreation, translation or what you will. This paper is based on such useful interaction with practicing translators, creative writers and academics and hopefully provides insights into the much-needed activity of literary translation.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Subversion and Resistance in the English Incarnation of Gurram Joshua's Gabbilam
- - A Karunaker
K Madhava Rao translated Gurram Joshua's Gabbilam (Bat) into English. The original Telugu classic work of poetry was published in 1941, and its English translation was published in 1969. Gabbilam is a spirited work of art which portrays the plight, exploitation and the discrimination meted out to untouchables in Andhra Pradesh. As a spokesperson of these untouchables, Joshua wants their suffering to be conveyed/carried to God. Therefore, he finds in the animal `Bat', a suitable messenger. As a messenger the bird carries the poet's message of sorrow and woe to Lord Shiva. Both-Joshua's selection of the `Bat' as a messenger and `Lord Shiva' as the recipient of the message-are symbolically significant. His use of the bird as a messenger is quite appropriate and it deliberately subverts the main stream symbols of messenger and worship. Gabbilam (Bat) is a dark, ugly bird that dwells in the deserted temples and it always hangs upside down. In its upside down position the poet sees a relative nearness to God, `the Shivalingam', and so an easy way to carry the message of misery and exploitation to God from the poet. Normally and in traditional conservative Hindu society, the untouchable is not allowed access to God. By selecting the bird as a messenger of the dalits, the poet has struck an appropriate, unconventional way of reaching the Creator subverting the elitist ways of worship and creativity. There are overt indications of deliberate subversion of Kalidasa's Meghadutam, which is an acknowledged representative text of the elite, upper class social order. This paper is an attempt at studying such subversions and representations which facilitate greater understanding and appreciation of the poem.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Book Review
Insights into Literary Translation and Language in Distinctive Use
- - Author: V V B Rama Rao
Translation has ever been a site for heated controversy. Linguists insist that it is a craft or science, while creative writers tend to consider it an art. There are endless arguments championing `pragmatic translation' on one hand and `aesthetic translation' on the other. But the wise choice should be left to the practizare-translator, who makes use of his instinctive/creative gut feeling in making his choices and goes on with his translation activity, knowing full well that he is open to be treated as a traitor.
© 2009 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
|
