ALLUSION QUEST FOR TRANSLATORS: TO TRANSLATE OR NOT TO TRANSLATE
Keywords:
allusions, translation strategies, direct translation, addition, replacement, omissionAbstract
Research purpose. The research aims at identifying and revealing the tendencies of translating allusions from English (as the source language) into Lithuanian (as the target language) in the texts of The Economist and their correspondences in the magazine IQ.
Methodological approach. The paper suggests the theoretical background of the concept of allusion and the main strategies of its translation. The practical analysis is based on 54 examples found in the 28 articles of the source language with their corresponding translations into the target language. The descriptive contrastive linguistic method has been applied for processing the data selected.
Findings. The analysis of the cases of allusion transference reveals the fact that the most common allusion translation strategies from the source language into the target one involves the direct translation and the direct translation with minimum changes complying with the rules of the Lithuanian language system, which allow a translator to remain faithful to the source text and convey the initial intention to well-educated and literate audiences. The ways of translation by adding extra allusive guidance and translator’s notes, using a more familiar substitution, or eliminating the allusion in the target language have been fewer in number, but with a skilful application accommodate the needs of the source language audiences.
Value and practical implications. The texts of contemporary mass media demonstrate the presence of a variety of historical, religious, cultural, and literary references that usually pose a real challenge to a translator intending to convey the author’s original intention and, at the same time, make the message comprehensible for the target readership. A well-chosen strategy for allusion translation in the texts of mass media can attract larger audiences and help to avoid confusion and misunderstanding.
Downloads
References
Allen, G. (2021). Intertextuality. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003223795
Bahrami, N. (2011). Strategies used in the translation of allusions in Hafiz Shirazi’s poetry. Journal of Language and Culture, 3(1). [internet access]: https://academicjournals.org/JLC
Baker, M. (2011). In Other Words. London, New York: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203832929
Bassnett, S. (2013). Translation. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203068892
Christopher, R. (2011). Use Your Allusion: Culture in the Age of Digital Remix. [last accessed 10/07/2022]: http://www.remixthebook.com/use-your-allusion-culture-in-the-age-of-digital-remix-by-roychristopher
Condliffe, P. (2012). Literary Techniques: Allusion. [last accessed 10/07/2022]: https://www.matrix.edu.au/literary-techniques-allusion/
Dang, T. (2018). Literary Techniques: Symbolism. [last accessed 10/07/2022]: https://www.matrix.edu.au/literary-techniques-symbolism/
Davies, E. E. (2003). A Goblin or a Dirty Nose? The Treatment of Culture-Specific References in Translations of the Harry Potter Books. The Translator: Studies in Intercultural Communication, (9), 65-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13556509.2003.10799146
Daghoughi, Sh., Hashemian, M. (2016). Analysis of Cultural-Specific Items and Translation Strategies Applied in Translating Jalal Al-Ahmad’s by the Pen. English Language Teaching, 9(4), 171-185. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v9n4p171
Delahunty, A., Dignen, S. (2012). A Dictionary of Reference and Allusion. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dreeva, D. M., Aslanyan, R. M. (2021). To the Scope and Content of the Concept of Allusion. Proceedings of the International Conference SCIENCE AND INNOVATIONS 2021; DEVELOPMENT DIRECTIONS AND PRIORITIES, 10th of November 2021 Melbourne, 90-94.
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2022). [internet access]: https://www.britannica.com/
Gorey, M. M. (2019). Pietas and the ‘Other Camões’- subversive translation and allusion in The Lusiads. Classical Receptions Journal, 11(2), 211-229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/crj/clz004
Haberer, A. (2007). Intertextuality in theory and practice. Literatūra, 49(5), 54-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/Litera.2007.5.7934
James, K. (2017). Cultural Implications for Translation. Translation Journal, 6(4). [internet access]: http://translationjournal.net
Koženiauskienė, R. (2007). Intertekstualumas: referencija, tariamas dialogas ir kitos stilistinės raiškos priemonės. Lietuvių kalba, (1), 1-8. doi: 10.15388/LK.2007.22896. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/LK.2007.22896
Kümbül, T. (2021). Reflections of allusions in translation: A comparative analysis of the Turkish versions of the French Lieutenant’s Woman. RumeliDE Journal of Language and Literature Studies, (22), 948-963.
Leppihalme, R. (1997). Culture Bumps: An Empirical Approach to the Translation of Allusions. Claverdon: Multilingual matters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21832/9781800417908
Lievois, K. (2017). Translating Ironic Intertextual Allusions. In: Martínez Sierra, Juan José & Patrick Zabalbeascoa Terran (eds.) 2017. The Translation of Humour. MonTI 9, 1-24.
Minas, S. A. (2019). The heat of Milton’s mind: Allusion as a Mode of Thinking in Paradise Lost. Milton Studies, 61(2), 186-211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/mlt.2019.0009
Oddo, J. (2014). Intertextuality and the 24-Hour News Cycle: A Day in the Rhetorical Life of Colin Powell’s U.N. Address. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press.
Panasenko, N., Šestakova, M. (2013). Biblical Motifs and Allusions in the Short Stories by Ray Bradbury. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 3(11), 191-211.
Pažūsis, L. (2014). Kalba ir vertimas. Vilnius: Vilniaus universitetas.
Simpson, P. (2004). Stylistics. A Resource Book for Students. London and New York: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203496589
Lennon, P. (2008). Allusions in the Press: An Applied Linguistic Study. Berlin, New York: De Gruyter Mouton.
Valotka, A. (2017). What are you, allusion? Lietuvių kalba, (11), 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/LK.2017.22554
Wiehardt, G. (2020). Types of figurative language that enhance your writing. [internet access]: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/types-of-figurative-language-1277071
Zaky, M. M. (2018). Translation and meaning. Translation Journal, 4(4). [internet access]: http://translationjournal.net
Published on: 29-07-2023
Also Available On
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Rima Jasnauskaitė, Asta Pukienė
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors contributing to this journal retain the copyright of their articles but agree to publish their articles under the terms of the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that appropriate credit is given, that a link to the license is provided, and that they indicate if changes were made. They may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses them or their use.