Foreignness as a border-crossing challenge
A Singaporean case
Published online: 6 July 2023
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.22011.che
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.22011.che
Abstract
Based on the concepts of foreignness delineated by theorists in border studies and cultural translation, this
paper analyzes Xi Ni Er’s short stories and identifies two types of translation challenges: the untranslatability of words and the
untransferability of feelings. The Singapore-specific linguistic landscape features heteroglossia and homophonic implications, and
these characteristics constitute untranslatable linguistic foreignness. In addition, this paper notes social and cultural
foreignness that serve the function of making readers feel what the writer feels (e.g., sorrow, nostalgia, and indignation), and
it is difficult to find an effective and suitable translation strategy to trigger empathy among target readers who do not share
social or cultural experiences. This paper, thus, emphasizes the importance of investigating the transference of feelings, and a
survey is conducted to gain reader-based insight into the suitability of offering supplementary materials in translation. Finally,
the results reveal that readers find these materials helpful and not intrusive.
Résumé
Le présent article, s’appuyant sur les concepts d’étrangèreté tels que définis par les chercheurs en études
frontalières et en traduction culturelle, examine les nouvelles de Xi Ni Er et identifie deux types de défis traductologiques :
l’intraduisibilité des mots et la non-transférabilité des émotions. Le paysage linguistique singulier de Singapour, caractérisé
par l’hétéroglossie et les implications homophoniques, présente une étrangèreté linguistique intraduisible. De plus, cet article
met en évidence l’existence d’une étrangèreté sociale et culturelle visant à provoquer chez le lecteur les mêmes émotions que
l’auteur (par exemple, la tristesse, la nostalgie et l’indignation). Toutefois, il est difficile de trouver une stratégie
traductologique efficace et adaptée pour susciter l’empathie chez un public cible qui ne partage pas ces expériences sociales ou
culturelles. Par conséquent, cette étude souligne l’importance d’une recherche axée sur le transfert des émotions. Une enquête a
été menée afin d’obtenir un éclairage sur la perception des lecteurs concernant la pertinence d’ajouter des éléments
supplémentaires lors de la traduction. Enfin, les résultats montrent que le public considère ces ajouts comme utiles et non
intrusifs.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Bringing foreignness across borders in literary translation
- 2.1Foreignness in the border-crossing concept
- 2.2Foreignness in cultural translation
- 3.Research materials and analysis method
- 4.Foreignness identified in Xi Ni Er’s short stories
- 4.1Singapore-specific linguistic landscape
- 4.2Social critique
- 4.3Cultural remembrance and vicissitudes
- 4.4Historical resentment
- 5.Research insights and exploration
- 5.1Linguistic, social, and cultural foreignness as border-crossing challenges
- 5.2Untransferability of feelings as an emergent translation challenge
- 5.3Empirical findings from the survey
- 6.Concluding remarks
- Note
References
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