Translating affective manifestation
Analyzing tensions in Alfian Sa’at’s Malay Sketches
Published online: 23 June 2025
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.24015.che
https://doi.org/10.1075/forum.24015.che
Abstract
This study explores how affective manifestations are translated and received by studying the intra-ethnic, inter-ethnic, and social/political tensions presented in Alfian Sa’at’s Malay Sketches. The results reveal that Alfian used relevant scenarios and encounters as the prevalent means of affective manifestation, with translanguaging narration and conversation. Additionally, Alfian utilized cultural and historical references featured more often in stories about inter-ethnic tension and social/political tension, respectively. Regarding affective reception among ST and TT audiences, authors may wish to convey affects to readers to motivate them to take action, which is enabled by the process of affective reception, encompassing (1) the cognizance of the intended affect and (2) the perception of empathy. In addition, the translator of Malay Sketches acts as a mediator to simultaneously attend to linguistic and cultural transmissions. To fill the contextual lacuna and ensure the successful delivery of intended affects, the translator often employs annotation and alteration strategies.
Keywords: affective manifestation, reception, tension, empathy, mediator, contextual lacuna
Résumé
Cette étude examine la manière dont les manifestations affectives sont traduites et reçues, en analysant les tensions intra-ethniques, interethniques et sociales/politiques présentées dans Malay Sketches d’Alfian Sa’at. Les résultats révèlent qu’Alfian recourt principalement à des scénarios et à des rencontres significatives comme modes privilégiés de manifestation affective, à travers une narration et des dialogues translingues. Par ailleurs, l’auteur mobilise des références culturelles et historiques, plus fréquentes respectivement dans les récits portant sur les tensions interethniques et sur les tensions sociales ou politiques. Concernant la réception affective parmi les publics du texte source (ST) et du texte cible (TT), les auteurs peuvent chercher à transmettre des émotions aux lecteurs afin de les inciter à agir. Ce processus de réception affective suppose : (1) la conscience de l’effet visé, et (2) la perception de l’empathie. Le traducteur de Malay Sketches joue en outre le rôle de médiateur, en assurant simultanément la transmission linguistique et culturelle. Afin de combler les lacunes contextuelles et de garantir l’efficacité des effets escomptés, le traducteur recourt fréquemment à des stratégies d’annotation et d’adaptation.
Mots-clés : manifestation affective, réception, tension, empathie, médiateur, lacune contextuelle
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Literature review
- 2.1Existing research on affective translation
- 2.2Affective manifestation and reception
- 3.Case-study introduction
- 4.Affective manifestation through tensions in Malay Sketches
- 4.1Intra-ethnic tension
- 4.2Inter-ethnic tension
- 4.3Social and/or political tension
- 5.Translator’s mediation for readers’ affective reception
- 6.Translator manipulation, independent reader thought, and the reception
- 7.Conclusion
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