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Article published In: Target
Vol. 22:2 (2010) ► pp.264–297

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The translation of wordplay in literary texts

Typology, techniques and factors in a corpus of English-Catalan source text and target text segments

 | Universitat Jaume I (Castelló, Spain)
Published online: 12 January 2011
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.22.2.05mar
The present study aims to analyse wordplay translation on the basis of the three aspects mentioned in the title—wordplay typology, translation techniques and relevant factors. The theoretical framework is eclectic but draws particularly on . 1996. “Introduction”. The Translator 2:2. 127–139.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar and Lladó, Ramon. 2002. La paraula revessa. Estudi sobre la traducció dels jocs de mots. Bellaterra: Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar. Empirical analysis is based on three English source texts and six Catalan translations, and focuses on two main issues: the frequency distribution of pairs of ST + TT segments across translation techniques, and the possible correlation(s) between translation techniques and factors influencing decision-making. It is observed that translators tend to use techniques implying a negative punning balance, i.e. resulting in some degree of loss of punning activity. Moreover, some factors identified in the literature are seen to correlate with the use of particular translation techniques. Finally, in the last section an attempt is made to go beyond description and explanation and to assess wordplay translation techniques in terms of their suitability as translation solutions.
Résumé
La présente analyse est consacrée au jeu de mots,—sur la base de trois aspects indiqués dans notre titre: typologie des jeux de mots, techniques de traduction et facteurs pertinents. Le cadre théorique est éclectique; il renvoie principalement à . 1996. “Introduction”. The Translator 2:2. 127–139.   Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar et à Lladó, Ramon. 2002. La paraula revessa. Estudi sobre la traducció dels jocs de mots. Bellaterra: Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar. L’analyse empirique se fonde sur trois textes anglais et sur six traductions catalanes. Les deux questions à résoudre étant: la distribution des fréquences dans des segments parallèles (Textes Source + Textes Cible) en termes de techniques de traduction, puis la possible corrélation entre les techniques de traduction et les facteurs orientant les priorités. L’on peut observer que les traductions tendent à recourir à des techniques qui impliquent une balance négative dans la pointe, c’est-à-dire qui impliquent dans une certaine mesure une perte de la pointe. En outre, certains facteurs identifiés dans la littérature sur la question semblent aller de pair avec l’usage de certaines techniques de traduction particulières.—Dans la section finale, nous essayons d’aller au delà de la description comme de l’explication dans une tentative de définir les techniques du jeu de mots en traduction selon leur pertinence en tant que solutions de traduction.
Article outline
  • 1.Conceptual background
    • 1.1Definition and typology
    • 1.2Wordplay translation techniques
    • 1.3Factors that impinge upon the translation of wordplay
  • 2.Aims and methodology
  • 3.Analysis of wordplay translation in the corpus
    • 3.1Techniques
    • 3.2Factors
  • 4.Beyond description and explanation: Assessing wordplay translation solutions
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (40)
References
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