In:Humour in Self-Translation
Edited by Margherita Dore
[Topics in Humor Research 11] 2022
► pp. 1–12
Chapter 1Humour in self-translation
Reasons and rationale
Published online: 13 October 2022
https://doi.org/10.1075/thr.11.01dor
https://doi.org/10.1075/thr.11.01dor
Abstract
This introduction sets off by reflecting on migration in relation to multilingualism and self-translation. It explores the migration phenomenon over time but focuses in particular on the 21st century and the way migrants seek integration into the hosting country while, at the same time, remaining profoundly connected to their culture and language of origin. This aspect is not only advocated, but it is also praised as a means of encouraging insiders to be more open towards outsiders. It also considered important to help insiders to become more tolerant and reflect on their own identity. The second part of this chapter is instead devoted specifically to humour in self-translation, its characteristics and driving reasons. One important aspect that is also emphasised here is that humour self-translation is a virtually unexplored area in both Humour Studies and Translation Studies, and this volume seeks to contribute to filling this gap. The chapter concludes with an overview of the contributions included herein. It also offers a reflection on the way humour and self-translation can jointly be explored to better understand how these two natural human traits shape and are shaped by reality.
Keywords: migration, culture, identity, humour, self-translation
Article outline
- 1.Migration, multilingualism and self-translation in the 21st century
- 2.Humour in self-translation
- 3.In this volume
References
References (20)
Alibrahim, Bashair. (2020). A Barbarian in Rome, On Writing and Translating Between Two Literatures: A Conversation with Sinan Antoon. In Ruth Abou Rached, Edmund Chapman, David Charlston, Kelly Pasmatzi, M. Zain Sulaiman & Marija Todorova (Eds.) Rethinking (Self-)Translation in (Trans)national Contexts. Special Issue of New Voices in Translation Studies 22, 1–18.
Bachmann-Medick, Doris & Federici, Eleonora. (2019). Migration and Translation: Changing Concepts, Critical Approaches. An Interview with Doris Bachmann-Medick. In Giuditta Caliendo & M. Cristina Nisco (Eds.) Translating and Interpreting Linguistic and Cultural Differences in a Migrant Era. Special Issue of I-Land Journal 3(2), 133–141.
Cordingley, Anthony. (2013). Introduction: Self-translation, going global. In Anthony Cordingley (Ed.) Self-Translation: Brokering Originality in Hybrid Culture. London: Bloomsbury, 1–10.
Dore, Margherita. (2018). Laughing at You or Laughing with You? Humour Negotiation and Intercultural Stand-Up Comedy. In Villy Tsakona & Jan Chovanec (Eds.) The Dynamics of Interactional Humor: Creating and Negotiating Humor in Everyday Encounters (pp. 105–126). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Eco, Umberto. (2013). Come se si scrivessero due libri diversi [As if you wrote two different books]. In Andrea Ceccherelli, Gabriella Elina Imposti & Monica Perotto (Eds.), Autotraduzione e riscrittura [Self-translation and rewriting] (pp. 25–30). Bologna: Bononia University Press.
Evangelista, Elin-Maria. (2013). Writing in translation: A new self in a second language. In Anthony Cordingley (Ed.) Self-Translation: Brokering Originality in Hybrid Culture (pp. 177–188). London: Bloomsbury.
Filippakopoulo, Maria. (2005). Self-Translation: Reviving the Author? In Other Words: The Journal of Literary Translators 25: 23–7
Fitch, Brian T. (1988). Beckett and Babel: an investigation into the status of the bilingual work. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Gentes, Eva. (2020). Bibliography: autotraduzione/autotraducción/self-translation. [URL]. (accessed: 30/03/2022).
Gjurčinova, Anastasija. (2013). Translation and Self-Translation in Today’s (Im)migration Literature. CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 15(7), 1–9, [URL] (accessed 30/03/2022).
Grutman, Rainier. (2013). A sociological glance at self-translation and self-translators’. In Anthony Cordingley (Ed.) Self-Translation: Brokering Originality in Hybrid Culture (pp. 63–80). London: Bloomsbury.
Hempelmann, Christian F. (2014). Puns. In Salvatore Attardo (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Humor Studies (pp. 612–615). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Noonan, Will. (2013). Self-translation, self-reflection, self-derision: Samuel Beckett’s bilingual humour. In Anthony Cordingley (Ed.), Self-Translation: Brokering Originality in Hybrid Culture (pp. 159–176). London: Continuum.
Palmieri, Giacinto. (2017). Oral self-translation of stand-up comedy and its (mental) text: a theoretical model. Humor. International journal of humor studies, 30(2), 193–210.
