Investigating the Translation of Culture-Specific Items in Children’s Literature:
The Case Study of the Novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
Abstract
This study has examined the translation of culture-specific items (CSIs) in the novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” based on Aixela’s translation strategies and techniques of CSIs. It investigated whether the preference of domestication and cultural substitution in children’s literature translation holds true in this context. To this purpose, from purposively identified 300 CSIs, 135 ones were selected randomly in the English version and their equivalents in Jafari Jozani’s translation according to Newmark’s model. According to Aixela, proper nouns were also included in the sample. Among the techniques applied, linguistic (non-cultural) translation, synonymy, and naturalization were the most commonly used, while extra-textual gloss and absolute universalization were rarely used, with repetition not used at all. In most categories of CSIs, linguistic (non-cultural) translation was also the most frequently employed technique, with the highest usage in social culture, whereas the least used techniques were absolute universalization and extra-textual gloss. Therefore, contrary to the prevalence of domestication and cultural substitution in translation of children’s literature, the translator inclined to conservation strategy and if necessary to the substitution strategy, considering the type of CSIs. The results can help the translators to adopt the appropriate strategy and technique in rendering CSIs in children’s literature.
Keywords:
Children’s literature, Conservation, Culture-specific items (CSIs), Domestication, Foreignization, Substitution, TechniqueReferences
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