The Relationship of Attitude towards Literature and the Quality of Literary Translation

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to investigate the relationship between the attitudes of translators towards literature and the quality of their literary translations. To this end, 32 students majoring in English translation were selected as the participants of the study; an attitude questionnaire was devised and administered to estimate the attitudes of the translator trainees towards various aspects of literature; they were then asked to translate extracts of two short stories – ‘Father and I’ and ‘The Rocking Horse Winner’. The translations were rated and the results were compared with their responses to the attitude questionnaire. It was revealed that there is indeed a significant positive correlation between translator trainees’ attitudes towards literature and the quality of their renderings of literary texts. Therefore, to promote a more fruitful instruction on literary translation, it is suggested that translation teachers attempt to implant positive attitudes towards literature in translator trainees by applying effective methodology, selecting appropriate material and creating an amiable ambience where students can voice and rely on their personal interpretations of literary texts.