LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:8 August 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Prolegomena to the Practice of Literary Translation

V.V.B. Rama Rao, Ph.D.

Abstract

This paper proposes that literary translation is not a formidable task, but it requires a very special effort. The paper points out that universally accepted theories of literary translation do not exist. The paper proposes a roadmap for the serious study of literary translation as a genre of literature. Importance of several concepts found and used in Sanskrit literature such as sahridaya, rishirina and parakaya pravesa is discussed in relation to the translation of modern Indian literature in Indian languages.

Key words: universal theory of translation, sahridaya, rishirina, parakaya pravesa

Towards Emotive Cohesion

Literature has an extra-ordinary capacity to promote emotive cohesion. India is an extensive country with numerous languages and their variations of sub-languages, dialects. Down the centuries the country has been producing literary artifacts. For cultural integration, among many other things, cohesion of understanding and appreciating our regional language writing is necessary and hence the activity of literary translation needs to be cultivated and encouraged. If at least one student from every institution of higher learning takes to literary translation, we would be able to take the world by storm displaying our, literary imaginative, creative achievements.

Not a formidable task but a very special effort is necessary

Literary Translation is not a formidable task as it has been made reading works of theoreticians and academicians (on theories) who are not always translators themselves. Literary Translation is a unique field of activity. It is distinct from translating an ordinary text, say of an Instruction manual or an informative piece of writing. In fact Translation is an activity with diverse objectives and for the full fulfillment of specific objectives task-specific strategies have to be evolved.

Valid and always universally acceptable theories of literary translation do not exist

It is futile waiting for a valid theory of literary translation, universally acceptable and universally followed with absolute obedience. The best way for one aspiring to be practitioner is to roll up his/her sleeves and sit down to work. With enthusiasm half the battle is won and with patience and with perseverance the other half. After all one has to perfect one’s own theory for one’s own self to follow it with tenacity. Applied Linguistics with its concepts of equivalence, nature of language etc has been an ever-expanding science involving rigor and discipline. Theoreticians make much of “losses” in translation but in literary translation compensation and the gains for the target language are never given their due emphasis. A study of Applied Linguistics does not by itself supply the student with conclusions immediately applicable to policy. This does in no way purport to denigrate the study of Applied Linguistics. The study of science surely helps the practitioner to draw his own inferences while performing his task ahead. There is no readily available theory There is not much evidence that all practitioners of literary translation have undergone rigorous training in the science of Applied Linguistics.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

V.V.B. Rama Rao, Ph.D.
vadapalli.ramarao@gmail.com
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