Meaning transformation in the Kiswahili translation of George Orwell's animal farm
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Date
2011-10-27
Authors
Kamau, Grace Waithera
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Abstract
Meaning transformation comes about when the message intended by the author is not wholly transferred to the receptor audience. This may be due to a myriad of reasons, such as, translator's intentions and competence. Differences between the Source Language (SL) and the Target Language (TL) and the different cultures of the Source Text (ST) and Target Text (TT) are also factors. Meaning transformation can affect the overall presentation of the translated text. This study sought to investigate how meaning has been transformed in the Kiswahili translation of George Orwell's Animal Farm and how this has affected the transference of the message from the Source Text (ST) to the Target Text (TT). The objectives of the study included, firstly, identifying and classifying the lexical items that the translator has used into semantic fields. Secondly, using the semantic fields as a basis of comparison of the Source Text (ST) and Target Text (TT). Thirdly, Assessing the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the lexical items used in the TT and lastly describing the extent to which meaning has been transformed. In the theoretical framework an eclectic approach was chosen. This included theories such as the Cultural Translation Theory, Relevance Theory and the Comparative Stylistic Theory. Tenets of these theories were used to explain, discuss and analyze the patterns that emerged in this study. The data used in this study was elicited from two texts: the Source Text (ST) Animal Farm and the Target Text (TT) Shamba la Wanyama. The mode of study was content analysis since the two are literary texts. The data collected was analyzed using both the quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data was presented in columns under the semantic fields of Names, Agriculture, Education, Politics, Trade/ Technology and Allusions. A cloze test was used as an instrument in the research design. The findings are presented in columns and a bar graph. The findings have been used to come up with areas for further research. The emerging patterns are discussed to help in providing insights on meaning transformation and how it can be minimized. Finally, observations obtained during the research are discussed. The findings indicated that there is indeed meaning transformation in the TT.
Description
The PR 6029.R8A54k3
Keywords
Orwell, George, Animal farm--Translation//English literature--Translations into Kiswahili--history and criticism//Literature--Translation