Meaning Loss in Literal Translation: A Case Study of Dholuo Riddles and Proverbs
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Date
2013-04-23
Authors
Orago, Stephen Ochieng'
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate meaning loss as a result of literal translation
of a literary text from Dholuo to English. This study had four objectives: the first one
being, to identify and describe instances of meaning loss in translation of a literary text
from Dholuo to English. Secondly, to determine. the factors that contribute to meaning
loss. Thirdly, to suggest possible ways of improving the translation. Lastly, to describe
the contrasts between the author's translation and the respondents' interpretation and
translation of the sampled texts.
This study adopted an eclectic theoretical approach. The following theories guided the
study: Interpretative Theory, Cultural Translation Theory, and Semantic Theory.
The main data was elicited from the text book written by Miruka, (2001) entitled "Oral
Literature of the Luo". This book contains versions of riddles and proverbs in Dholuo
and their respective translations into English. Samples of 65 texts were drawn which
according to the researcher's intuition exhibited meaning loss. The secondary data was
collected through the questionnaire from Dholuo native speakers who are competent in
both Dholuo and English. The questionnaire required them to translate the texts in
Dholuo into English and to state the terms that were difficult to translate. They were also
to select the level of difficulty in translating these texts from the choices provided in the
questionnaire.
The data obtained was thus presented and analyzed in chapter four and categorized into
four linguistic categories i.e. Structural errors, Lexical, Cultural and the Figurative use of
language. Each category was then described, analyzed, and discussed qualitatively. The
data from the questionnaire was also discussed in this chapter.
Chapter five which is a summary of the study discussed briefly, the implications of the
study and suggested areas for further research. A conclusion for the entire study is given
at the end of this chapter.
Description
Department of English & Linguistics, 127p. The PL 8375.1 .O7 2007
Keywords
Luo (Kenya and Tanzania), Luo (Kenya and Tanzania) --Translations into English, Luo (Kenya and Tanzania) --Grammar