International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue IX, September 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Overcoming Cultural Untranslatability: With Special Reference to Wikramasinghe’s ‘Gamperaliya’ and its English Translation, ‘Uprooted’ by Lakshmi de Silva and Ranga Wikramasinghe

Gunathilaka D. D. I. M. B.¹ and Ariyaratne W. M.^{2
1 & 2}Department of Languages, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya, Sri Lanka

Abstract:-Translators encounter numerous issues in the process of translation. One of such issues is untranslatability, which occurs with the difficulty of finding appropriate target language equivalents for the source language terms, phrases or concepts. According to J. C. Catford, there are two categories of untranslatability namely linguistic untranslatability (LU) and cultural untranslatability (CU). To overcome these untranslatable scenarios, translators use several translation strategies. However, overcoming CU is problematic than LU. The purpose of this study was to discuss how this issue of CU has been overcome in the context of indigenous literature in Sri Lanka referring Wikramasinghe’s ‘Gamperaliya’ and its English translation, ‘Uprooted’. In this regard, the aforementioned novel and its translation were comparatively analyzed by using content analysis method. Theoretical reading materials related to the concept of untranslatability and regarding different translation techniques were also referred. In conclusion of this study, it was investigated that the novel ‘Gamperaliya’ is rich in cultural aspects where both translators found some difficulties in predisposing them for the target language audience. To overcome CU, translators have used different strategies individually and in combination of them such as the methods of Paraphrase, Regular Borrowing, Sentence Embedded Annotated Borrowing, Converted Borrowing, Loan Blend, Literal Translation, Calque, Equivalence, and Compensation. Two novel translation techniques, which fabricated with the combination of Borrowing and Equivalence, and Borrowing and Literal Translation have been invented and used. In addition to that, to overcome the CU in this context, they have even engaged in neologism and in utilizing the techniques of omission and addition. However, it was determined that the translators were not able to solve all scenarios of CU. Mistranslations and inconsistency of translated terminologies has negatively affected the understandability of the translation. This research proposed that these facts should be considered to make appropriate editing to ‘Uprooted’ in the future.

Keywords: Cultural Untranslatability, Indigenous Literature, Linguistic Untranslatability, Neologism, and Translation Methods