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| Post Graduate Diploma in Translation Studies |
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| UNIT 422-10: SOCIAL CONTEXT OF LITERARY TRANSLATION
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 Points to Remember  |
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| 422.10.7 : READER'S ANGLE |
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| The third, but most important factor from which the social context is seen in the literary translation is the reader. A literary composition, apart from being the self-expression of the author, is meant for the reader. When the author wants to share his feelings or observations with the others they put them down on paper. It is from the reader's point of view that Longinus regards the "universality of appeal" as one of the standards of excellence of literary work. That means that in order to achieve greatness a work of literature should please all and always please. The author has his contemporary readers in his mind who are supposed to be the first readers of the work. When a translator translates that work his prime object is to make it available to the TL reader. Whether the translation is on the translator's own intuition or on commission, it is for the reader who ordinarily won't or cannot read it in the source language. So the work is translated keeping in view the sensibility and comprehensibility of the reader. This sensibility and comprehensibility is formed according to the TL society and culture. The thoughts, ideas, literary tastes, knowledge, academic standards, in a way the whole atmosphere of the society creates the reader's attitude and aptitude. What this reader wants and what he can appreciate and understand becomes the base of translation atmosphere in a society. The desire and quest for knowledge and the revival of ancient Greek and Latin learning during the European renaissance led to a huge amount of translations in various European languages. A translator translates for his creative satisfaction as well as to fulfill people's need. This need may be popular demand, as in case of best sellers, or desire to educate or literary or esthetically enrich the reader. |
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| In case of every translation, the main question is for whom the translation is done? Who is the probable reader of it? Whether he is the native reader or a foreign reader? Whether he is highly educated and culturally enriched or of average education? Whether it is for children or students or for scholars. All these things matter so much for the translation that the whole rendering of the work in TL seems to be controlled by them - the translator's expressions, language and the structure of translated version. He applies various means to make it appealing, meaningful and relevant to the target reader that he has in the mind. Not that this translation won't be read by readers other than for whom it is meant for, but it can be easily distinguished for whom it is meant. Many of contemporary Indian works are being translated into English to gain wide readership in the country and abroad. These translations in spite of maintaining the local flavor, aim to get international readership. The translators make various efforts for their communicability and relevance to those readers. Preface to the translated version, foot notes, index, appendix etc. are used for these purposes. Translator tries to find where the TL reader would have the problem in meaning or understanding the idea, concept or theme. The reasons may be cultural gap or time gap or intellectual level or maturity of the reader. The additions, deletions, shifts in the translation are sometimes done for this purpose. |
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| The language of the translated text is also determined by the readership. Apart from the content need and translator's capabilities, the readers linguistic sensibility is also important. Here we have some of the examples of translator's efforts considering the readership. In the English translation of Sri Lal Shukla's novel "Raag Darbari" Gillan Wright has given a long introduction and appendix to the translation. In order to prepare the reader for appreciating the novel a background of Indian village of fifties has been given. The changing scenario has been explained. |
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| The proper nouns, typical Indian contexts have been explained just like (i) "Vaidya ji" has been described as a "Brahmin Ayurvedic Doctor", (ii) The literal meaning title "Raag Darbari" has been explained "Raag Darbari" is the name of the one of the most difficult ragas of Indian Classical music (Introduction page 5-6). In the appendix the notes and the glossary have been given which explain various Hindi terms and mythical characters and ancient works of literature. |
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| Sometimes the translator omits some parts of the text while translating as he does not find it meaningful for the reader of the translated version due to social or cultural situations. For example, see an extract from Ajneya English translation of his own short story "Jai Dol": |
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