Translating children's books - Essay Example

Consisting of four main parts, the first, analyses the translation of children's literature. The second, language aspects will be shown. The third, discusses translation strategy. Following this, the conclusion will summarize the key points in the essay. Translation is simply transformation, a form of adaptation trying to fit a new metaphor with the original (Biquenet & Schulte 1989: 2). Translation is understood as a semantic or linguistic concept. It is seen as part of a transfer mechanism - the process by which textual models of one system are transferred to another.

In the process, certain results are produced within the target system, which relate in various and complex ways to products of the source system. The final product from translation is the result of the relationship between a source system and a target system, a relationship that is itself determined by a certain hierarchy of semantic constraints. While viewing translation as part of a transfer process, it must be noted that it is not just translations of texts from one language to another, but also the translations of texts from one system to another - for example, translations from the adult system into the children's.

Also children's literature should be understood as belonging to the polysystem of entire literature which consists of both adult and children's literature; hence the transfer from one system to another becomes more crucial (Shavit 1986). The behaviour of translating children's literature is determined by the position of children's literature within the literary polysystem.In transferring the text from the English to Japanese we must consider overall constraints and also innovations in language.

Historically language has always evolved throughout the centuries no matter what language we discuss. Many languages borrow words and phrases from other languages. English is especially guilty of this phenomenon. Thus old words, no longer in use, are replaced by newer more contemporary ones. For example classic texts such as Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels, use old style English language and phraseology which were appropriate in their time. In translation, much has to do with the translators overall motives and methods he or she may employ.

Whether to faithfully reproduce the original text to the target using similar phraseology to the original, or adapt the original text by using modern semantic in the target language is a decision the translator needs to make.There is one major problem when translating for children over translating for adults. Like other translations, it is anonymous. But while literature written for children is acknowledged, the translation part of it is not acknowledged. Children's translators are not seen as people possessing their own childhood experiences and child images which they are unable to escape from.

Child image is a complex issue based on each individual's personal history and also something that is common in