An Analysis of the Turkish Translations of Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long-Legs from the Perspective of Systemic Affiliation

Year 2021, , 70 - 97, 31.12.2021

Nilüfer Alimen , Esra Kalaycıoğlu

https://doi.org/10.29228/transLogos.38

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze two Turkish translations of Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long-Legs (1912), which are Örümcek Dede (1973), translated by Esin Bürge, and Uzun Bacaklı Baba (2003), translated by Lütfiye Ekiz, in terms of their systemic affiliation to the children’s system. Zohar Shavit (1986) claims that due to the peripheral position of translated children’s literature in the literary polysystem, translators have the freedom to manipulate the texts. Contrary to adult’s books, manipulations are tolerated, and mostly required, to produce a translation that is deemed ‘good’ for child readers. In the present study, both target texts are examined in terms of their systemic affiliation, under the aspects of affiliation to existing models, the integrality of the text, the level of complexity of the text, ideological or evaluative adaptation, and stylistic norms. Since “the relationship between text and image” (Alvstad 2010) is an important feature of the children’s literature, illustrations in the translated texts are also analyzed. Gideon Toury’s “operational norms” (2012) are used as a methodological tool to investigate the manipulations in the two target texts. The results of the analysis have shown that Örümcek Dede was subjected to manipulation, and systemic affiliation was ensured via omissions, additions, and changes of the illustrations. On the other hand, Uzun Bacaklı Baba is affiliated to the target system only in terms of enriching children’s vocabulary and serving the didactic function. It is also considered that target audience was specified as children for Örümcek Dede, while Uzun Bacaklı Baba addresses children and young adults. Thus, it can be concluded that what is considered to be ‘good’ or ‘appropriate’ for children might vary for different target audiences.

Keywords

translated children’s literature, systemic affiliation, manipulation, Jean Webster, Daddy-Long-Legs

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