Translating Nursery Rhymes from Sinhalese to English: With Special Reference to the Translation Strategies

Abstract

This study delves into the significant role nursery rhymes play in children's development and focuses on the challenges faced by novice translators in rendering these verses into another language. The research aligns itself with Jones's (1989) conceptual framework, which delineates four levels of poetry translation: literal translation, approximation, adaptation, and imitation. These levels guide the exploration of the translation practices employed by novice translators. The investigation reveals that novice translators predominantly resort to literal translation and adaptation when tackling nursery rhymes. Literal translation involves a direct conversion of the source text, maintaining a word-for-word correspondence, while adaptation entails modifying the content to suit the cultural and linguistic context of the target language while preserving the essence of the original rhyme. The prevalence of these two strategies suggests that novice translators find it convenient either to adhere closely to the literal meaning of the source material or to creatively adapt it to fit the linguistic and cultural nuances of the target language. Understanding the challenges faced by novice translators in the translation of nursery rhymes is crucial for enhancing the quality of translated materials aimed at children. This research contributes to the broader discourse on translation strategies, shedding light on the specific nuances involved in the translation of poetic and culturally significant content for young audiences.

Keywords

• Novice translators
• nursery rhymes
• Sinhalese to English
• translation strategies

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