Between Images and Words: Ruan Guang-min’s Railway Sonata and its Journey from Chinese to Italian

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 57 - 80, 31.12.2024

Antonio Paoliello - Palermo

https://doi.org/10.29228/transLogos.69

Abstract

Although overshadowed by the popularity of Japanese manga, Taiwanese comics (or manhua, as they are known in Chinese) are experiencing a true golden age both domestically and abroad, as proven by the numerous international awards received by local artists, as well as the translations of their works into several languages. Ruan Guang-min (1971–) represents a paradigmatic example of how an author whose comics are culture-specific has managed to transcend both geographical (Taiwan) and linguistic (Sinophone) boundaries. After briefly contextualizing the current situation of Taiwanese comics and presenting Ruan and his oeuvre, the contribution analyzes the Italian translation of Railway Sonata, primarily drawing on Klaus Kaindl’s studies on comics translation and Lucía Molina and Amparo Hurtado Albir’s research on the translation of culturemes, or culture-specific elements. More specifically, the article focuses on the rendition of linguistic messages integrated into the images, of elements with strong sociocultural connotations, and of orality. This study reveals that techniques such as repetitio + adiectio were employed for text embedded in images, where the original language and script are preserved in the translation, accompanied by the translator’s notes. Additionally, different strategies were used for culture-specific items. Given the absence of research on Taiwanese manhua and on comics translation from Chinese into Italian, this exploratory study aims at providing a steppingstone for future research in said fields.

Keywords

Chinese to Italian translation, comics translation, Taiwanese manhua, Ruan Guang-min, Sinophone graphic novel

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