Translating the Dream of Red Chamber into Turkish: Striking a balance between Dynamic and formal equivalence in the first chapter

The 8th World Conference on Sinology, Suzhou, Çin, 4 - 06 Kasım 2023, ss.56-57, (Özet Bildiri)

Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
Basıldığı Şehir: Suzhou
Basıldığı Ülke: Çin
Sayfa Sayıları: ss.56-57
Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

"The Dream of Red Mansion", an iconic Chinese classic novel, stands as one of the most significant pieces in literary history. The process of translating this primary text into other languages, however, presents substantial obstacles for any translator. Of note is the fact that a complete translation of this monumental piece is yet to be achieved in Turkish language. The author has dedicated over eight years to undertake the task of translating this novel, a testament to the complexity and weight of this endeavor. Within this framework, this paper aims to flash on the translation of the novel's initial chapter through the lenses of formal and dynamic equivalence approaches defined by Nida. It sets out to offer pertinent examples from the initial chapter as translated into Turkish. This comparative approach ideally provides insight into the challenges and nuances inherent in transposing such a culturally dense narrative from one language system into another and may contribute significantly to our understanding of linguistic transfer mechanisms. They aid in analyzing how to approach a translation task best: whether it necessitates a more word-for-word method (formal equivalence), or allows for a greater emphasis on delivering the message in the target language's cultural and idiomatic syntax (dynamic equivalence). In essence, these methods of comparison would lead readers to anticipate the potential challenges and intricacies encountered while translating an intricate piece like "The Dream of Red Mansion" into another complex language, such as Turkish. Applying these approaches to the first chapter of the Turkish translation could reveal illuminating features in interpreting this monumental Chinese classic into another language system without losing its profundity and authenticity. This academic paper endeavors to provide insights into the complicated process of translating the novel into Turkish. Moreover, it aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis, comparing and contrasting the outcomes achieved through the implementation of these two distinct translation approaches.