Name::- Sneha Agravat
Batch:- 2020-22 (MA sem 1)
Paper 3:- Comparative literature and Translation Studies
Topic name:- The Effect Of Translation Studies On Comparative Literature
Roll no.:-16
Enrollment no.:-3069206420200001
E-mail Id :- snehaagravat2000@gmail.com
Submitted to:- S.B.Gardi Department Of English Maharaja krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
The Effect Of Translation Studies On Comparative Literature
There are various borders among many states in a globalising globe. Over minor languages and nations, there are dominant cultures and languages.Comparative literature aims to break down national barriers. It considers all works of literature, whether they are major or minor. When comparing a piece of literature from other countries, we take into account their culture and history. Translation studies are crucial for comparative literature since a term might have various connotations in different cultures. Many theories and studies, in fact, have an impact on comparative literature. The relationship between comparative literature and translation studies will be examined in this assignment.
Introduction:-
Comparative literature is a large subject with various definitions, but the simplest and most straightforward is "Comparative Literature is the study of "literature without barriers." It is fascinated by all nations, regardless of their languages, epochs, genres, or borders. Unlike the term Weltliteratur, which was coined by Goethe, it grants equal weight to all types of literature. The strength of nations or languages is unimportant in comparative literature; rather, it strives to investigate the relationships between different literatures, whether minor or significant works, and to uncover similarities and distinctions.
Let's talk about the first Comparative literature and translation studies.
Comparative Literature:-
Rene Wellek, one of the European scholars, argued that comparative literature is against nationalism by saying that “Comparative Literature arose as a reaction against the narrow nationalism of much nineteenth century scholarship, as a protest against isolationism of many historians of French, German, Italian, English etc. literature.” (Wellek 165)
World literature is concerned with major languages such as French, German, and English, whereas Comparative literature is concerned with both major and minor literatures. Many people around the world are familiar with and speak dominant languages, but what about the lesser-known languages? How can we analyse the works of people who speak languages that aren't widely spoken? If we don't speak the languages, how will we be able to comprehend their literature? The significance of translation studies in comparative literature is raised at this point. Many people can understand more easily when fewer spoken languages are translated. Major languages are already spoken; what matters is that minor languages are understood and studied by translating them into major languages. Similarly, translation allows those who speak minor languages to grasp the literature of dominant languages.We can understand their works of literature, languages, civilizations, and even histories through translation. Those lesser-spoken languages would be forgotten and extinct if translation was not a comparative literature study. In comparative literature, we treat all languages equally by translating and analysing them. We don't use translation to discriminate between languages.
TRANSLATION STUDIES:-
When translation studies first emerged in the nineteenth century, they were viewed as a threat to literature. It was a kind of misconception because of how translation was handled. Its accuracy has been questioned, with some questioning if it conveys the same message as the original text. Numerous conservatives opposed the translation of many literature, particularly religious texts such as the Bible, at the start of translation studies. They believed that if it was translated, the words would lose their meanings, and that because they were God's words, it would not be translated. It is assumed that when a text is translated, it loses its originality; otherwise, the translation would be meaningless. However, as comparative literature grew and expanded beyond European literature, translation became necessary.
Now let's see views of some scholars on Comparative literature and translation studies:-
1)Emily Apter:-
Emily Apter who is a professor of French and Comparative Literature in New York University, tries to break the identification of language with nation. “In naming a translational process constitutive of its disciplinary nomination comparative literature breaks the isomorphic fit between the name of a nation and the name of a language”(Apter 410) She proposes a “new comparative literature” based on translation which she sees variously initiated in the work of Leo Spitzer, Jacques Derrida, Edward Said and Gayatri Spivak.
Humanity is linked to translation, according to Emily Apter, because there is a long-term tie between human, nation, and language. Apter quotes Leo Spitzer, who said, "Any language is human before it is national: Turkish, French, and German languages belong to mankind first, then to Turkish, French, and German peoples." (41, Spitzer) Apter considers translation to be a method of denationalization literature. She agrees that language belongs to people first and then to a country. She considers language to be a universal tool for human understanding. Because people can detect parallels between their languages and the translated text when a text is translated, translation studies bring people from all over the world together.
Translation, in reality, demonstrates how language is universal rather than provincial or national. How do people who don't speak English appreciate Shakespeare's works if translation studies aren't available? How do they compare and contrast their works? At this moment, translation enters the picture. If we consider the original text to be the self, then translation brings the self and the other together. "Othering" vanishes as a result of translation. Walter Benjamin, a German literary critic and translator, emphasises the value of translation by contrasting translation and the original text with the concepts of life and death.
2) Gayatri Spivak:-
Unlike Benjamin, In “The Politics of Translation” Gayatri Spivak who is an Indian theorist and philosopher says that “if you want to make the translated text accessible, try doing it for the person who wrote it.” (Spivak 407)
When you consider the receiver, your translation becomes acceptable, according to Spivak. It can't progress any further unless it's in its own country or nation. In reality, she is not a big fan of the idea of translation. To be able to compare languages, she believes that one needs to first study the other languages. You should know the languages of the other if you want to identify with them. "It is vital to study other languages if you are interested in talking about the other and/or claiming to be the other,"(spivak,407) she explains. According to her, the key to comparative literature is to master the target language that you will compare.
You won't comprehend how the "other" is if you only read the translation of a piece of literature. To begin with, understanding the language allows you to read the content more closely and comprehend it better. Otherwise, you'll be reading exactly what the translators see from their own perspective. She accuses Comparative Literature for relying on translations rather than reading intently in the original at this stage. "Unless the translator has earned the right to become the intimate reader, she cannot yield to the text, cannot react to the specific call of the text," she says of the need for close reading in translation.(Spivak,407)
3)Itamar Even Zohar:-
Itamar Even Zohar, an Israeli scholar of cultural studies from Tel Aviv University, developed a poly system. In “The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem” (1978) he explains the position of translated literature. According to him, literature is a kind of system and every nation has its own poly system which includes high and low literatures, different styles and genres, canonized or un-canonized works, different studies.According to Zohar, if we divide this poly system into two parts as primary and secondary; high, canonized and popular works of literature are seen as primary while low, un-canonized works are seen as secondary or peripheral. So, what is the position of translated literature in this poly system? In fact, translated literature has both a secondary and primary position in this poly system. Translation has a primary position “(a) when a poly system has not yet been crystallized, that is to say, when a literature is “young” in the process of being established; (b) when a literature is either “peripheral” (within a large group of related literatures) or “weak” or both; and (c) when there are turning points, crisis, or literary vacuums in a literature.” (Zohar 243)
Because young literature is in the process of developing and is ready to change, translation takes precedence in these three scenarios. As a result, translation changes these types of literatures to make them useful or enhances weak literatures by expanding them outside their limits. In these forms of literary works, it plays a crucial part. It does, however, have a secondary function. It is only mentioned in passing in known literatures. This is due to the fact that these high literatures have their own set of norms or values that do not alter. Translation has little meaning at this point because it does not reach the heart of the matter and has little impact on these types of works. It's just a game of words, not the centre. agree with Zohar’s idea of changing the position of the translation in the poly system. For example, less spoken languages and their “young” literatures need translation to become popular. When they are translated, they are read by others. Through translation, they are recognized by other popular literatures and they are shaped.
4)Lawrence Venuti:-
Lawrence Venuti who is a translation theorist describes the role of translator in comparative literature in his book “The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation” (1995). He emphasizes two terms “domestication” and “foreignization” ; he discusses these two translation strategies in his book.
Domestication is to reduce the foreignness or the strangeness of the foreign text to be adopted in the target language. When a foreign text is domesticated, the reader of target language easily adopts and understands it as if it is a part of their literature. They are not defamiliarized from the text.According to Venuti, domestication is “an ethnocentric reduction of the foreign text to target-language cultural values, bringing the author back home.” (Venuti 20) On the other hand, foreignization is to show the reader of the target language how the foreign text is different from theirs.Foreignization, on the other hand, aims to demonstrate to the target language reader how the foreign text differs from their own. When people read it, they feel alienated since the translations have distinct linguistic or lexical qualities, making it difficult for the reader to understand. They can't see any parallels between the foreign text and their own works. "An ethno deviant push on those (cultural) values to reflect the linguistic and cultural difference of the foreign text, sending the reader abroad," Venuti says. (Venuti 20) Domestication, according to Venuti, renders the translator invisible. Because the text has been domesticated, the readers are oblivious to whether it is a translation or not, and they overlook the translator's role.
Lawrence Venuti supports the idea of foreignization. He also advocates the visibility of the translator through translation. He says that foreignization “entails choosing a foreign text and developing a translation method along lines which are excluded by dominant cultural values in the target language.” (Venuti 242) Venuti sees translation as a mediator between the original text and its translation. For example, when a minor language is translated in English by using the foreignization method, English readers will see the cultural or linguistic features of the original text, so this minor language can broad its fame or it can preserve its cultural elements, values or beliefs. It doesn’t have to be assimilated while being translated. He believes that translator creates a community by showing the values and characteristics of the foreign text. He states that “The interests that bind the community through a translation are not simply focused on the foreign text, but reflected in the domestic values, beliefs and representations that the translator inscribe in it.” (Venuti 477)
Conclusion:-
For comparative literature, a translation study is required. As previously said, without translation studies, dominant languages such as English, French, or Spanish would dominate minor languages, resulting in a lack of language variety in literature. The translator does not assimilate the language by translating Shakespeare's works, but rather expands its fame. People who speak minor languages can grasp other literatures thanks to translation. They are able to compare and contrast various literatures with their own. They broaden their viewpoints by seeing the differences and similarities. Because they connect with other literatures, they can produce a variety of works.Thanks to translation, languages which are less spoken have more readers nowadays. Likewise, well known works of literature earn more reputation all over the world through translation. Shakespeare’s 66 sonnet can be given as an example in this point.
In today's globalising world, translation and comparative literature work together to tear down barriers between countries. Because comparative literature is interested in both minor and major civilizations, translation is a means of bringing them together. People can deepen and widen their ideas on different literatures by translating it. People in comparative literature would not be able to comprehend each other without translation, and hence would not be able to recognise the distinctions and similarities between them. Finally, translation studies are required for comparative literature since they complement one another.
Work cited:-
Apter, Emily. “A New Comparative Literature” Comparative Literature From the Enlightenment to the Global Present. Ed: David Damrosch, Natalie Melas, Mbongiseni Buthelezi. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2009.
Benjamin, Walter. “The Task of the Translator” Comparative Literature From the Enlightenment to the Global Present. Ed: David Damrosch, Natalie Melas, Mbongiseni Buthelezi. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2009.
KIR, Nuran. The Effect of Translation Studies on Comparative Literature. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/319366.
Spivak, Gayatri. “Crossing Borders” Comparative Literature From the Enlightenment to the Global Present. Ed: David Damrosch, Natalie Melas, Mbongiseni Buthelezi. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2009.
Spivak, Gayatri. “Death of a Discipline.” Princeton University Press. 2005
Venuti, Lawrence. “From Translation, Community, Utopia” Comparative Literature From the Enlightenment to the Global Present. Ed: David Damrosch, Natalie Melas, Mbongiseni Buthelezi. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2009.
Wellek, Rene. “The Crisis of Comparative Literature” Comparative Literature From the Enlightenment to the Global Present. Ed: David Damrosch,Natalie Melas, Mbongiseni Buthelezi. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2009.
Zohar, Itaamar Even. “The Position of Translated Literature within the Literary Polysystem” Comparative Literature From the Enlightenment to the Global Present. Ed: David Damrosch, Natalie Melas, Mbongiseni Buthelezi.New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2009.
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