A LEXICAL AND GRAMMATICAL PERSPECTIVE CONCERNING ANOMALOUS FEATURES IN THE BFG AND ITS ROMANIAN TRANSLATIONS
Absolvent : Aptroaie Helen-Sabina
FOREWORD
In the present study I intend to deal with the anomalous features of Roald Dahls THE BFG
The central goal of the present study is to find out how the anomalous language has been constructed
The distinction between standard language and the so-called anomalous language will be discussed
A taxonomy of anomalies will be further debated
CONTENTS FOREWORD INTRODUCTION
1. Translating Literature for Children 1.1. General considerations on childrens literature 1.2. A poetics of childrens literature translation 1.3. Illustrations
2. Brief Introspection on Linguistic Anomalies in Roald Dahls The BFG: Definition and Uses
3. A Lexical and Grammatical Perspective Concerning Anomalous Features in THE BFG and its Romanian Translations 3.1. Translating idiomatic expressions 3.2. Witty puns 3.3. Grammatical anomalies
CONCLUSIONS 1.1.A SCRUMMDIDDLYUMPTIOS BRIEF INTROSPECTION ON LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN
Creations of the mind and fantasy folk-tales translate into a fantastic universe, fabulous, major problems of human life. Dahl's style has sparked controversy both from parents and educators. The BFG is a standard fairy-tale in many senses.
1.2. A POETICS OF CHILDRENS LITERATURE TRANSLATION
If you would be kind enough to swivel one of your lovely big ears so that it is lying flat like a dish, that would make a very cosy place for me to sit (BFG 131). Dac ai fi att de drgu nct s v rsucii una din minunatele dumneavoastr urechi i s-o inei la orizontal, ca pe o farfurie, ar fi un loc excelent pentru mine (UCP 156).
1.3. ILLUSTRATIONS Illustrations are closely linked to the understanding of the text and indeed form part of a translation. THE BONECRUNCHER
2. BRIEF INTROSPECTION ON LINGUISTIC ANOMALIES IN ROALD DAHLS THE BFG: DEFINITION AND USES
An utterance is anomalous when it does not comply with the grammatical and semantic conventions of the language (Hartman 1972)
The most common linguistic anomalies encountered in The BFG: Lexical Grammatical Semantic
"And they will be sending you straight back to a norphanage,'" the BFG went on. "Grown-up human beans is not famous for their kindnesses. They is all squifflerotters and grinksludgers." (BFG 116.) -i pe tine o s te trimit la norfelinat, continu el. Frunzele umane mari nu e cunoscut pentru buntate de suflet. Este mucigae i nezburtoare. (U.B.P.99) - Iar pe tine o s te trimit napoi la norfelinat, continu el. Fiele umane adulte nu sunt recunoscute pentru buntile inimii lor. Sunt cu toatele nite nesuferate i nite grozomane.(UCP 116)
3.1. TRANSLATING IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
"... because I is refusing to gobble up human beans like the other giants, I must spend my life guzzling up icky-poo snozzcumbers instead. If I don't, I will be nothing but skin and groans." (BFG 50)
fiindc refuz s nghit frunze umane ca ceilali uriai, trebuie s ngute toat viaa cacavei . Dac nu, a fi numai oale i piese. (U.B.P. 42)
fiindc nu vreau s nfulec fie umane ca ceilali uriai, n- am ncotro-trebuie s dau pe gt, toat ziua bun ziua, scrboeii tia de castracrevei. Dac n-a face asta n-ar mai rmne din mine dect pielea i osul. (U.C.P. 59)
ALTERED IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS Phew! Said the BFG. Phew and far between! (BFG 76)
Pfui! Zise UPC. Pfui, nc o dat! (U.B.P. 63)
Aoleu! zise U.B.P. Aoleu i mai departe! (UCP 91)
3.2. WITTY PUNS Your twenty-six loyal subjects were all eaten by giants, the Queen said. Apparently they like the taste of Swedes.Why do they like the taste of Swedes? the King asked.Because the Swedes of Sweden have a sweet and sour taste. So says the BFG, the Queen said. (BFG 173)
-Cei douzeci i ase de supui credincioi au fost mncai de uriai, zise Regina. Se pare c au gust de susan. -De ce s aib gust de susan? ntreb Regele. -Pentru c suedezii din Suedia au gust de susan. Aa spune U.B.P., zise Regina (U.B. P. 145).
-Toi cei douzeci i ase de supui credincioi ai ti au fost mncai de uriai, l ntiinRegina. Se pare c le place gustul suedezilor. -i de ce le place gustul suedezilor? ntreb Regele. -Pentru c suedezii din Suedia au un gust sudelicat, dup cum spune UCP (UCP 207).
3.3. GRAMMATICAL ANOMALIES
a. The excessive use of the Progressive Present b. Breaking of the subject-verb agreement They is usually just sticking an arm through the bedroom window... Ah, but I isnt eating you.
De obicei bag o mn prin fereastra dormitoarelor... Aa, dar eu nu te mnnc.
De obicei, bag mna pe fereastra dormitorului... Bine, dar eu nu te mnnc. CONCLUSIONS Childrens literature is culturally and even financially important so more effort should be invested in translating in such books. An interesting topic for further study would be to determine to what extent the similar tactics of translation would apply to the translation of metaphorical and idiomatic language. The original text contains so many anomalies and difficulties that its translation is a challenge. I did not intend to criticize the existing Romanian versions but it was interesting for me how anyone could manage. For such a book totally unprofessionally speaking the funniest text is a better version than the translations. I would conclude that the translation of Mdlina Monica Badea is less anomalous than the original. Combination of the two translations would be ideal.
