The article analyses all five published translations to Lithuanian language of Michel Houellebecq’s novels (The Elementary Particles, Platform, The Possibility of an Island, The Map and the Territory and Submission) with a focus on translation of obscene and profane language. First, the usage of obscene and profane language for stylistic purposes in the context of entire Houellebecq’s literary creation is reviewed, based on the works about the author by literary translators, literary critics and translators of Houellebecq’s books from France, Switzerland and Brazil. After determining that obscene and profane language is one of the keys to the meaning of Houellebecq’s work and discussing peculiarities of the usage of such language in Lithuania (censorship, self-censorship, taboo), the translation analysis of the novels is presented. Such translation methods as exact translation, euphemisation, neutralisation and omitting were reviewed. After completing a qualitative analysis, it was established that Lithuanian translators clearly avoid using obscene and profane language and rather choose euphemisation, neutralisation or omission. The results of the qualitative analysis presented in the article confirm this tendency: overall, approximately 50 percent of all obscene and profane Houellebecq’s language was replaced with euphemisms, neutralised or omitted. Translation mistakes and inaccuracies were not separately analysed in this article, therefore were not presented in percentage terms. After completing the research, it can be stated that the translations of Houellebecq’s novels to Lithuanian language significantly lack in meaning and it would not be appropriate to discuss Houellebecq’s works in the literary discourse after reading them only in Lithuanian language. Moreover, a faulty tendency of translating each author’s book by a different translator is present in Lithuania, resulting in distortion of author’s style. Therefore, literary paradoxes of Houellebecq (according to Bruno Viard) result in paradoxes in translation to Lithuanian language: obscene and profane language still remains a certain sociocultural taboo, and one appropriate novel’s translation (The Possibility of an Island) out of five does not change the essence of the issue because the remaining four do not reflect author’s style and chosen registers. Translators must respect the will of a writer and refuse to translate the work if it presents an issue in terms of their sense of morality and ethics.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.