Master Translating Culture in Postcolonial Francophone Literature: Cultural References in Maryse Condé's Desirada GRIFFIN, Jessica Abstract Current translation theory recognizes importance of culture when translating literature. In fact, some translation scholars insist that translators should be both bilingual and bicultural and act as a cultural mediator. When translating cultural references, the literary form must also be considered. Postcolonial literature in the Francophone Caribbean presents unique challenges for translators as the literary form often acts as a cultural component and must alsos be communicated. This paper will examine how cultural references are rendered and which aspects of the literary form were transferred in the novel Desirada by Maryse Condé, translated by Richard Philcox. This paper will also examine if source culture elements are domesticated and to what extent, in addition to the role that the literary form plays in the translation. Reference GRIFFIN, Jessica. Translating Culture in Postcolonial Francophone Literature: Cultural References in Maryse Condé's Desirada. Master : Univ. Genève, 2018 Available at: http://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:104631 Disclaimer: layout of this document may differ from the published version. 1 / 1 JESSICA GRIFFIN TRANSLATING CULTURE IN POSTCOLONIAL FRANCOPHONE CARIBBEAN LITERATURE: CULTURAL REFERENCES IN MARYSE CONDÉ’S DESIRADA Directeur: James Tarpley Juré: Lance Hewson Mémoire présenté à la Faculté de traduction et d’interprétation (Département de traduction, l’Unité d’anglais) pour l’obtention de la Maîtrise universitaire en traduction mention traduction spécialisée. 1 J’affirme avoir pris connaissance des documents d’information et de prévention du plagiat émis par l’Université de Genève et la Faculté de traduction et d’interprétation (notamment la Directive en matière de plagiat des étudiant-e-s, le Règlement d’études des Maîtrises universitaires en traduction et du Certificat complémentaire en traduction de la Faculté de traduction et d’interprétation ainsi que l’Aide-mémoire à l’intention des étudiants préparant un mémoire de Ma en traduction). J’atteste que ce travail est le fruit d’un travail personnel et a été rédigé de manière autonome. Je déclare que toutes les sources d’information utilisées sont citées de manière complète et précise, y compris les sources sur Internet. Je suis conscient-e que le fait de ne pas citer une source ou de ne pas la citer correctement est constitutif de plagiat et que le plagiat est considéré comme une faute grave au sein de l’Université, passible de sanctions. Au vu de ce qui précède, je déclare sur l’honneur que le présent travail est original. Nom et prénom: Griffin, Jessica Lieu / date / signature: Genève 15/01/2018 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 3 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Translating Postcolonial literature: Culture and language .................................................... 6 1.1.1 The Translator as a Cultural Mediator ............................................................................. 7 2 Defining postcolonial literature ....................................................................................................... 7 3 Shaping Francophone Caribbean discourse and the emergence of the contemporary Caribbean novel ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 3.1 Négritude ................................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 From Négritude to Antillanité and to Créolité........................................................................ 9 4 Defining Francophone Caribbean literature and issues for translation ........................................ 10 4.1 Literary Genres ...................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.1 Oraliture ......................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.2 Doudouisme ................................................................................................................... 11 4.1.3 Autofiction ..................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 The Modern Caribbean novel ................................................................................................ 12 4.2.1 Diglossia, Polyglossia and Linguistic Hybridity ........................................................... 13 4.2.2 Appropriation ................................................................................................................ 14 4.2.3 Non-linear narratives ..................................................................................................... 14 4.2.4 Parental paradigms and gender stereotypes ................................................................... 15 4.3 Cultural hierarchy: French literature vs. Francophone literature .......................................... 16 5 Texts for Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 17 5.1 The source text Desirada....................................................................................................... 17 5.2 The translator and translation ................................................................................................ 19 5.2.1 Audience ........................................................................................................................ 20 6 Questions for research .................................................................................................................. 20 7 Theoretical framework .................................................................................................................. 21 7.1 Categories for cultural references ......................................................................................... 21 7.1.1 Ecology .......................................................................................................................... 21 7.1.2 Material Culture............................................................................................................. 21 7.1.3 Social Culture ................................................................................................................ 22 7.1.4 Organizations, customs, activities, procedures and concepts ........................................ 22 7.1.5 Gestures and habits ........................................................................................................ 22 7.2 Newmark’s procedures and methods for translating ............................................................. 22 3 7.2.1 Transference .................................................................................................................. 23 7.2.2 Naturalization ................................................................................................................ 23 7.2.3 Cultural Equivalent ........................................................................................................ 23 7.2.4 Functional Equivalent .................................................................................................... 23 7.2.5 Descriptive Equivalent .................................................................................................. 23 7.2.6 Synonymy ...................................................................................................................... 23 7.2.7 Through-translation ....................................................................................................... 24 7.2.8 Shifts/Transposition ....................................................................................................... 24 7.2.9 Modulation .................................................................................................................... 24 7.2.10 Recognized translation .................................................................................................. 24 7.2.11 Translation label ............................................................................................................ 24 7.2.12 Compensation ................................................................................................................ 24 7.2.13 Componential analysis................................................................................................... 24 7.2.14 Reduction/Expansion ..................................................................................................... 25 7.2.15 Paraphrasing .................................................................................................................. 25 7.2.16 Notes, Additions, Glosses .............................................................................................. 25 7.2.17 Couplets ......................................................................................................................... 25 8 Analysis of the Texts .....................................................................................................................