TRANSLATION STRATEGIES TO ESTABLISH EQUIVALENCE IN ENGLISH - NYANJA NEWS TRANSLATION AT ZAMBIA NATIONAL BROADCASTING COROPRATION (ZNBC) BY REGINA MVULA A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Linguistic Science. The University of Zambia 2017 DECLARATION I, Regina Mvula, do declare that this dissertation represents my own work and that it has neither in any part nor whole been previously submitted for any degree diploma or other qualification at this or any other University. SIGNATURE: _______________________________________________ DATE: _____________________________________________________ i COPYRIGHT No part of this dissertation may be reproduced or stored in any form without prior written approval by the author or the University of Zambia. ii CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL This dissertation by Regina Mvula is approved as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts Linguistic Science in the school of Humanities the University of Zambia. EXAMINERS’S SIGNATURES SIGNED: _______________________________ DATE: ______________________ SIGNED: ________________________________ DATE: _______________________ SIGNED: ________________________________ DATE: ______________________ iii ABSTRACT The study sought to examine the translation strategies applied to establish meaning equivalence in the process of translating news in English into Nyanja at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC). The objectives of the study were three fold: Firstly, to establish the strategies that are used when translating news in English into Nyanja at ZNBC; Secondly to determine the equivalence between the news in English and the translated news in Nyanja at ZNBC and thirdly to establish challenges if any, faced by the translators when translating News in English into Nyanja at ZNBC. The Descriptive model of translation commonly known as Descriptive translation studies guided the study as it is a non prescriptive means of understanding the norms at work in the translation process and of discovering general laws of translation through textual analysis of the Source text and Target text. A case study design was employed in the study, so as to allow a detailed and intensive analysis of a single case. Qualitative approaches were used to collect data from 8 respondents and 90 news items: 1 Radio Manager, 1 programme organiser, 6 Nyanja section translators, 45 news items in English and 45 corresponding news items in Nyanja from ZNBC Radio One. Purposeful samplings were used to select the sample. The research instruments included: semi-structured interview guide, for the Radio Manager, the programme organiser and Nyanja section translators; a document review guide for the researcher. The qualitative data were coded and grouped according to emerging themes. The results indicated that ZNBC Radio One Nyanja translators mainly use the following translation strategies: omission, use of a general word, neutral or less expressive word, borrowing, addition and literal translation. Furthermore, the study revealed that translators faced challenges when translating certain medical, legal and scientific terminologies as there were no direct equivalent words. Most translators also faced a lack of continuous professional development on translation theory and practice. Based on the findings, the study recommends that Ministry of Higher Education in conjunction with universities in Zambia introduce more courses to train journalists and translators on Translation theory and practice. Futhermore, Research institutes should carry out further studies on how translation strategies can contribute to the creation of new words in Nyanja. iv DEDICATION This study is dedicated to my parents Isaac and Kerita Mvula whose financial and moral support was unwavering and to my siblings Engiwe and Paul who inspire me to be the best I can be. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As human beings, we have many limitations. Thus no man is an island; we need each other. I owe the success of this study to many people and institutions who contributed to it. Above all, I thank the Almighty God for His protection, guidance, wisdom and natural intellect rendered to me during my studies. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the following people who without their efforts this dissertation would not have been possible: Dr. Chishiba, my mentor and supervisor for his professional guidance, encouragement and excellent advice throughout my coursework and eventual writing of this dissertation. Dr. Simwinga and Dr. Mambwe for their encouragement on the choice of research topic, advice and academic guidance. Mrs. Dorothy Yengiwe Lungu Zulu for tirelessly assisting me with the back translation of the news items in Nyanja throughout my study. Mrs. Kerita Lungu Mvula for editing the dissertation. ZNBC journalists, for providing me with the necessary information for my research. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ................................................................................................................ i COPYRIGHT..................................................................................................................... ii CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ..................................................................................... iii ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ xi CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................1 1.1 GENERAL ...................................................................................................................1 1.2 Background ..................................................................................................................1 1.3 Statement of the Problem ..............................................................................................4 1.4 Aim of the Study ...........................................................................................................5 1.5 Objectives .....................................................................................................................5 1.6 Research Questions .......................................................................................................5 1.7 Significance of the Study ...............................................................................................6 1.8 Delimitations of the Study .............................................................................................6 1.9 Operational Definitions .................................................................................................6 1.9.1 Source Text (ST).....................................................................................................6 1.9.4 Target Text (TT) ....................................................................................................6 1.9.3 Translation Equivalence .........................................................................................6 1.9.4 Translation Strategies ............................................................................................7 1.9.5 Lingua Franca ........................................................................................................7 1.9.6 Nyanja ....................................................................................................................7 1.10 Theoretical Framework ..............................................................................................7 1.11 Structure of Dissertation .............................................................................................8 1.12 Summary ....................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER TWO ...............................................................................................................9 LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................9 2.0 GENERAL ...................................................................................................................9 vii 2.1 The Concept of Equivalence..........................................................................................9 2.2 Studies on News Translation ....................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Studies on Nature and process of News Translation .......................................... 12 2.2.2 Research on the Role of Translation in News Translation ................................. 13 2.2.3 Studies on strategies used in News Translation ................................................. 14 2.2.4 Studies on Equivalence