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Adult Ideology Reflected in Translation of Character Names: Japanese-Korean Picture Book Translations Compared with English-Korean Picture Book Translations
The Journal of Translation Studies
Abbr :
JTS
2013, 14(2), pp.103-123
DOI : 10.15749/jts.2013.14.2.004
Publisher : The Korean Association for Translation Studies
Research Area : Interpretation and Translation Studies
2013, 14(2), pp.103-123
DOI : 10.15749/jts.2013.14.2.004
Publisher : The Korean Association for Translation Studies
Research Area : Interpretation and Translation Studies
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Since they were first introduced in the 1980s, picture book translations have dramatically increased in Korea. A significant number of translations has been from English and Japanese. The translations from these two languages reveal a difference in the translation of proper names, particularly names of characters. This paper delves into this phenomenon, investigates the reasons for the difference, and attempts to put it into perspective. In Japanese-Korean picture book translations, the character names are often changed into Korean names whereas in English-Korean translations original names are retained. The former reflects adult ideology in picture book translations: an aversion to Japanese names by Korean adults, and their view on whether ST-oriented or TT-oriented names are better for children. After Japanese colonial rule of Korea ended in 1945, extensive efforts were made to eliminate traces of the Japanese language from Korean. This avoidance of Japanese names in Korean translations can be viewed as a residue of such efforts. An alternate reason for the name-changing of characters in Japanese-Korean translations is the deemed familiarity of young Korean readers with Korean names. Nevertheless, this practice is gradually shifting towards the preserving of original Japanese names in translated picture books. Quantity and quality enhancement in both authentic and translated picture books in Korea, call for cultural diversity in Korean children’s literature translations, and rapid multiculturalization in the Korean society all lead towards more ST-oriented translation of character names in picture books.
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