This paper will examine an English translated novel by Kim Chi Young that Shin Kyung Sook originally wrote in Korean in 2008. This book was substantially translated into thirty different languages in the world. This paper will particularly focus on the English translated book published by the major publisher, Alfred A. Knopf in 2011. In Kim’s translation, the most prominent influence is the L. Venuti’s famous theory of domesticated translation from his book, She followed the domesticated principle that emphasises ‘the reduction of the foreign text to target language cultural values’. It is the most prevalent strategy in translation particularly in the Anglo-American literature market. In other words, it is the authoritative strategy,
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According to her, ‘the translators in a strong literary polysystem tend to apply domesticating strategy and thus produce translations characterized by superficial fluency, while in a weak culture foreinizing strategy or resistance translation prevails.’ Unfortunately, it is significant in Kim’s work that many cultural specificity of Korea are suppressed in the text and she demonstrates the polysystem principle in action. Brother Anthony also illustrates that the translated text is underpinning the power relationship between the publisher and a translator. He states that every translated texts should be published by the publisher and subsequently, the publisher need to commodify and advertise the book in the market. In this respect, Please Look after Mom might be differentiated if it was published through other publishers and at high risk of not become a bestseller. In this perspective, the book covers and Kim’s writing style are good examples that demonstrate the roles of the publisher and marketing. You can simple compare the differences of the book covers of the translated book from the original Korean book. The second book cover reminds us the stereotyped Asian girl, maybe from Japan, who is mysterious, remote that are far from the story of the book. In addition, Kim intentionally uses plain language in the translation, which reminds us other bestsellers of Homer …show more content…
The general readers access to the book reviews as the primary source of information so it should not be overlooked. The readers have limited information about the foreign writers and they are incapable in comparing the original and translated texts. Moreover, many scholars such as Meg Brown and James Holmes highlighted the importance of book reviews. They stated that the book reviews are one part of the translation field and they are useful tools in examining the demands of literary translation in the market. However, most reviewers merely focused on its fluency or writing style, while there are rare occasions to address the translator’s name; only 4 reviews briefly mentioned it was a translated book and few reviewers mentioned translator’s name. Bassnett also recognized the place of translator are dismissed as marginal. But among them, The New York Times gave a commentary on her work by stating, “Intimate and hauntingly spare in this translation by Chi-Young Kim.” Also, The Times Literary supplement states, “It is nostalgic but unsentimental, brutally well observed and, in this flawless smooth translation by Chi Young Kim…” Thus, this translated book failed in receiving critical reception in terms of the evaluation of literal merit compared to other European language translated versions of Korean literature. However, by
According to her, ‘the translators in a strong literary polysystem tend to apply domesticating strategy and thus produce translations characterized by superficial fluency, while in a weak culture foreinizing strategy or resistance translation prevails.’ Unfortunately, it is significant in Kim’s work that many cultural specificity of Korea are suppressed in the text and she demonstrates the polysystem principle in action. Brother Anthony also illustrates that the translated text is underpinning the power relationship between the publisher and a translator. He states that every translated texts should be published by the publisher and subsequently, the publisher need to commodify and advertise the book in the market. In this respect, Please Look after Mom might be differentiated if it was published through other publishers and at high risk of not become a bestseller. In this perspective, the book covers and Kim’s writing style are good examples that demonstrate the roles of the publisher and marketing. You can simple compare the differences of the book covers of the translated book from the original Korean book. The second book cover reminds us the stereotyped Asian girl, maybe from Japan, who is mysterious, remote that are far from the story of the book. In addition, Kim intentionally uses plain language in the translation, which reminds us other bestsellers of Homer …show more content…
The general readers access to the book reviews as the primary source of information so it should not be overlooked. The readers have limited information about the foreign writers and they are incapable in comparing the original and translated texts. Moreover, many scholars such as Meg Brown and James Holmes highlighted the importance of book reviews. They stated that the book reviews are one part of the translation field and they are useful tools in examining the demands of literary translation in the market. However, most reviewers merely focused on its fluency or writing style, while there are rare occasions to address the translator’s name; only 4 reviews briefly mentioned it was a translated book and few reviewers mentioned translator’s name. Bassnett also recognized the place of translator are dismissed as marginal. But among them, The New York Times gave a commentary on her work by stating, “Intimate and hauntingly spare in this translation by Chi-Young Kim.” Also, The Times Literary supplement states, “It is nostalgic but unsentimental, brutally well observed and, in this flawless smooth translation by Chi Young Kim…” Thus, this translated book failed in receiving critical reception in terms of the evaluation of literal merit compared to other European language translated versions of Korean literature. However, by