Translating Alice Munro: Culture-Specific Terms as a Translation Challenge

Abstract

According to contemporary translation theory, the process of literary translation is perceived as acculturation or negotiation between two literary traditions. In the translation practice, culture-specific terms seem to present a major challenge for the translator, for they often lack a proper equivalent in the target language. By analysing the Slovene translation of Alice Munro’s Too Much Happiness, this paper aims at illustrating translation problems which occur in translating culture-specific terms and the effects that a foreignizing translation approach to these items might have on the coherence and transparency of the translated text. By relating to contemporary translation theory, the paper also proposes alternative solutions to the identified translation problems which would enhance the transparency and fluency of the translated text.