Translation, Humour and Literature: Translation and Humour Volume 1

Description

Translation studies and humour studies are disciplines that have been long-established but seldom looked at in conjunction. This volume uses literature as the common ground and examines issues of translating humour within a range of different literary traditions. It begins with an analysis of humour and translation in every day life, including jokes and cross-cultural humour, and then moves on to looking at humour and translation in literature through the ages. Despite growing interest and a history of collaborative study, there has been little translation studies scholarship published in this area. This collection features a comprehensive introduction by the editor, which covers strategies and techniques for translating humour as well as the pragmatics involved. The book will appeal to scholars and postgraduates in translation and interpreting studies and humour studies.

Delia Chiaro is Professor of English Language and Translation at the University of Bologna, Italy.

This book significantly advances both translation studies and humour scholarship. Delia Chiaro has assembled a unique array of experts to reflect on the challenges of translating humour. Volume one is replete with examples and practical advice from masterly translators but it is also that rare thing - a scholarly book about humour that is itself humorous. It instructs while it entertains. From Michael Ewans' recapturing of Aristophanic satire's original shock-value and Marguerite Wells' lively account of matching the Japanese tally of 27 synonyms for "prostitute", to the insights afforded by Christie Davies' "translations" of Scottish religious jokes into other varieties of English and Walter Redfern's self-discoveries in the process of creating French and Spanish versions of a poem to his father, this book illuminates both the nature of translation and of humour. The second volume will be eagerly awaited. -- Jessica Milner Davis, Honorary Associate, School of Letters, Art and Media, University of Sydney, Australia ... demonstrates how pervasive humour is in everyday life and how important its translation has always been in different literary traditions... Chiaro, a renowned scholar in humour translation, edits this volume and in the introduction, she provides an overview of the book but also offers some insights into humour and translation. * Applied Linguistics, vol 33, no 4, September 2012 *