The Techniques and Gaps in Translation of Cultural Terms: a Case of the Novel 'The Good Earth'

Abstract

This thesis entitled " The Techniques and Gaps in Translationof Cultural Terms: A Case of the novelThe Good Earth" is an attempt to find out the techniques and their frequency employed in translating cultural terms. The main purpose of this study is to observe and classifythe gaps in the translation by using different techniques. The data for the study were collected from the novel 'TheGood Earth' and its Nepali translated version 'Kalyani Dharati'. In thisresearch work two hundred and fifty cultural terms were identified andthose terms were categorized into five categories. The researcher selectedsixty terms with focus on translational gaps. Findings of the study show that ten different techniques werefound to have been employed in translating cultural words of the novel'The Good Earth'. There were many instances of the use of non-corresponding meaning components, which lead gaps in translation. Sothe meaning gaps exist between SL terms and TL terms. Eighttypes/categories of gaps were found in this study. This thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter one introducesthe study in general background, literature review, objectives,significance of the study and definition of specific terms. Chapter two,i.e. methodology, includes on the sources of data, sampling, tools for datacollection, process of data collection and limitations of the study.Chapterthree presents an analysis and interpretation of the collected data. In thischapter, data are analyzed and interpretated through statistical anddescriptive approach.Chapter four presents the findings of the study onthe basis of the analysis and interpretation of data. On the basis of the findings some recommendations and pedagogical implications are drawn. The references and appendices are the concluding parts of the thesis.