Loss of meaning in translation : a case study of Basain
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Faculty of Education University Campus Tribhuwan University Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Abstract
The thesis entitled ‘Loss of Meaning in Translation: A Case Study of Basain’ is
an attempt of the researcher to find out the cases of cultural meaning loss in the
translation of novel Basain. It further aimed to explore the causes of loss of
meaning in translation. Furthermore, it aimed to analyze the ways that can be used
to compensate the meaning gap in translation as well. Only the secondary sources
of data were used in the study. Descriptive and analytical study design along with
qualitative data were used. Twenty two different cases of meaning loss in the
translation of the novel Basain were found. The study explored causes of the loss
of meaning to occur in translation. Some of the major causes were pointed out as-
cultural gap, deletion, negligence of the translator, lack of functional equivalence,
lack of co-cultural and socio-cultural knowledge (of the SL) of the translator, over
generalization of the meaning, carelessness of the translator, incomplete linguistic
knowledge (of the SL) of the translator, transliteration and so on. It has also been
found that the quality of translation is determined by the selection and the
application of the appropriate translation techniques. It also depends upon how
competent and familiar the translator is with the SL culture and the message to
render into the TL. Maintaining cultural gap with cultural equivalence, avoiding
deletion, use of addition and elaboration, searching for functional equivalence, in
depth study of the source language grammar and content, avoiding the use of
transliteration etc. are found as some of the ways used to compensate the meaning
loss in translation.
The thesis has been divided into four chapters. The first chapter contains the introductory
part which deals with the theoretical analysis of the study. The second chapter contains
the methodology which deals with the detail description of the methodology applied in
the study. The third chapter includes the analysis and interpretation of the data obtained
from the field. It includes the transliteration of the SL text, their target language
equivalence and the instance of loss of meaning. After their general presentation, the
causes of meaning loss have been analyzed along with the analysis of possible ways to
over come such meaning loss in translation. As the collected data were qualitative in
nature, they are analyzed and interpreted descriptively in a narration. The fourth chapter
contains the findings and recommendations of the study.