Translation Techniques Used and Gaps Found in Translating Cultural Terms of Jeevan Kada Ki Phool

Abstract

The book “Jeevan Kada Ki Phool” is an autobiography written by Jhamak kumari Ghimire. It has been translated into its English version titled “A Flower in the Midst of Thorns” by Nagendra Sharma and Safal Sharma. I have read both the books and selected 105 cultural terms using random sampling method. These terms have been categorized into 5 cultural categories which are ecology, material cultural, social culture, religious culture and conceptual terms. All 105cultural terms were then analyzed on the basis of translation techniques used by the translators which are as follows: Literal translation, Addition, Transference/Borrowing, Deletion, Blending, Substitution, Paraphrasing/Definition and Sense translation.After analysis it was found that the translators have used literal translation technique the most followed by Substitution and Addition technique.Since it’s very uncommon to have a complete translation of a text in terms of meaning, grammar and it essence, the translated version of this book also carries gaps. These gaps have been discussed as cultural gaps and linguistic gaps. Various examples have been presented to show the gaps that have occurred.