Techniques and gaps in translation of cultural terms: A case study of the Novel summer Love

Abstract

The research work entitled Techniques and Gaps in Translation of Cultural Terms: A Case of the Novel Summer Love is an attempt to deal with the techniques and gaps in translation of cultural terms used in the novel 'Summer Love'. The main objectives of the study were to identify the Nepali cultural terms in the novel Summer Love and their equivalents in English translation and to find out the techniques employed in the translation of Nepali cultural terms into English version and point out the gaps in translation process. The study was carried out by adopting the survey research design. The data were collected from the secondary sources. Observation was the major tool for data collection. Hundred cultural terms were selected from the novel and the context of the respective terms was provided. The cultural terms were selected by adopting purposive non-random sampling strategy. The major finding of the study was that seven different techniques: literal translation, sense translation, transference, substitution, definition, deletion and addition were employed while translating the cultural terms. Out of them, literal translation technique was the mostly used techniques and definition was the least used technique while translating the cultural terms from SL to TL. Similarly, explanation and notes highly supported in translation to maintain the original flavor of the ST. They provided the elaboration of the cultural terms which help the TT readers to get the original flavor of the very text. Deletion technique was not good in translation and it should be minimized as far as possible. This study consists of five chapters. The first chapter deals with background of the study, statements of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, delimitations of the study and operational definitions of the key terms. The second chapter deals with the review of theoretical and empirical literature an overview of the novel 'Summer Love' and conceptual framework of the study. Likewise, the third chapter deals with the methodology adopted for the study in which design of the study, population, sample and sampling strategy of the study, research tools sources of data, data collection procedures and data analysis and interpretation procedures of the study are discussed. The fourth chapter deals with the analysis and interpretation of the collected data descriptively and using simple statistical tool i.e. percentage. Similarly, the fifth chapter deals with the findings based on the analysis and interpretation of the data, conclusion derived from the findings and recommendations. This chapter is followed by reference and appendices.