Foreign Languages: Lessons From the Past, Innovations for the Future
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Date
2014-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Foreign Languages Conference
Abstract
The language of expression plays a major role in the transmission of a message, and the interpretation of meaning of a work of art. Imagery and nomenclature determine how an original work of art or its translation is to be categorised, appreciated and analysed. The critic and reader have to grapple with the challenge of interpreting literatures in translation. In some cases, names, imagery and voice have to be changed in order to place the text appropriately into the context of the target language. In such cases, the naming of people, places and things as well as the use of imagery localised to the target language context(s) raises some conceptual challenges especially with regards to contextualisation, categorisation and authorship. Using my embryonic experience in translating Austin Bukenya‟s The Bride, Wole Soyinka‟s The Trials of Brother Jero, Francis Imbuga‟s Betrayal in the City, Sophocles‟ Antigone and William Shakespeare‟s King Lear from English into Lusoga, I argue that authentic texts are created through complete creative translation. Each of my plays in Lusoga, namely, Omugole, Ebikemo by’owoluganda Yero, Nkwe mu Kibuga, Kyabazinga Mukama, and Nantameigwa are innovative literary realities having been adorned in new language and diction. The changes in nomenclature, imagery and contexts of the source text to reflect the target language produces authentic texts.
Description
The language of expression plays a major role in the transmission of a message, and the interpretation of meaning of a work of art.
Keywords
Imagery and nomenclature, Target language - Lusoga, Hybridity - African Literature
Citation
Gulere, Cornelius Wambi. Foreign Languages: Lessons from the Past, Innovations for the Future Foreign Languages Conference 2014