‘Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands and goes to work.’ This is how American poet Sandburg described the linguistic phenomenon of slang in the New York Times in 1959 (quoted in Crystal 2006: 117). His definition accurately expresses the spirit of slang, but somewhat exaggerates its virtue. Nevertheless, Sandburg’s definition has become an often quoted phrase. His quotation already indicates the peculiarity of slang, which sparked my interest in analysing the relationship between such a complex linguistic manifestation and the compound human activity of translation. Therefore, this essay aims to explore the questions evolving around the translation of slang and gives examples by reference to the novel From Here to Eternity (1951) by US American writer James Jones (1921-1977). The novel was translated into several languages, inter alia into German by Otto Schrag (1951) and into Hungarian by Szíjgyártó László (1975). The novel’s abundance in slang expressions means a great challenge for the translator and thus offers insightful material for the exploration of translation theory and practice.
After a general introduction of the linguistic phenomenon of slang, including a theoretical analysis of its characteristics, functions and its linguistic features as well as a brief overview of slang in literature, chapter three shall introduce Jones’s novel with the focus on its slang elements. Furthermore, the first part of chapter four is dedicated to explore the translatability of slang on the basis of Hervey and Higgins’ theory of compromise and compensation by giving German and Hungarian translation examples of the novel. Moreover, subchapter 4.2 will examine the translation methods with regard to Jones’s novel by focusing on the different traditions of American, German and Hungarian slang usage. Subchapter 4.3 shall continue to analyse the German and Hungarian translations of slang specifically in reference to From Here to Eternity. Throughout the essay certain linguistic items chosen from the novel will be analysed and German and Hungarian examples will be contrasted to the English original.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Slang in General
2.1 Characteristics and Functions
2.2 Linguistic Features
2.3 Slang in Literature
3 Slang in James Jones’ From Here to Eternity
4 Translatability of Slang
4.1 Compromise and Compensation
4.2 American, German and Hungarian Slang in Comparison
4.3 Translating Slang of From Here to Eternity
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This study explores the complex challenges associated with translating slang, focusing specifically on the strategies required to maintain the stylistic and emotional expressivity of the original source text. The analysis utilizes James Jones' novel "From Here to Eternity" as a primary case study to evaluate how different cultural and linguistic frameworks influence the translation process in German and Hungarian.
- The linguistic nature, functions, and characteristics of slang in general.
- Theoretical approaches to translation, specifically Hervey and Higgins’ theory of compromise and compensation.
- A comparative analysis of American, German, and Hungarian slang traditions.
- Practical evaluation of translation methods used in rendering military slang and colloquialisms.
- The impact of social and tonal register on maintaining the author's original intention.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Compromise and Compensation
To translate slang is an especially difficult task because slang expressions never occur in simple and denotative meanings. If, for example, a slang word is adopted from the standard (while the speaker bestows it with a new meaning), the respective object or phenomenon is not simply circumscribed, but the slang word itself is contrasted to the respective (adopted) standard word (Andersson, Trudgill 1990: 81-84). Thus, translating slang (as translation in general) requires an in-depth knowledge of vocabulary as well as cultural knowledge of the source and target language, which also means that the translator needs to be up to date with the very rapid development of slang vocabulary. This is possible by recognising the culture, lifestyle and attitude of the slang speakers of all cultures involved as well as considering the peculiarities and constraints of the target language. Moreover, the process of translating slang is additionally complicated by the fact that slang expressions do not always have equivalents in other languages, indeed, finding proper equivalents is more than unlikely.
As was already discussed earlier, the vocabulary of slang is highly dynamic, which can cause problems for translators when translating slang expressions of a source text that were produced earlier. Even recognising the respective slang elements can generate difficulties for translators in that situation. After having identified the slang elements, the translator needs to determine the relevant slang word in the target language that is either of the same time when the source text was produced or involves the latest expressions, depending on what effect the translator chooses to bring about. Otherwise, the translated text loses its stylistic value. The translator takes multiple risks when converting a text that is rich in slang elements for there is danger of the text losing its expressivity and the work esteemed in the source culture diminishing in value, which results in the translation being less appreciated in the target culture. Accordingly, often translators can hardly picture the special flavour of the slang as the author of the original.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the study, defining the research interest in slang as a linguistic phenomenon and introducing the chosen primary text for analysis.
2 Slang in General: This section provides a theoretical foundation by examining the characteristics, functions, and linguistic features of slang, including its role in social identification and its usage in literature.
3 Slang in James Jones’ From Here to Eternity: This chapter contextualizes the novel within its specific setting and discusses the prevalence of military and standard slang within the text.
4 Translatability of Slang: This chapter explores practical translation strategies, focusing on the concepts of compromise and compensation while comparing linguistic traditions across American, German, and Hungarian contexts.
5 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes findings, noting that successful translation of slang requires balancing the target audience's expectations with the preservation of the original's expressive character.
Keywords
Slang, Translation Theory, Compromise, Compensation, Linguistic Register, From Here to Eternity, James Jones, Cultural Equivalents, Expressivity, Social Demarcation, Military Slang, Tonal Register, Literary Translation, Language Dynamics, Sociolect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on the linguistic and translational challenges posed by slang, specifically examining how a text rich in slang can be translated while maintaining its original emotional and stylistic impact.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The themes include the definition and function of slang, the relationship between slang and social identity, theories of translation (specifically compromise and compensation), and comparative linguistics between American, German, and Hungarian slang.
What is the core research objective?
The primary objective is to determine how translators handle the high level of expressivity and cultural specificity found in slang, using the novel "From Here to Eternity" as a benchmark.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study uses a descriptive and comparative approach, analyzing specific translation examples from the German and Hungarian editions of the novel and evaluating them against established translation theories.
What does the main part cover?
The main part covers the theoretical definitions of slang, a contextual introduction to Jones’ novel, and a detailed analysis of four categories of compensation used by translators to handle slang elements.
How can this work be characterized by keywords?
The work is characterized by keywords relating to translation methodology, linguistic theory, cultural adaptation, and the sociology of language in literature.
How does the author define the relationship between slang and literary authenticity?
The author argues that slang is vital for achieving a realist approach in literature; without it, dialogue can appear implausible or non-authentic, as slang functions as a marker for character identity.
Why is "From Here to Eternity" considered a challenging case for translation?
The novel is considered challenging because it features a dense layer of military slang and oral-narrative style that does not always have direct equivalents in other languages, requiring the translator to choose between linguistic accuracy and cultural adaptation.
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- Robert Stolt (Autor:in), 2010, The Translation of Slang, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/151739
