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Translating the Other’s Voice
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through organisations like the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), CARICOM - with its opening to non-English speaking states (Suriname, Haiti) – and, more recently, the creation of a Single Market Economy. These political and economic integrative efforts have been accompanied by more successful cultural and intellectual integrative initiatives (CARIFESTA and CARIFTA). Yet, language barriers remain despite efforts made in the region to bridge this gap. Translation is part of such efforts. In recent years, Caribbean literary texts have been made more readily available in the other languages of the Caribbean, with the exception of Dutch and Papiamentu. However, we are faced with the paradox that this availability is made possible by publishing houses located outside the Caribbean, in the former colonial ‘centres.’ It is clear that translation of Caribbean texts does not aim first at readers from the region.
Translating Caribbean: The linguistic context
Translating a Caribbean text from French to English, or vice- versa, can be a very challenging task because of the linguistic complexity of the region. Indeed, in addition to the regional specificity of the European languages inherited from colonisation (English, French, Spanish and Dutch), three main African- European Creoles have developed, one with an English-based lexicon - as is the case in Jamaica, for example, another with a French-based lexicon (Haitian, Martinican, Guadeloupean, St. Lucian, Dominican, Grenadian and Trinidadian Creoles) and a third one with a mix of Spanish/Dutch-based lexicon (Papiamentu in Curaçao). This peculiarity stems from the fact that, in addition to the usual sociolects developed for the European languages in the region, there is a hierarchical distinction between the regionalised European languages and their African-Caribbean
counterparts. This situation, identified as diglossia, complicates matters in translating the Caribbean. An additional challenge comes from the usage of the two languages in the respective territories.
The researchers’ analysis of the translated texts shows a balance between considerations given to readers’ needs and respect for the authors’ text. However, theoretical positions on Caribbean translation are yet to be structured because of the exogenous location of publishers and readership, and also because Caribbean translators are not always hired for Caribbean translation projects.
The researchers conclude that a cross-Caribbean discussion on translation is needed, that will lead to theoretical reflection about issues and processes. It is already recognised that Glissant’s thinking on a Caribbean cross-cultural poetics, and Benitez Rojo’s discussion of the Caribbean as repeating islands, as well as the development of Caribbean Comparative studies, are setting the stage for Caribbean-led discussion on translation. Glissant’s concept of opacité fits well into the discussion about foreignising the translation process, while Benitez Rojo’s analysis of Caribbean culture shows the commonalities in the Region, beyond the language barriers. The time has come for Caribbean translators to conceptualise their views on translating the Caribbean by making use of the thought of these Caribbean writers.
Recognising Outstanding Researchers 2016
Recognising Outstanding Researchers 2016