VOL 1 No 2, 2024 Research Article
Nitya Pawar
PhD Research Scholar, Ashoka University, India
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21659/jsae/v1n2/v1n219
[Article History: Received: 30 Jun 2024. Revised: 07 Sep 2024. Accepted: 30 Sep 2024. Published: 31 Dec 2024]
Abstract
This paper delves into the intricacies of translation through an in-depth analysis of Gordon C. Roadarmel’s English rendition of Munshi Premchand’s renowned novel, Godan. The novel, a poignant exploration of social, economic, and personal conflicts in pre-independence India, revolves around the protagonist, Hori, a peasant whose desire to own a cow leads him through trials and tribulations, ultimately resulting in his destruction. Roadarmel’s translation, titled The Gift of a Cow, has faced mixed reviews, with scholars such as Ludo Rocher and Robert O. Swan offering varying perspectives on its linguistic fidelity and readability. The paper engages with Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s critique of the translation, particularly her assertion that it appears “boringly literal” and lacks a sense of the original as a whole. The discussion expands to explore the broader question of what it means for a translation to appear as a whole. The analysis focuses on Roadarmel’s choices in translating metaphors and idioms, arguing that a close reading of the text, rather than adherence to a singular translation approach, contributes to the wholeness of the translated work. This investigation seeks to enrich the understanding of meaning-making in translation practices, emphasizing the nuanced relationship between the translator and the text.
Keywords: translation, Munshi Premchand, Hindi novel, Godaan, translation ethics
