Identifying intersemiotic translation trends : a case study on Gaiman’s The graveyard book and its graphic novel translation

Abstract

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This case study takes the form of a Descriptive Translation Study (DTS) of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (2008 & 2014). The primary aim is addressing the gap in Translation Studies of comics, by providing a qualitative description of the intersemiotic graphic novel translation of Gaiman’s 2008 novel. This description is then used to identify and formulate intersemiotic translation trends. The study also aims to establish a methodology, which is replicable and capable of producing similar results when applied to similar source and target texts. The Graveyard Book (2008) won both the Carnegie and Newbery Medals, making Gaiman the first author to be presented with both prestigious awards. The 2014 graphic novel translation of this award-winning novel was completed by eight eminent illustrative translators. This number, in addition to the shortage of intersemiotic translation literature concerning comics and graphic novels, makes The Graveyard Book (2008 & 2014) an interesting subject for DTS. The differing art styles of the eight translators produce a visualisation of the phenomena of different translation styles. These different styles in turn allow for the identification of similar intersemiotic translation methods from translator to translator. These corresponding methods are then reformulated as intersemiotic translation trends. As the study comprises two aims, it can be divided into two corresponding sections. Chapters 1 to 4 comprise the theoretical background. This includes establishing the translating agents, the study’s theoretical foundations, and the existing research that informed the methodology. The theories – intersemiotic translation, multimodality, constrained translation, translator invisibility, and norms – are the groundwork of the study, encapsulating the central facets of the text with which the study is concerned. The existing research informs the study on how to look at these facets through the lens of the DTS orientations. The formulation of the methodology is the final cornerstone before the empirical research is presented. Chapter 5 comprises a function-, product- and process- orientated description of The Graveyard Book (2008 & 2014). Chapter 6 then presents the elaboration of the phenomena described in Chapter 5 – thus formulating the trends, as well as the conclusion to the study.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie gevallestudie volg 'n Beskrywende Vertaalteoretiese (Descriptive Translation Studies - DTS) benadering tot Neil Gaiman se The Graveyard Book (2008 & 2014). Die hoofdoelstelling is om die leemte in literatuur oor strokiesprentvertaling aan te vul deur 'n kwalitatiewe beskrywing te gee van die intersemiotiese vertaling van Gaiman se 2008- roman as ʼn grafiese roman. Die beskrywing word dan gebruik om intersemiotiese vertaaltendense te identifiseer en formuleer. Die studie het ook ten doel om 'n metodologie vas te stel wat herhaalbaar is en soortgelyke resultate kan lewer wanneer dit op soortgelyke tekste toegepas word. Gaiman se The Graveyard Book (2008) het sowel die Carnegie- as Newbery-medalje gewen. Gaiman is die eerste skrywer wat albei hierdie gesogte toekennings ontvang. Die grafiese vertaling van hierdie bekroonde 2014-roman is deur agt uitstaande illustratiewe vertalers voltooi. Hierdie getal vertalers, benewens die tekort aan intersemiotiese vertaalliteratuur met betrekking tot strokiesprente en grafiese romans, is 'n interessante onderwerp vir ʼn DTS-benadering. Dit is omdat die vertalers se verskillende kunsstyle 'n visualisering van die verskillende vertaalstyle lewer. Uit hierdie uiteenlopende style kan daar egter soortgelyke intersemiotiese vertaalmetodes tussen die onderskeie vertalers afgelei word. Die ooreenstemmende metodes word dan herformuleer as intersemiotiese vertaaltendense. Die studie bestaan uit twee afdelings gebaseer op die twee doelstellings. Hoofstuk 1 tot 4 bevat die teoretiese agtergrond van die studie. Dit sluit bespreking in oor die vertaalagente, die studie se teoretiese grondslae, en bestaande navorsing waarop die metodologie gebaseer is. Die teorieë – intersemiotiese vertaling, multimodaliteit, beperkte vertaling, onsigbaarheid van die vertaler, en normteorie – is die sentrale aspekte waarop die studie fokus. Die bestaande navorsing lei die studie in die beskouing van genoemde aspekte, veral deur die lens van ʼn DTS-perspektief. Die formulering van die metodologie is die finale hoeksteen voor die empiriese navorsing volg. Hoofstuk 5 bevat die beskrywende studie as 'n funksie-, produk- en prosesgerigte beskrywing van The Graveyard Book (2008 & 2014). In Hoofstuk 6 word hoofstuk 5 se DTS-verskynsels verwerk. Hierdie verwerking lei tot die formulering van die intersemiotiese vertaaltendense. Hoofstuk 6 bevat ook die gevolgtrekking van die studie.