Exploring Expansion and Reduction Strategies in Two English Translations of Masnavi

Atefeh Abbasi, Mansour Koosha

Abstract


The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of the use of two semantic adjustment strategies; namely, expansion and reduction, in the two English translations of book one of Masnavi. For this purpose, 300 lines of Masnavi by Rumi (2014) along its two corresponding English translations by Nicholson (2004) and Whinfield (2001) were critically analyzed based on Nida and Taber's (2003) theoretical framework. Based on the outcomes of the present study, both translators applied the expansion strategy more than the reduction because poems in Masnavi were so condensed and the writer of Masnavi applied classic words which were not understandable to the target language readers. Therefore, both translators used expansion strategy to explicate what was implied in the source text and to make a natural and a comprehensible translation to the target text readers.

Keywords: Semantic Adjustment Strategies, Expansion, Reduction, Masnavi


Full Text:

PDF

References


Balkhi, J. M. (2014). Masnavi. Tehran: Adine Sabz

Bassnett, S. (2002). Translation studies. London and New York: Routledge.

Connolly, D. (2007). Poetry translation. In M. Baker (Ed.), Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies (pp. 170-176). New York: Routledge.

Ebrahimi, Sh. & Lesan Toosi, F. (2013). A Comparative analysis of lexical collocations in Molavi’s Mathnavi and its translation. International Journal of English and Education, 2(2), 62-73.nternational Journal and Education

Karimnia, A. & Ebrahimzade, M. & Jafari, Z. (2012). Mawlana and the west: with special reference to translation. Journal of Linguistics and Translation. Retrieved from http:// www.elixirjournal.org

Kolahi, Sh. & Goodarzi, M. (2010). Comparing the use of semantic adjustment strategies in versed and free-verse styles of the English translations of Hafez poetry. JELS Journal, 1(3), 91-112.

Manafi Anari, S. (2004). An approach to English translation of Islamic texts. Tehran:

SAMT.

Manafi Anari, S. (2009). A study of Islamic texts in English translation (II).Tehran: SAMT.

Manafi Anari, S. (2011). Expansion, reduction, and correspondence in English translations of the poems of Hafiz. Journal of Translation Studies, 9(35), 87-100.

Nicholson, R. A. (2004). The Mathnawi of Jalaluddin Rumi. Retrieved from http:// drive.google.com/file/d/0B2GU1ZyPbqVlU3prMUMzM0s4b1k/edit?pli=1

Nida, E. A. & Taber, C.R. (2003). The theory and practice of translation. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

Niknasab, L., & Pishbin, E. (2011). On the translation of poetry: A look at Sohrab Sepehri's traveler. SKASE Journal of Translation and Interpretation, 5(1), 2-23.

Savabi Esfahani, A. (2014). Malysty mini analysis short story of Masnavi: The first three offices. Visi Journal Akademik, 6, 15-25.

Shirinzadeh, A., & Tengku Mahadi, T.S. (2014). Using expansion strategies in making untranslatable areas of poetry translatable: Sa’di’s Bustan as a case in point. English Language Teaching, 7(8), 39-52. doi:10.5539/elt.v7n8p39

Whinfield, E.H. (2001). Masnavi i ma'niavi: Teaching of Rumi. The spiritual couplets of Maulana Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi. Retrieved from http:// www.omphaloSkepsis.com/Library/masnavi.pdf


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2010-2023 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.

Advances in Language and Literary Studies

You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.