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“Nothing but the best is good enough for the young.” Dilemmas of the Translator of Children’s Literature

Publication date: 04.03.2013

Przekładaniec, Issues in English, Issue 22-23/2009-2010 – Translating Fairy Tales, pp. 227 - 248

https://doi.org/10.4467/16891864ePC.13.012.0866

Authors

Karolina Albińska
University of Lodz, Poland, ul. Narutowicza 65, 90-131 Łódź
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Titles

“Nothing but the best is good enough for the young.” Dilemmas of the Translator of Children’s Literature

Abstract

No doubt the world without Winnie the Pooh, Pippi Longstocking, Pinocchio or Moomin Trolls would have been less colourful. Characters from fairy tales imperceptibly slip into young readers’ minds and tend to stay there forever. Children accept them unconditionally and do not ask questions about their descent. Children’s response to books is usually very spontaneous: a love at first sight or an immediate dislike. Therefore, it is very important that they receive “the best” – not only beautiful and wise books but also books that are skillfully translated. Discussing the role of the translator of children’s literature, this article focuses on the child – translator relationship and the translator – author dichotomy. It points to different attitudes toward the translator’s creativity and “visibility.” It examines terminological ambiguities of such notions as “adaptation,” “reconstruction,” “rewriting” and “translation.” Finally, it deals with translation challenges that arise from didactic, entertaining and aesthetic functions of children’s books

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Information

Information: Przekładaniec, Issues in English, Issue 22-23/2009-2010 – Translating Fairy Tales, pp. 227 - 248

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

“Nothing but the best is good enough for the young.” Dilemmas of the Translator of Children’s Literature

English:

“Nothing but the best is good enough for the young.” Dilemmas of the Translator of Children’s Literature

Authors

University of Lodz, Poland, ul. Narutowicza 65, 90-131 Łódź

Published at: 04.03.2013

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Karolina Albińska (Author) - 100%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English