Authors: Dr. Samiat Olúbùnmi ABUBAKRE and Nihmotallahi Moradeke MUSTOPHA
Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
Date: 01/11/2025
Translation, as the interpretation of meanings from one language to another, is crucial for intercultural exchange in multilingual societies, despite its inherent complexities due to language characteristics. This study addresses the challenges of translating culture-specific expressions (CSEs), which often pose significant hurdles for translators because of fundamental differences in cultural contexts. The paper specifically examines the concept of equivalence in two English translations of Daniel Ọl rúnf mi F g nw ‟s l ssi or novel, Igbó Olódùmarè, Wole Ṣoyink ‟s In the Forest of Olódùmarè and G riel Aj dí‟s The Forest of God. The research utilizes a qualitative methodology, employing the Translation Equivalence Assessment (TEA) model proposed by Abubakre (2020) as its theoretical framework. This model integr tes Newm rk‟s (1981; 1988) tegoriz tion of n mes, Pederson‟s (2007) t xonomy of tr nsl tion str tegies, nd B ker‟s (1992/2011) outline of translation equivalence comparison. The findings indicate a considerable degree of equivalence between the Source Text (ST) and the Target Texts (TTs). The study also identifies that the translators predominantly used retention, substitution, direct translation, explicitation, and calque strategies to convey the intended meanings of the names. However, it concludes that "perfect" equivalence between Yorùbá and English is really not easy but can be achievable with more efforts put into it.
Keywords: Translation, Translation strategies, Equivalence, Culture-specific expressions, Yorùbá, Igbó Olódùmarè.
Download PDF