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Ideological Transfer in the Translation Activity: Power and Gender in Emma Donoghue’s Kissing the Witch

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Gender Approaches in the Translation Classroom

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Abstract

The relation between translation and Gender Studies has long been the object of academic attention (Federici et al. 2011; Nissen 2002; Von Flotow 2011). However, this coalition rarely constitutes the object of study from a translation perspective. The aims of our research were to raise awareness on gender issues among third-year students of a Spanish Language and Literature Degree and to foster a critical perception of translation. A three-phase methodology was designed with a pre- and post-test translation activity. Results show that this methodology helped students develop a critical translation process when gender issues are implied. We conclude that an integrated approach in the training of translators with the inclusion of a gender perspective should be increasingly encouraged in academic settings.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Burgos, Burgos, Spain

    María Amor Barros del Río

  2. University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

    Elena Alcalde Peñalver

Authors
  1. María Amor Barros del Río
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  2. Elena Alcalde Peñalver
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to María Amor Barros del Río .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. London Metropolitan University, London, UK

    Marcella De Marco

  2. London Metropolitan University, London, UK

    Piero Toto

Appendices

Annex 1

Explain in short sentences the form and structure of the traditional tale:

Female protagonist’s personality

 

Male character’s personality

 

Secondary character’s personality

 

Genderrelationships

 

Social context/structure

 

Steps in the plot

 

Final outcome

 

Then, explain in short sentences the form and structure of Emma Donoghue’s rewriting:

Female protagonist’s personality

 

Male character’s personality

 

Secondary character’s personality

 

Genderrelationships

 

Social context/structure

 

Steps in the plot

 

Final outcome

 

Annex 2

After reading the tale carefully, take some time to think about it, review the text and try to detect the following aspects in the text before and after you translate it:

Categories

Examples

Extralinguistic issues (cultural, moral and social values transmitted in the tale, symbols, etc.)

 

Distinctive use of characters (gender, age, looks, personality, attitudes, reactions)

 

Distinctive use of language (cohesion, coherence, thematic progression, textual typologies and intertextuality)

 

Instrumental problems (other resources of information, dictionaries, glossaries, parallel texts, data bases, etc.)

 

Linguistic problems (terminology, style, cohesion, coherence, thematic progression, textual typologies and intertextuality)

 

Pragmatic problems (speech acts, intentionality and presuppositions of the author)

 

Other remarks

 

Annex 3

  • The introductory class on gender made me reflect and/or deepen my knowledge on some aspects that I had not previously thought of.

A

B

C

D

Totally agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • After the introductory class on gender, my sensibility towards the text to be translated has increased.

A

B

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D

Totally agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • Contextualizing the author and her work before translating the text facilitates the translation process.

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Totally agree

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Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • The intention of the author when writing the text must be considered when translating it.

A

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Totally agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • A good translation must be impartial and accurate, regardless of the author’s subjectivity.

A

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Totally agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • I have translated the selected text with a gender perspective.

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Totally agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • The story contains politically incorrect elements that I did not translate literally, but I have neutralized their meaning.

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Totally agree

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Totally disagree

  • My translation into Spanish conveys the author’s intention in the source language.

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Totally agree

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Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • In my translation I have adapted some elements of the source text to the Spanish context.

A

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D

Totally agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

  • After completing the translation of this story, my general perception of traditional stories has changed.

A

B

C

D

Totally agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Totally disagree

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Barros del Río, M.A., Alcalde Peñalver, E. (2019). Ideological Transfer in the Translation Activity: Power and Gender in Emma Donoghue’s Kissing the Witch. In: De Marco, M., Toto, P. (eds) Gender Approaches in the Translation Classroom. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04390-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04390-2_9

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04389-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04390-2

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