The Boundaries of Imagination, important aspects of fantasy translation.

Abstract

This thesis will investigate the challenges provided by translating contemporary fiction and fantasy fiction for adults, with a special focus on contemporary fantasy, and attempt to list the important aspects of a fantasy novel that a translator will have to take into account. The biggest challenge of any fantasy author is to keep the setting and story believable, logic and consistent, and to lead the reader into the stage of willing suspension of disbelief for full enjoyment of the story. The translator’s challenge is to retain this feeling in the translation. It is the goal of this thesis to aid the fantasy translator into meeting this challenge by attempting to list the aspects of the novel to which the translator should pay attention from the outset. Its focus will be on the different parameters in contemporary fiction and fantasy fiction, the cultural differences in source and target language as well as the existing world versus the fantasy world, and the role a fantasy world may or may not play in the general plot of the novel. In reviewing the translation process of adult fantasy, the main focus will be on the fantasy setting, government and politics, and realia.