There and Back Again; The Hobbit in Translation

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the analysis of the translation problems and strategies in an English-Dutch translation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Using secondary literature, the thesis focuses on several translation problems inherent to the fantasy and children’s literature genres, which are supported by examples from the source text. For these translation problems, multiple strategies are laid out and based on a hypothetical translation assignment, the most desirable translation strategies are chosen. Based on their findings, the author concludes that the overall most desirable translation strategy for this particular novel is to exoticise. The chosen strategies are applied in an annotated translation, in which a fragment of the novel has been translated according to the findings in the thesis.