Goan Literature and Its Translation
Goa and literature
Goa has been reflected in many ways. It is sometimes reflected through people, through its culture and sometimes through literature. Goan reflection is nothing but the projection of Goa as a land, Goa’s socio-economic life and contemporary Goan expressions. According to Prof. Peter Nazareth “Goans have written in thirteen languages. Goans meditate between cultures, Goans live between different cultures, Goans are travelers from one part to another…. We can understand different cultures and help people from different cultures understand one another. But the disadvantage is that if we don’t work on it, we may end up not knowing who we are.” Today Goa is portrayed as something different than what it is in reality. And not just the media is to be blamed but also the Goans are to be blamed who allowed themselves to be portrayed in a negative manner.
Goan literature is one of the important tools which reflect Goa in its true sense. But the problem with Goan literature was that most of the literature was written in local languages like Konkani and Marathi and only a few people could read and understand what Goa actually is and what are the issues related to this land. The solution to tackle this problem is nothing else but translation.
1. 2. Translation: Bridging Gaps
The dictionary meaning of the word “translation” is “to express in another language or other words”. It’s also the transference and substitution from one to another language. Translation according to Dr. Johnson involves the process of change into another language, retaining the sense which is the basic objective. The main process is to search for the right words. A translation is both imitation as well as a faithful creation as well as free, i.e. why a translated literary work is viewed not as an exact replica of the original but a version of it. Translation is not only a linguistic activity but also a cultural one because it involves a study of culture. The western translators
Goa has been reflected in many ways. It is sometimes reflected through people, through its culture and sometimes through literature. Goan reflection is nothing but the projection of Goa as a land, Goa’s socio-economic life and contemporary Goan expressions. According to Prof. Peter Nazareth “Goans have written in thirteen languages. Goans meditate between cultures, Goans live between different cultures, Goans are travelers from one part to another…. We can understand different cultures and help people from different cultures understand one another. But the disadvantage is that if we don’t work on it, we may end up not knowing who we are.” Today Goa is portrayed as something different than what it is in reality. And not just the media is to be blamed but also the Goans are to be blamed who allowed themselves to be portrayed in a negative manner.
Goan literature is one of the important tools which reflect Goa in its true sense. But the problem with Goan literature was that most of the literature was written in local languages like Konkani and Marathi and only a few people could read and understand what Goa actually is and what are the issues related to this land. The solution to tackle this problem is nothing else but translation.
1. 2. Translation: Bridging Gaps
The dictionary meaning of the word “translation” is “to express in another language or other words”. It’s also the transference and substitution from one to another language. Translation according to Dr. Johnson involves the process of change into another language, retaining the sense which is the basic objective. The main process is to search for the right words. A translation is both imitation as well as a faithful creation as well as free, i.e. why a translated literary work is viewed not as an exact replica of the original but a version of it. Translation is not only a linguistic activity but also a cultural one because it involves a study of culture. The western translators