Translating India

by Rita Kothari

Overview

The cultural universe of urban, English-speaking middle class in India shows signs of growing inclusiveness as far as English is concerned. This phenomenon manifests itself in increasing forms of bilingualism (combination of English and one Indian language) in everyday forms of speech - advertisement jingles, bilingual movies, signboards, and of course conversations. It is also evident in the startling prominence of Indian Writing in English and somewhat less visibly, but steadily rising, activity of English translation from Indian languages. Since the eighties this has led to a frenetic activity around English translation in India's academic and literary circles. Kothari makes this very current phenomenon her chief concern in Translating India.

The study covers aspects such as the production, reception and marketability of English translation. Through an unusually multi-disciplinary approach, this study situates English translation in India amidst local and global debates on translation, representation and authenticity. The case of Gujarati - a case study of a relatively marginalized language - is a unique addition that demonstrates the micro-issues involved in translation and the politics of language.

Rita Kothari teaches English at St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad (Gujarat), where she runs a translation research centre on behalf of Katha. She has published widely on literary sociology, postcolonialism and translation issues. Kothari is one of the leading translators from Gujarat. Her first book (a collaboration with Suguna Ramanathan) was on English translation of Gujarati poetry (Modern Gujarati Poetry: A Selection, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1998). Her English translation of the path-breaking Gujarati Dalit novel Angaliyat is in press (The Stepchild, Oxford University Press). She is currently working on an English translation of Gujarati short stories by women of Gujarat, a study of the nineteenth-century narratives of Gujarat, and is also engaged in a project on the Sindhi identity in India.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138162990
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/27/2017
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 Recalling: English Translations in Colonial India
Phenomenon: Old and New
Knowing the Orient
The Indian Intervention
Gitanjali

3 The Two Worlds Theory
Mother Tongue
Other Tongue
A.K. Ramanujan

4 Within Academia
Translation Theories: Here and There
English Studies
Feminism
Postcolonialism

5 Outside the Discipline Machine
Readerships
Culture and Commerce
The English Eth(n)ic
Unity and Diversity

6 Publishers' Perspective
An Historical Introduction
Post-eighties Scenario
The Cultural Economics of English Translation
Do Translations Sell?

7 The Case of Gujarati
Linguistic Framework
Translation in Gujarat
Publishing Analyses
Socio-historical Background
Language Policy

Gujarat Today
A Bibliographical Supplement

8 Summing Up