Korean Translations of English Picture Books from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence

Korean Translations of English Picture Books from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence

This study analyzes the translation practices used in three popular children’s picture books based on Nida’s Functional Equivalence theory. The objective is to evaluate whether the modifications made in the translated texts aligned with the principles of Functional Equivalence and are suitable for the target audience. The findings show that while some sentence elements were altered inconsistently, resulting in potential distortion of the original meaning, other stylistic elements were lost in translation or replaced with target language strategies such as onomatopoeic and mimetic phrases. Furthermore, the study finds that culturally loaded expressions and scenes related to cultural routines were frequently modified, violating the principle of cultural equivalence. The study highlights the importance of adhering to established translation principles and techniques to produce high-quality translations that accurately convey the intended message and cultural context. The findings also underscore the need for further research to establish clear standards for evaluating the quality of translations intended for children, based on how effectively they convey the intended meaning and cultural context of the original text. It could contribute to improving the quality of translations and expanding access to literature for children from diverse cultural backgrounds. (191 words)