Dual Readership Translations: A Comparative Analysis of Sound-Symbolism and Cultural Translation

Dual Readership Translations: A Comparative Analysis of Sound-Symbolism and Cultural Translation

The Wind in the Willows is one of Britain's leading children's books loved by both adults and children since its publication in 1908. The book was published in Korea distinctively as a translation for adults and a translation for children. In this study, four books, two for adults and children each, were selected, and the translation method was analyzed with a focus on sound-symbolic words and culture-specific items. First, I compared book covers, illustrations, font sizes, and publishers to see how the paratexts differed when the target audience differed. Next, the total number and type of onomatopoeic and mimetic words used in each translation were analyzed. Finally, the translation strategies of culture-specific items (CSIs) in the text were considered with a focus on whether or not cultural background explanations were added. The reason for translating The Wind in the Willows by distinguishing the readership was explained by the translation norms identified by Desmidt.