RETRANSLATION AND INTERTEXTUALITY: A STUDY
RETRANSLATION AND INTERTEXTUALITY: A STUDY

Summary/Abstract: Isabelle Collombat boldly termed the 21st century as the “Age of Retranslation.” Translators generally desire to make useful contribution to cultural history of their country. Retranslation is not a new phenomenon. As a text becomes historical, triggers for more retranslations are activated. Focus of investigation shifted from the product to process. Market dynamics and reception by Target Language (T. L.) audience in digital environment assume significance here. Quality of retranslated text determines its longevity. Venuti (2004) opines that retranslation is creation of values. According to him there are three approaches to the process viz “research on translator’s agency, intertextual studies and historical studies.” Intertextuality may be construed as an abstract or specific relationship between S. L. text and texts created in T. L. and study of translated texts in a specific language (T. L). For my study, I chose descriptive translation mode with focus on translation process and translation products. I contacted practicing translators to seek their views on intertextuality and process of translation of literary texts. While 20% of them preferred providing footnotes and glossary, 60% felt that one should devise one’s own means to communicate through the text either by explication or by offering meaningful data and 20% informed that they are not aware of intricacies of these aspects. They all agreed that support of technology is vital. I shared a questionnaire encompassing retranslation, intertextuality and process of translation with more translators.

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