Dialogue in and between Different Cultures - International ...

66 Elena Xeni
including slang, argot, jargon, dialects, vulgarism, the vernacular, curse words, swearing
language, etc.
For Leighton (1991), colloquial language is the most extreme form of language
and a phenomenon of time and place, social class, level of education, cultural
conditions and individual speech.
In some areas, overuse of colloquialisms by native speakers is regarded as a
sign of substandard ability with the language. However, in the mouth of a nonnative
speaker, they are sometimes taken as signaling unusual facility with the
language as they may be more difficult for non-native speakers to understand.
Colloquial language or speech is a property of every language and is typically
used in normal conversation between friends and family members (Kakousis
2001). Frequently found in teenager’s language that departs form the norms of
spoken literacy, CL/S, although peculiar, is unique and attractive in terms of
translation, for teenagers it is vital to be “in step with other relevant adolescent”
(Hudson 1996:15) and share a common attitude trying to establish their own
identity.
3. Translating colloquial language/speech – the case of slang and dialect
In the field of translation studies, colloquial speech is a challenging but difficult
task. Quoting Bravo-Villassante (1978:207) “It [CL/S] is the most extreme form
of language that presents the most challenge to the concept of equivalency”.
Providing solutions and strategies on how to go about when having to translate
colloquial language, various scholars make suggestions.
Noting that the use of colloquial speech demands caution, Kakousis (2001)
indicates that colloquial speech is a weapon that cuts both ways so sharply that in
those instances where it is impossible to find a fully adequate equivalent it is
sometimes better to make the text a bit less colloquial than to overdo it. In other
words, colloquial speech must be used in the translation in approximately the
same measure that it was by the original author and in accordance with the artistic
functions it fulfills.
Bravo-Villasante (1978:49) points out that even though there is the problem
of finding corresponding expressions, “if the language is colloquial it should be
left as such”.
Commenting on aspects of the translation of colloquial language/speech,
Leighton (1991:217) notes that a standard method or solution is not possible so
perhaps “the only key for translation problem solving is the translator’s taste, tact,
impact, instinct, talent, judgment and moderation” always with the support of a
good academic background.
Although a lot could be commented on this issue which can result in various
translation discussions, due to length restrictions, it shall be discussed in relation
to slang and dialect only.