the Russian Translations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

278 Pages·2017·3.57 MB·English

The Manipulation of Children’s Literature: the
Russian Translations of Alice’s Adventures in
Wonderland

by

Eleni Karvounidou

Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

University of Surrey
School of English and Languages
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Supervisors:
Dr Dimitris Asimakoulas
Prof. Marion Wynne-Davies

©Eleni Karvounidou July 2017
Declaration

This thesis and the work to which it refers are the results of my own efforts. Any ideas, data,
images or text resulting from the work of others (whether published or unpublished) are fully
identified as such within the work and attributed to their originator in the text, bibliography or
in footnotes. This thesis has not been submitted in whole or in part for any other academic
degree or professional qualification. I agree that the University has the right to submit my
work to the plagiarism detection service TurnitinUK for originality checks. Whether or not
drafts have been so-assessed, the University reserves the right to require an electronic version
of the final document (as submitted) for assessment as above.

Signature: __________________________________________

Date: ______________________________________________

©Eleni Karvounidou 2
Abstract

The translation and publication process of foreign literary works and particularly of
children’s literature in Russia has been through various changes and reforms following the
socio-political shifts that occurred in different periods of Russian history. This thesis
examines three Russian translations of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
published before, during and after the Soviet Era. This periodisation is essential, as the main
research question of the thesis is how the shifting socio-political circumstances and
ideologies governing Russia in each of the three periods examined affected the translation of
children’s literature.

The study focuses on power and authority references, which are frequently identified in the
book, as the creatures of Wonderland constantly insult and terrify Alice in their attempt to
seize power. Through these examples and drawing on Even-Zohar’s polysystem theory,
Toury’s concept of norms and House’s model of translation quality assessment, this thesis
also answers questions as to how the norms prevailing in the source culture are transferred to
the target culture, as well as what translation strategies are used by the Russian translators of
Alice Adventures in Wonderland in each of the periods examined.

Since the study takes place in a Russian context, references to censorship in translation and
publication of children’s literature are inevitable, as previous research has demonstrated that
publications were under state control, particularly during the Soviet years. Therefore, the
translations used here as observational material, are also examined for any potential
censorship effect.

Despite the fact that the same examples are examined in all three translations, the result and
the translators’ choices, differ to a great extent. The pre-Soviet translation has many
deletions, related particularly to the violent scenes of the book. The Soviet translation is a
literal rendering of Carroll’s original story. Finally, the post-Soviet translation is a creative
work, which contains many additions that bring the story closer to the mentality and
understanding of the Russian readership.

©Eleni Karvounidou 3
Acknowledgments

There have been many people, who have provided me with all kinds of help throughout the
writing process of this thesis. Without their valuable help, this task would have been
impossible to achieve. First, I am hugely indebted to my supervisors Dr Dimitris
Asimakoulas and Prof. Marion Wynne-Davies of the University of Surrey. Their constant
encouragement, insightful reading and careful guidance helped me to complete this project.

I am also grateful to the librarians of the University of Surrey Library and Learning Centre
for contributing to my research by providing me with articles and books in request via the
interlibrary loan service. Moreover, I would like to thank all the PhD researchers of the
school of English and Languages of the University of Surrey who have also become good
friends, for our long conversations on our common research concerns and the solutions and
brilliant ideas they have provided me with.

Special thanks go to my brother George, who also supported me during my research, even
with his actual presence in my everyday life as he moved to the UK to live with me. I would
also like to thank Istvan, who also stood next to me and supported me during the hardest
times of my PhD journey. Finally, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my father Yannis
and my mother Maria. Their unconditional love, encouragement and support in all levels
have helped me to become the person I am today.

©Eleni Karvounidou 4
Transliteration Note

The Library of Congress system of transliteration has been followed in this study; however,
some adjustments have been made. Instead of the “ii” ending that is frequently met in the
Russian surnames, I use the Anglicised “y” (e.g. Dostoyevskii - Dostoyevsky). I have also
eliminated the use of the apostrophe (ʹ) which is used for the indication of the soft sign (ь), as
well as the (ʺ) symbol for the hard sign (ъ). I also use the modern spelling orthography where
words such as Sovietskago in the old style become Sovietskogo in the new. The titles of
Russian publications mentioned in the thesis are sited in English translation followed by their
transliterated Russian version in parenthesis.

Translations into English in quotations from secondary sources are my own unless otherwise
indicated. All back-translations from Russian to English of citations from primary sources are
my own.

©Eleni Karvounidou 5
Abbreviations

GDR: German Democratic Republic
NEP: New Economic Policy
ST: Source Text
TQA: Translation Quality Assessment
TT: Target Text
TTa: Target Text 1 (Pre-Soviet Translation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)
TTb: Target Text 2 (Soviet Translation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)
TTc: Target Text 3 (Post-Soviet Translation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland)
SC: Source Culture
TC: Target Culture
PST: Polysystem Theory

©Eleni Karvounidou 6
Contents
Declaration ................................................................................................................................. 2
Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................... 4
Transliteration Note ................................................................................................................... 5
Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 6

Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 11
1.1 Theoretical Framework of the Study ............................................................................. 16
1.2 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ................................................................................. 19
1.3 Selecting the Target Texts: Lists of Alice’s Russian Translations ................................ 20
1.4 The Alice Translations Examined .................................................................................. 22
1.4.1 The Pre-Soviet Translation ..................................................................................... 25
1.4.2 The Soviet Translation ............................................................................................ 29
1.4.3 The Post-Soviet Translation .................................................................................... 37
1.5 Rationale and Contribution to the Field ......................................................................... 40
1.6 Thesis Outline ................................................................................................................ 42

Chapter 2: Text in Context: Theories of Translation and Quality Assessment ....................... 45
2.1 The Context of Translation ............................................................................................ 45
2.2 Translation History ........................................................................................................ 47
2.3 Systems and Norms as Context...................................................................................... 53
2.4 Even-Zohar’s Polysystem Theory.................................................................................. 53
2.5 Toury’s Translational Norms ......................................................................................... 59
2.6 Discourse and Register Analysis for Translation........................................................... 63
2.7 Translation Theories in Practice: The Duchess Scene ................................................... 69
2.7.1 TT1a ........................................................................................................................ 71
2.7.2 TT1b ........................................................................................................................ 73
2.7.3 TT1c ........................................................................................................................ 76
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 79

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Chapter 3: Translation in Russian Context: Cultural Shifts and Censorship Practice ............. 80
3.1 A History of Translation in Russia ................................................................................ 80
3.2 Translation in Imperial Russia ....................................................................................... 81
3.3 Translation in the Soviet Union ..................................................................................... 85
3.3.1 The Principles of Socialist Realism ........................................................................ 86
3.4 Translation in the Russian Federation............................................................................ 88
3.5 Censorship Practice in Russia ........................................................................................ 90
3.5.1 Forms of Censorship: Official Censorship and Self-Censorship ............................ 93
3.5.2 The Authors and the Censors .................................................................................. 95
3.5.3 Evading the Censor ................................................................................................. 97
3.6 Censorship in Alice: “Off with her head” ...................................................................... 99
3.6.1 TT2a ...................................................................................................................... 101
3.6.2 TT2b ...................................................................................................................... 103
3.6.3 TT2c ...................................................................................................................... 104
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 106

Chapter 4: Children’s Literature and Aspects of Translation ................................................ 108
4.1 The Challenge of Children’s Literature ....................................................................... 108
4.2 Power in Children’s Literature..................................................................................... 111
4.3 Children’s Literature in Translation ............................................................................. 114
4.4 The Manipulation of Children’s Literature .................................................................. 116
4.4.1 Shavit’s Approach to the Translation of Children’s Literature............................. 119
4.4.1.1 Ambivalent Texts: Children or Adult’s Literature ......................................... 121
4.4.2 Klingberg’s Cultural Context Adaptation ............................................................. 123
4.4.3. Oittinen’s Dialogical Approach ........................................................................... 125
4.5 Children’s Literature and its Translation in Russia ..................................................... 127
4.5.1 Children’s Literature in Imperial Russia ............................................................... 129
4.5.2 Children’s Literature in Soviet Russia. ................................................................. 133
4.5.2.1 The Paradoxical Nature of Soviet Children’s Literature ............................... 140
4.5.2.2 Soviet Fantasy ................................................................................................ 142
4.5.3 Children’s Literature in the Russian Federation ................................................... 144
4.6 Age hierarchy in Wonderland: the Argument with the Lory ....................................... 145
4.6.1 TT3a ...................................................................................................................... 148
4.6.2 TT3b ...................................................................................................................... 149
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4.6.3 TT3c ...................................................................................................................... 150
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 153

Chapter 5: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A World Classic .......................................... 155
5.1 Alice in Context ........................................................................................................... 156
5.2 Children’s Literature Criticism .................................................................................... 158
5.2.1 The Ambivalent Alice ........................................................................................... 159
5.2.2 Violence in Wonderland ....................................................................................... 161
5.2.3 Carroll’s Special Use of Language ....................................................................... 162
5.3 The Rebel Alice in the Victorian World Order ............................................................ 165
5.4 In Search of Alice’s Identity ........................................................................................ 167
5.5 Power and Authority in Wonderland ........................................................................... 170
5.6 Translating Alice .......................................................................................................... 171
5.6.1 The Russian Translations ...................................................................................... 176
5.6.2 Nabokov’s Ania v Strane Chudes ......................................................................... 178
5.7 Victorian Table Manners and Social Etiquette: the Mad Tea-Party ............................ 179
5.7.1 TT4a ...................................................................................................................... 181
5.7.2 TT4b ...................................................................................................................... 183
5.7.3 TT4c ...................................................................................................................... 185
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 187

Chapter 6: A Different Alice in Different Wonderlands ....................................................... 189
6.1 Alice as a Servant......................................................................................................... 189
6.1.1 TT5a ...................................................................................................................... 191
6.1.2 TT5b ...................................................................................................................... 192
6.1.3 TT5c ...................................................................................................................... 193
6.2 Much Pleasanter at Home ............................................................................................ 195
6.2.1 TT6a ...................................................................................................................... 197
6.2.2 TT6b ...................................................................................................................... 198
6.2.3 TT6c ...................................................................................................................... 199
6.3 The Dormouse’s Story ................................................................................................. 201
6.3.1 TT7a ...................................................................................................................... 202
6.3.2 TT7b ...................................................................................................................... 203
6.3.3 TT7c ...................................................................................................................... 204
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6.4 Alice and the Hatter ..................................................................................................... 205
6.4.1 TT8a ...................................................................................................................... 207
6.4.2 TT8b ...................................................................................................................... 210
6.4.3 TT8c ...................................................................................................................... 210
6.5 Off with their Heads..................................................................................................... 211
6.5.1 TT9a ...................................................................................................................... 212
6.5.2 TT9b ...................................................................................................................... 213
6.5.3 TT9c ...................................................................................................................... 214
6.6 The Executioner ........................................................................................................... 216
6.6.1 TT10a .................................................................................................................... 218
6.6.2 TT10b .................................................................................................................... 219
6.6.3 TT10c .................................................................................................................... 221
6.7 The Trial Scene ............................................................................................................ 224
6.7.1 TT11a .................................................................................................................... 226
6.7.2 TT11b .................................................................................................................... 228
6.7.3 TT11c .................................................................................................................... 230
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 232

Chapter 7: Conclusion............................................................................................................ 234

Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 242

Appendix 1 ............................................................................................................................. 274
Appendix 2 ............................................................................................................................. 275
Appendix 3 ............................................................................................................................. 277

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