Challenges in cross-cultural translation : a discussion of S.E.K. Mqhayi's Ityala Lamawele.

Abstract

This thesis is structured into four sections. The first section is a brief statement on the choice of the text chosen for the purpose of translation. Ityala Lamawele is one of the old and classic Xhosa texts and after seeing some translated texts either from Xhosa to English or English to Xhosa such as Uhambo Lomhambi (The Pilgrim's Progress) Ingqumbo Yeminyanya (The Wrath of the Ancestors), Akusekho Konwaba (No Longer

at Ease) and having not seen any translation of Ityala Lamawele, I felt an attempt at translating Ityala Lamawele was long overdue. This first section also looks at the theoretical aspects of translation that will inform the translation of ltyala Lamawele.

The second section is the actual translation (the process and the product) of selected extracts which deal specifically and exclusively with the case of the twins. Though the translation of the whole text is not a remote possibility or consideration, for the purpose of this thesis, selected extracts will be dealt with.

The third section of this thesis is the reflection on and the discussion of the choices I have made. This section looks at the process of translating ltyala Lamawele, the challenges and obstacles that I have come across, the way I have put and expressed issues and why.