Traversing history through translating colloquial names of old streets and places in Singapore

• Main Author: Yong, Chui Yi
• Other Authors: -
• Format: Thesis-Master by Coursework
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Humanities::Language
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/148560
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project seeks to analyse the etymology of colloquial names of streets and places in colonial Singapore which were coined in Chinese dialects and apply appropriate strategies to deliver a translation output that is adequate and acceptable for the target audience - the younger generations of Singaporeans. It also examines the translation of Chinese expressions with cultural significance such as metaphors and poem lines. Despite this being a translation of a local text for the local audience, rendition of the text is carefully crafted considering the cultural strangeness in respect of the spatial and temporal gap ergo the dynamic evolutions in local language and socio-economic landscapes. It is therefore befitting that the translation adopts the German functionalist approach with a locus on the skopos of the target text and the socio-cultural context. The profile of the target readers and the strategy adopted was customized accordingly. Through the target text, the younger generation of Singaporeans could gain an insight into the early history of colonial Singapore and the lives of their forefathers, reconnect with their cultural lineage and buttress, and their cultural identity besides evoking a stronger sense of belonging to Singapore. In addition, it encourages an appreciation of the Chinese culture and its literature among the target readers. Keywords: Street Names, Dialect, Skopos, Cultural Context, Translation Strategy