Hegemony in rewriting : a case of Chotmai Chak Muang Thai and its translated work from the modern perspective

• Main Author: Fernandez, Priscilla Crystal
• Other Authors: Cui Feng
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Humanities::Language
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78888
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

There are not many studies done on hegemony in literary works and their translations. Yet, substantial knowledge in this area is important; for translators, it allows them to go beyond linguistics equivalence and consider the other factors that threaten a translator’s work. For readers, it allows them to better understand the circumstances of the (translated) literary work so that they may critique more sensibly. This study aims to understand hegemony in translations and how it is affected so that translators and readers will adopt a common understanding of the literary translation phenomena. Through Chotmai Chak Muang Thai, a Thai novel and its English translation, Letters from Thailand, this study explores how and why the different hegemonic positions affect a literary system through time and societal developments and the extent of their influence and on its translated works through prominent theories including the concept of Rewriting by Theo Hermans (1985). Where theories fail to explain, we further explore and generate new insights. The power factors discussed includes the standing of the original and how it holds authority in the literary scene, the power of translating and translation and language dominance. In addition to the expected political, societal and economic influences, the rise of readers in power through education, media and the increased in global travel is found to be another factor that is important in today’s society. Rewriting in translation also makes itself more susceptible to such power and vulnerable to criticism. Ultimately, this paper investigates hegemony in translation with translators and readers as the target so that they may understand the different power factors in the literary scene in translation and the emerging trends that have risen over the years to better prepare them for translation in today’s world. Finally, this paper ends off with suggested further study in this area.