New approach for translations of literature written in lesser-known languages based on creative strategies of ancient Sinhala literary translation traditions

Abstract

Mainstream translation studies is largely dominated by western or dominant non-western approaches to translation. Western and dominant non-western theorists have evolved these approaches from their own dominant cultural contexts based on their own cultural traditions. These approaches fail to do justice to translations of literature written in lesser-known languages. In spite of the rich translation traditions of lesser-known cultures, lesser-known traditions remain a neglected area of study. The aim of the current study was to examine the translation processes of ancient translators of lesser-known cultures focusing on the differences between the ancient translation processes of lesser-known translators regarding the use of creativity and modern western and non-western approaches to translational creativity. The research question of the study was; what were the creative strategies used by ancient Sinhala translators and how can these strategies be applied to translate literature written in a lesser- known language translated into dominant languages. The study analyzed Pali to Sinhala translation processes of 12-13th century Sri Lanka, namely; Gurulugomi's "Amavatura" and its Pali source texts; Dharmasena's "Saddharmaratnavaliya" and its source text, Buddhaghosa's "Dhammapadatthakatha." The analysis revealed the translators had used two forms of creative strategies; creative cultural interventions and creative aesthetic interventions. These ancient Sinhala creative strategies were compared with approaches to creativity from dominant cultures; Boas-Brier and Holmans' western approach to creativity advocating familiarization and Spivak's dominant non-western approach to creativity advocating defamiliarization. The findings indicated the ancient Pali to Sinhala translators have used an approach that deviates from dominant approaches. This approach based on creative strategies of ancient Sinhala translators can be applied to translations of literature written in lesser-known languages. We have named this new approach the Majjima Patipada approach.