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Dialect
In general, dialect in the target language text is transfered by using
colloquial expressions (chappie) or elements of Class Dialect (dinna, wasna).
Consequently, the translation does not use another dialect, which would absolutely
omit the cultural aspect of the original, but gives general idea of colloquial speech.
No já su vaše švagrová, vítajte pěkně! - Your sister in law, you are right welcome. -
This case is an example of the fact I described above; the dialect is indicated by
using colloquial devices - omission of the verb in the first part of the sentence.
baba - old girl; old woman; the old thing; poor old thing - The Czech word baba (in
the context of the novel a dialect expression for an old woman) occurs several times
in the original text and the translator uses several possibilities to translate it. All of
them are appropriate and conveys the meaning well; only in the last expression poor
old thing I consider the word poor unnecessary.
tachonýr - joker; one particular character - The word tachonýr is used two times in
the text. In Czech it is close to word darebák (rascal) and in the original it carries the
same meaning in both cases. The translator decided to use two different words and in
my opinion both of them are slightly different in meaning from the original.
Especially in the first case the word joker (vtipálek in Czech) does not really
transferr the real meaning of the word tachonýr. On the other hand, in the second
case the expression one particular character is closer to rascal or (bearing in mind
the context of the text) criminal; therefore, it seems suitable to me.
čupr - a fine winsome - I think that even using two adjectives still does not transfer
the actual meaning of the word čupr which is rather used as an expression for a
good-looking and also energetic person, whereas the English translation a fine
winsome is more centred on the appearance. On the other hand, it sounds well in the
context and again it conveys the colloquial mode.
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nic se mi nesce dělat - I dinna want to do nothing: Here, the dialect is expressed in
the word nesce, in the translation this is done by using informal form of do not -
dinna. The double negation ( dinna, nothing) also empahsizes colloquialism.
.
já jsu taky nějaké maróda - I'm no exactly one hundred percent - Here, the dialect
is indicated by using colloquial negative form no instead of not; also, there is a
reduced form of I am.
ty buchty jsó dobrý - my those buns are good - In the source language version, the
dialect is expressed in the verb jsó (jsou in Literary Czech), while in the English this
is done by using at first the word buns which is purely colloquial in this sense and
also by including the possessive pronoun my which here serves rather as an
exclamation than a pronoun. This usage is also typical for colloquial speech.
lísklo to babu po čuni - lammed her right in the mug - The indication of dialect in
this sentence is achieved by using colloquial expressions lammed and the mug. I find
the mug as an appropriate equivalent of the word čuňa.
Co to plandáte za zmaty? - What nonsense are you blethering? - This translation is
appropriate. There are no equivalents the translator could use to translate words
plandáte and zmaty, but the chosen words convey their meaning well, though they do
not transfer the level of informality of the original phrase.
malinké pakátl Lolan - wee chappie Lolan - The dialect is included at first in the
adjective malinké (ending with -é instead of -ý) and at the second place in the word
pakátl (expression for a little children). The translator uses colloquial expressions
wee for malinké and chappie (derived from chap-hoch) for pakátl. I find it absolutely
correct and comprehensible.
ajroplány - airyplanes - The word ajroplány has its origin in English but it is
influenced by dialect (common Czech version of English aeroplane is rather éroplán,
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but it used only rarely). The translator conveys the changed pronunciation by using
the colloquial expression airyplanes.
celá třída se radostně nahrnula k volenu, jistě si pan učitel zpřelámal nohy v
tulipánech, ale Látal už tam nebyl... - and the whole class rushed gleefully to the
window, surely teacher must've broken both his legs in the tulip bed, but Latal wasna
there... - In this extract, the dialect word voleno is translated simply as window,
whereas the used dialect is indicated in the second part of the sentence by colloquial
reduced form of was not (wasna). In conclusion, this version is absolutely
comprehensible for the English readership and at the same time transfers the
colloquial tone of the original.
Pantáto, tady máte ty vaše tule a tanóny a já jdu dom, já vojákem nebodo. -
Mister, here's yer bullets and buns, I'm gaun home, I'm quittin' the service... - In the
original text, this passage is written in the dialect of people from Haná (area in the
northern Moravia) which is noticeably different from the one spoken by Uncle Pepin.
The translator emphasized this fact by using even more colloquial form of language
including reduced forms (here's), missing endings (quittin') and especially very
informal form of words your (yer) and going (gaun) which are related with Class
Dialect.
Jebem vám čurce na drobno! - I'll have your frigging nuts for mincemeat! Similar
case as the above one, though much more rude; the adjective frigging serves as a
mark of informality as well as using the word nuts in this sense.
zbacal - scuffs up - In this case, there is a phrasal verb which helps to achieve the
informal mode.
juž - already's - The level of informality is achieved by use of an unusual kind of
short form - already is is transformed to already's, which transfers the meaning and
also the unnecessary letter (juţ - already's).
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