The Tale of Genji - Translating Eleventh Japanese Literature to Contemporary Western Readership

Abstract

This study aims at presenting the translational paths of The Tale of Genji, the classic work of Japanese literature written by Murasaki Shikibu in the eleventh century, to its more recent reception and its literary circulation by means of its English translations. Originally conceived in the Japanese language from the Heian period (794-1185), it was later translated into modern Japanese and also into several languages, although it was firstly disseminated through translations in English. The theoretical framework of the translation process will be guided by Toury’s (1995) and Berman’s (2007) postulates, which discuss the role of the translator as an (inter)cultural mediator. Some elements of paratextual nature will be considered as well, based on the theoretical and methodological orientations of Genette (2009) and Yuste Frías (2006; 2012).

Keywords:
The Tale of Genji; Japanese Literature; English Translations; (Para)Translation