Authors’ names:
Irina V. Piven, Aleksandra A. Tucha – Linguistics University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Abstract:
This article examines the problem of rendering intertextual elements in literary translation, using Donna Tartt’s novels The Goldfinch and The Secret History as case studies. Intertextuality plays a crucial role in shaping the semantic space of a literary text by creating a complex network of references to literary, cultural, and historical sources. However, such elements often present significant challenges for target audiences, thereby requiring translators to employ a range of adaptation strategies.
Special attention is paid to the translation of proper nouns and literary allusions, as these constitute key components of intertextual interaction. The article analyzes the main approaches to conveying such elements, including literal translation, cultural adaptation, and the use of explanatory commentary. Selected passages from Tartt’s novels and their Russian translations by Anastasia Zavozova, Denis Borodkin, and Natalia Lenzman are examined as illustrative examples.
The research methodology is based on a comparative analysis of the source texts and their translations, which allows for the identification of the principal challenges involved in interpreting intertex-tual references and for an assessment of the effectiveness of different translation strategies. The findings indicate that preserving the semantic depth and aesthetic value of intertextual elements requires translators not only to demonstrate a high level of linguistic competence but also to possess a thorough understanding of the cultural and literary context of the original works.
The results of this study may be of interest to translators, linguists, and literary scholars concerned with intertextuality and literary translation. Future research could productively pursue two principal avenues: target readers’ reception of translated intertextual elements and comparative analyses of adaptation strategies across different languages and cultural contexts.
| Section | LANGUAGE AND CULTURE |
| DOI: | 10.47388/2072-3490/lunn2025-72-4-107-119 |
| Downloads | 353 |
| Key words | Donna Tartt; The Goldfinch; The Secret History; intertextuality; intertext; literary translation |