Translation Equivalence as a Semantic Strategy: An Inquiry into the Language of Soyinka’s Forest of a Thousand Daemons

Abstract

Translation entails the presentation of texts and their meanings, which originally exist in a particular language, in another language.Scholars such as Catford (1965),Wisner G. (2013), Osundare (1995) andOsakwe (1998) have studied the intricacies in translationyet, little was done on the concept of translation equivalence especially as it relates to meaning. Therefore, this paper examined translation equivalence as a semantic strategy in Soyinka’s Forest of a Thousand Daemons.Seleskovitch and Lederer’s Interpretative Theory was employedfor it explicates semantics and communication issues in translation.The data for this study were excerpts from Forest of a Thousand Daemonsand were selected based on their relevance to the process of translation using specific equivalences. Equivalences in nominals, adjectivals, adverbials, proverbs and incantations were observed.Since the study focused on translation equivalence as a semantic strategy, attention was given to the culture-specific terms which are present only in the language of the Source Text and the equivalences provided for these terms in the language of the Target Text. Despite its various shortcomings, the text is regarded a successful translation which gives room for improvement and correction of its various inappropriateness.

Keywords: Equivalence; Meaning; Soyinka; Cultural context; Interpretative Theory.