Translation strategies employed in Kgosi Henry wa bone by M. O. M. Seboni: a focus on cultural and linguistic nuances

Abstract

Translations of existing literature into other languages were one of the tactics employed by early authors to bridge the area that has not yet been explored or is under-explored in the literature of various African languages. Setswana is no exception in the matter. The aim of this study is to analyse the translation strategies used by Seboni in the drama, Kgosi Henry wa Bone . The objectives of the study include to examine how the translation strategies used by Seboni to address cultural and figurative nuance differences between English and Setswana and evaluate the impact of the translation strategies used by Seboni on Setswana culture and language preservation. To achieve this, the study employed two theories that will serve as the theoretical foundation for this investigation, namely: the Skopos theory and Descriptive Translation Studies theory. The study is qualitative in nature. Data was collected through document analysis of both the English and Setswana drama books. The study reveals that Seboni used both domesticating and foreignising strategies to balance cultural authenticity and linguistic accessibility in preserving the source text’s essence while enhancing reader understanding and engagement. The study concluded that successful translation balances cultural fidelity and linguistic clarity, with Seboni’s work demonstrating how strategic choices foster meaningful cross-cultural understanding.

Phetolelo ya dikwalo tse di setseng di le teng mo dipuong tse dingwe e ne e le nngwe ya maano a a neng a dirisiwa ke bakwadi ba bogologolo go kgabaganya lekala le le iseng le batlisisiwe kgotsa le le batlisisitsweng go le gonnye mo dikwalong tsa dipuo tse di farologaneng tsa SeAforika. Setswana ga se tlhaolege mo kgannyeng e. Maikaelelo a thuto e ke go sekaseka mekgwa ya phetolelo e e dirisitsweng ke Seboni mo terameng ya Kgosi Henry wa Bone. Maikaelelo a thuto a akaretsa go sekaseka gore mekgwa ya phetolelo e e dirisitsweng ke Seboni e samagane jang le dipharologanyo tsa setso le tsa tshwantshiso fa gare ga Seesimane le Setswana le go tlhatlhoba seabe sa mekgwa eo ya phetolelo e e dirisitsweng ke Seboni mo setsong sa Setswana le mo tshomarelong ya puo. Go fitlhelela se, patlisiso e e dirisitse ditiori tse pedi tse ng jaaka motheo wa tiori wa patlisiso e leng,Tiori ya Skopos le Tiori e e Tlhalosang Phetolelo. Patlisiso e, ke ya mokgwa wa khwalitatifi . Dinewana di kgobokantswe ka go tlhatlhoba ditokomane tsa dibuka tsa terama ya Seesimane le Setswana. Patlisiso e senotse gore Seboni o dirisitse mekgwa e mebedi, e leng, mokgwa wa go dirisa mokwalo wa tshimologo mo selegaeng le mokgwa wa go dirisa mokwalo wa selegae wa naga e sele go lekalekanya boammaaruri jwa setso le phitlhelelo ya puo, a boloka botlhokwa jwa mokwalo wa tshimologo fa a ntse a tokafatsa tlhaloganyo le seabe sa mmuisi. Patlisiso e sweditse ka gore phetolelo e e atlegileng e lekalekanya boikanyegi jwa setso le bophepafatsi jwa puo, mme tiro ya ga Seboni e supile gore ditshwaelo tsa mekgwa di tsweletsa pele kutlwisiso e e nang le bokao ya ditso tse di farologaneng.