Árpád Mitruly1; 1 Babeș–Bolyai University, Romania
Discussion
The present research examines the unique challenges of translating wordplay in Hungarian renditions of James Joyce's Ulysses. The text's structure presents multiple instances of untranslatability, posing significant challenges for Hungarian translators. Iconic passages, such as the 'moustache cup,' introduce complex theoretical issues that highlight the cultural and linguistic intricacies faced by translators.
The research begins with the premise that translation is an essential tool for cultural mediation, though it can never achieve complete equivalence; that is, the translated text inevitably diverges from the original literary work. English wordplay in Ulysses creates experiences that may be impossible to replicate in Hungarian, though Hungarian translators sometimes produce equally or even more inventive expressions.
Key areas of focus include intertextual figures and their phonetic, semantic, and stylistic dimensions. Special attention is given to the realization of linguistic play: how wordplay in the source text is rendered in the target language. Core questions include: can the same intensity and expressiveness as the original text be preserved? What is lost if a wordplay, later revealed to be significant, is omitted in the Hungarian translation? Does this reduce the Hungarian text's impact compared to the original? Ultimately, this research seeks to establish a rigorous theoretical foundation supported by comprehensive data to address these questions.
