A Study of the English Translation of Populärmusik från Vittula (Popular Music)

Abstract: The aim of this essay was to find out in what manner the translator Laurie Thompson has rendered cultural-specific features in Mikael Niemi's fictional novel, Populärmusik från Vittula. Ten of the novel's chapters have been analysed and the translation has been read in parallel with the original text. Seven features were selected for comparison, namely, cultural-specific additions, omissions, metaphors and similes, colloquial and dialectal expressions, taboos and euphemisms and possible misinterpretations. The essay includes a presentation of the author, the translator, the plot and a chapter which deals with the concept of translation. Since there are different approaches to translation, special attention has been given to whether the original text has been translated into the target text according a semantic or communicative method of translation. It was found that a semantic method of translation has been preferred.