The Manipulation of Children’s Literature: the Russian Translations of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Eleni Karvounidou Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Surrey School of English and Languages Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Supervisors: Dr Dimitris Asimakoulas Prof. Marion Wynne-Davies ©Eleni Karvounidou July 2017 Declaration This thesis and the work to which it refers are the results of my own efforts. Any ideas, data, images or text resulting from the work of others (whether published or unpublished) are fully identified as such within the work and attributed to their originator in the text, bibliography or in footnotes. This thesis has not been submitted in whole or in part for any other academic degree or professional qualification. I agree that the University has the right to submit my work to the plagiarism detection service TurnitinUK for originality checks. Whether or not drafts have been so-assessed, the University reserves the right to require an electronic version of the final document (as submitted) for assessment as above. Signature: __________________________________________ Date: ______________________________________________ ©Eleni Karvounidou 2 Abstract The translation and publication process of foreign literary works and particularly of children’s literature in Russia has been through various changes and reforms following the socio-political shifts that occurred in different periods of Russian history. This thesis examines three Russian translations of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland published before, during and after the Soviet Era. This periodisation is essential, as the main research question of the thesis is how the shifting socio-political circumstances and ideologies governing Russia in each of the three periods examined affected the translation of children’s literature. The study focuses on power and authority references, which are frequently identified in the book, as the creatures of Wonderland constantly insult and terrify Alice in their attempt to seize power. Through these examples and drawing on Even-Zohar’s polysystem theory, Toury’s concept of norms and House’s model of translation quality assessment, this thesis also answers questions as to how the norms prevailing in the source culture are transferred to the target culture, as well as what translation strategies are used by the Russian translators of Alice Adventures in Wonderland in each of the periods examined. Since the study takes place in a Russian context, references to censorship in translation and publication of children’s literature are inevitable, as previous research has demonstrated that publications were under state control, particularly during the Soviet years. Therefore, the translations used here as observational material, are also examined for any potential censorship effect. Despite the fact that the same examples are examined in all three translations, the result and the translators’ choices, differ to a great extent. The pre-Soviet translation has many deletions, related particularly to the violent scenes of the book. The Soviet translation is a literal rendering of Carroll’s original story. Finally, the post-Soviet translation is a creative work, which contains many additions that bring the story closer to the mentality and understanding of the Russian readership. ©Eleni Karvounidou 3 Acknowledgments There have been many people, who have provided me with all kinds of help throughout the writing process of this thesis. Without their valuable help, this task would have been impossible to achieve. First, I am hugely indebted to my supervisors Dr Dimitris Asimakoulas and Prof. Marion Wynne-Davies of the University of Surrey. Their constant encouragement, insightful reading and careful guidance helped me to complete this project. I am also grateful to the librarians of the University of Surrey Library and Learning Centre for contributing to my research by providing me with articles and books in request via the interlibrary loan service. Moreover, I would like to thank all the PhD researchers of the school of English and Languages of the University of Surrey who have also become good friends, for our long conversations on our common research concerns and the solutions and brilliant ideas they have provided me with. Special thanks go to my brother George, who also supported me during my research, even with his actual presence in my everyday life as he moved to the UK to live with me. I would also like to thank Istvan, who also stood next to me and supported me during the hardest times of my PhD journey. Finally, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to my father Yannis and my mother Maria. Their unconditional love, encouragement and support in all levels have helped me to become the person I am today. ©Eleni Karvounidou 4 Transliteration Note The Library of Congress system of transliteration has been followed in this study; however, some adjustments have been made. Instead of the “ii” ending that is frequently met in the Russian surnames, I use the Anglicised “y” (e.g. Dostoyevskii - Dostoyevsky). I have also eliminated the use of the apostrophe (ʹ) which is used for the indication of the soft sign (ь), as well as the (ʺ) symbol for the hard sign (ъ). I also use the modern spelling orthography where words such as Sovietskago in the old style become Sovietskogo in the new. The titles of Russian publications mentioned in the thesis are sited in English translation followed by their transliterated Russian version in parenthesis. Translations into English in quotations from secondary sources are my own unless otherwise indicated. All back-translations from Russian to English of citations from primary sources are my own. ©Eleni Karvounidou 5 Abbreviations GDR: German Democratic Republic NEP: New Economic Policy ST: Source Text TQA: Translation Quality Assessment TT: Target Text TTa: Target Text 1 (Pre-Soviet Translation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) TTb: Target Text 2 (Soviet Translation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) TTc: Target Text 3 (Post-Soviet Translation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) SC: Source Culture TC: Target Culture PST: Polysystem Theory ©Eleni Karvounidou 6 Contents Declaration ................................................................................................................................. 2 Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................... 4 Transliteration Note ................................................................................................................... 5 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 Theoretical Framework of the Study ............................................................................. 16 1.2 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland ................................................................................. 19 1.3 Selecting the Target Texts: Lists of Alice’s Russian Translations ................................ 20 1.4 The Alice Translations Examined .................................................................................. 22 1.4.1 The Pre-Soviet Translation ..................................................................................... 25 1.4.2 The Soviet Translation ............................................................................................ 29 1.4.3 The Post-Soviet Translation .................................................................................... 37 1.5 Rationale and Contribution to the Field ......................................................................... 40 1.6 Thesis Outline ................................................................................................................ 42 Chapter 2: Text in Context: Theories of Translation and Quality Assessment ....................... 45 2.1 The Context of Translation ............................................................................................ 45 2.2 Translation History ........................................................................................................ 47 2.3 Systems and Norms as Context...................................................................................... 53 2.4 Even-Zohar’s Polysystem Theory.................................................................................. 53 2.5 Toury’s Translational Norms ......................................................................................... 59 2.6 Discourse and Register Analysis for Translation........................................................... 63 2.7 Translation Theories in Practice: The Duchess Scene ................................................... 69 2.7.1 TT1a ........................................................................................................................ 71 2.7.2 TT1b ........................................................................................................................ 73 2.7.3 TT1c ........................................................................................................................ 76 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 79 ©Eleni Karvounidou 7 Chapter 3: Translation in Russian Context: Cultural Shifts and Censorship Practice ............. 80 3.1 A History of Translation in Russia ................................................................................ 80 3.2 Translation in Imperial Russia ....................................................................................... 81 3.3 Translation in the Soviet Union ..................................................................................... 85 3.3.1 The Principles of Socialist Realism ........................................................................ 86 3.4 Translation in the Russian Federation............................................................................ 88 3.5 Censorship Practice in Russia ........................................................................................ 90 3.5.1 Forms of Censorship: Official Censorship and Self-Censorship ............................ 93 3.5.2 The Authors and the Censors .................................................................................. 95 3.5.3 Evading the Censor ................................................................................................. 97 3.6 Censorship in Alice: “Off with her head” ...................................................................... 99 3.6.1 TT2a ...................................................................................................................... 101 3.6.2 TT2b ...................................................................................................................... 103 3.6.3 TT2c ...................................................................................................................... 104 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 106 Chapter 4: Children’s Literature and Aspects of Translation ................................................ 108 4.1 The Challenge of Children’s Literature ....................................................................... 108 4.2 Power in Children’s Literature..................................................................................... 111 4.3 Children’s Literature in Translation ............................................................................. 114 4.4 The Manipulation of Children’s Literature .................................................................. 116 4.4.1 Shavit’s Approach to the Translation of Children’s Literature............................. 119 4.4.1.1 Ambivalent Texts: Children or Adult’s Literature ......................................... 121 4.4.2 Klingberg’s Cultural Context Adaptation ............................................................. 123 4.4.3. Oittinen’s Dialogical Approach ........................................................................... 125 4.5 Children’s Literature and its Translation in Russia ..................................................... 127 4.5.1 Children’s Literature in Imperial Russia ............................................................... 129 4.5.2 Children’s Literature in Soviet Russia. ................................................................. 133 4.5.2.1 The Paradoxical Nature of Soviet Children’s Literature ............................... 140 4.5.2.2 Soviet Fantasy ................................................................................................ 142 4.5.3 Children’s Literature in the Russian Federation ................................................... 144 4.6 Age hierarchy in Wonderland: the Argument with the Lory ....................................... 145 4.6.1 TT3a ...................................................................................................................... 148 4.6.2 TT3b ...................................................................................................................... 149 ©Eleni Karvounidou 8 4.6.3 TT3c ...................................................................................................................... 150 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 153 Chapter 5: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A World Classic .......................................... 155 5.1 Alice in Context ........................................................................................................... 156 5.2 Children’s Literature Criticism .................................................................................... 158 5.2.1 The Ambivalent Alice ........................................................................................... 159 5.2.2 Violence in Wonderland ....................................................................................... 161 5.2.3 Carroll’s Special Use of Language ....................................................................... 162 5.3 The Rebel Alice in the Victorian World Order ............................................................ 165 5.4 In Search of Alice’s Identity ........................................................................................ 167 5.5 Power and Authority in Wonderland ........................................................................... 170 5.6 Translating Alice .......................................................................................................... 171 5.6.1 The Russian Translations ...................................................................................... 176 5.6.2 Nabokov’s Ania v Strane Chudes ......................................................................... 178 5.7 Victorian Table Manners and Social Etiquette: the Mad Tea-Party ............................ 179 5.7.1 TT4a ...................................................................................................................... 181 5.7.2 TT4b ...................................................................................................................... 183 5.7.3 TT4c ...................................................................................................................... 185 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 187 Chapter 6: A Different Alice in Different Wonderlands ....................................................... 189 6.1 Alice as a Servant......................................................................................................... 189 6.1.1 TT5a ...................................................................................................................... 191 6.1.2 TT5b ...................................................................................................................... 192 6.1.3 TT5c ...................................................................................................................... 193 6.2 Much Pleasanter at Home ............................................................................................ 195 6.2.1 TT6a ...................................................................................................................... 197 6.2.2 TT6b ...................................................................................................................... 198 6.2.3 TT6c ...................................................................................................................... 199 6.3 The Dormouse’s Story ................................................................................................. 201 6.3.1 TT7a ...................................................................................................................... 202 6.3.2 TT7b ...................................................................................................................... 203 6.3.3 TT7c ...................................................................................................................... 204 ©Eleni Karvounidou 9 6.4 Alice and the Hatter ..................................................................................................... 205 6.4.1 TT8a ...................................................................................................................... 207 6.4.2 TT8b ...................................................................................................................... 210 6.4.3 TT8c ...................................................................................................................... 210 6.5 Off with their Heads..................................................................................................... 211 6.5.1 TT9a ...................................................................................................................... 212 6.5.2 TT9b ...................................................................................................................... 213 6.5.3 TT9c ...................................................................................................................... 214 6.6 The Executioner ........................................................................................................... 216 6.6.1 TT10a .................................................................................................................... 218 6.6.2 TT10b .................................................................................................................... 219 6.6.3 TT10c .................................................................................................................... 221 6.7 The Trial Scene ............................................................................................................ 224 6.7.1 TT11a .................................................................................................................... 226 6.7.2 TT11b .................................................................................................................... 228 6.7.3 TT11c .................................................................................................................... 230 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 232 Chapter 7: Conclusion............................................................................................................ 234 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 242 Appendix 1 ............................................................................................................................. 274 Appendix 2 ............................................................................................................................. 275 Appendix 3 ............................................................................................................................. 277 ©Eleni Karvounidou 10