Abstract
The current study aims at critically exploring the resulting identity of Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ main character, Tess Durbeyfield, in the Spanish translations through the analysis of her linguistic variation. Throughout the novel, Tess is characterised by a unique duality in linguistic variation, which shapes her identity. She is capable of using both dialectal and non-dialectal marks, which differentiates her from the rest of the novel’s characters. To reach thus the goal of this research, that is, to verify whether Tess Durbeyfield’s multifaceted identity is maintained in the Spanish translations, it is essential to analyse the linguistic variation of the novel’s heroine in the target texts. For the project, the three Spanish translations that exist of the novel have been analysed (carried out in 1924, 1994 and 2017).
 In order to reach this aforementioned objective, the strategies carried out by the different translators regarding linguistic variation will be analysed, focusing on the possible identity distortion that these decisions may entail in the heroine’s characterization. In order to observe Tess Durbeyfield’s idiolect and linguistic variation, all dialogues from the novel and its corresponding translations have been analysed and classified. In the project, through selected dialogues, it will be observed whether the translation strategies regarding the heroine’s linguistic variation imply a reconfiguration of Tess’s identity in the target texts
Highlights
The translation of linguistic variation is perhaps one of the biggest challenges a translator may face
The current study aims at analysing the three Spanish translations of Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy, 1891), observing how the linguistic variation has been translated and verifying if the identity of the main heroine, through her idiolect, is maintained in the target text
Tello Fons (2011) proposes a wide selection of translational strategies for linguistic variation. These strategies are the following (Tello Fons, 2011, pp. 104-131): Compensation: Some linguistic variations are translated into standard language and some non-dialectal language are marked in the target text
Summary
The translation of linguistic variation is perhaps one of the biggest challenges a translator may face. In many translations, when a character has a very strong idiolect, there is a tendency towards neutralising their linguistic variation and risking the distortion of the character’s construction and identity. Linguistic variation plays a crucial role in literature, as it has the power of distinguishing a character and making them unique. It is a resource quite commonly used in original texts, since it provides the narrative with very well differentiated characters. The current study aims at analysing the three Spanish translations of Tess of the d’Urbervilles (Thomas Hardy, 1891), observing how the linguistic variation has been translated and verifying if the identity of the main heroine, through her idiolect, is maintained in the target text
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
