Patriarchal language use in literature and translation evaluation: The case of A Strangeness in My Mind

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the novel titled Kafamda Bir Tuhaflık (A Strangeness in My Mind) by Orhan Pamuk based on patriarchal language use from a feminist perspective. The analysis of the source text yielded 18 contexts with signs alluding to or explicitly referring to patriarchal language use. These signs in the source text are compared to the Turkish and French translations of the novel as the target texts based on "Systematics of Designification” proposed by Öztürk Kasar (2021). As a result of this translation evaluation, the meaning transformations in the English target text are discussed with reference to over-interpretation of the meaning, darkening of the meaning, opposition of the meaning and wiping out of the meaning. However, the meaning transformations in the French target text are labelled as over-interpretation of the meaning, darkening of the meaning and wiping out of the meaning. Patriarchal system has favored males over females throughout history, otherizing and demoting women to a secondary position. Women are also otherized in literature as a reflection of the collective mindset. Therefore, this study presents the discussion of a case involving patriarchal signs and meaning transformations with the resulting suggestion that discriminative discourse against women can be reproduced in another language with a thorough command of systematics of designification, which would enable literary translators to make informed decisions.