‘The palm-oil with which Igbo words are eaten’: a descriptive analysis of the translation of Igbo idioms into Zulu in “Things Fall Apart”

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate the way in which idioms in Things Fall Apart by Achebe (1958), have been translated into Zulu in Kwafa Gula Linamasi by Msimang (1995). The researcher specifically examines Igbo culture as portrayed by idioms and the depiction of some characters through idioms in the translation. This is accomplished by conducting a descriptive comparative analysis of Msimang's translation strategies. The analysis shows that Msimang employs literal translation, cultural substitution and replacement of source text literal language expressions with target text idiomatic expressions. It is concluded that in portraying Igbo culture, Msimang accommodates both the source text and target text cultures. Furthermore, the conclusion drawn is that Msimang's translation strategies are not unusual in the Zulu translation system as they are also used by Nyembezi, the translator of Paton's Cry, the Beloved Count