Abstract:
The theory and practice of domestication and foreignization in translation
have sparked extensive debate among scholars and translators especially
in textual studies. This study analyses two Tamil translations by Kulanthai
M.Shanmugalingam and P.Wicknesaran respectively of Henrik Ibsen’s A
Doll’s House, exploring how each translation navigates the dichotomy
between domestication - bringing the source text closer to the target
culture, and foreignization - preserving the foreignness of the source text.
By analysing the linguistic, cultural, and stylistic choices in each translation,
the present study aims to highlight the strategies of the translators, and the
impact on the understanding of the Tamil readers. The translation of Ibsen’s
critique of societal norms and gender roles is reviewed considering both the
translations. A comparative content analysis of both translations reveals how
each approach shapes the portrayal of A Doll’s House and the implications for
cross-cultural literature appreciation. Cultural references in both translations
reflect clear foreignization strategy whereas idiomatic expressions and
emotional tones adapt domestication. Both translations skilfully balance the
strategies of domestication and foreignization and stand as testaments to the
transformative power of theatre across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
