earticle

영어

The Gaomi dialect is a defining feature of Mo Yan’s fiction. As a subvariety of the Jiaoliao Mandarin group, it overlaps with but also diverges from Modern Standard Chinese, creating distinct challenges for translation. Dialect, as an essential element of source culture, faces the dual pressures of translatability and untranslatability. Red Sorghum Clan has been translated into Korean in four versions by three translators, each employing different strategies in rendering Gaomi dialect and conveying the original’s tone and meaning. The study finds a shared reliance on both literal translation and domestication, while individual translators show distinct approaches to addressing untranslatability, resulting in varied outcomes. This research underscores the decisive role of translation strategies in shaping the quality of dialect translation and provides insights for future practices in cultural and dialect translation of literary texts.