Seeing translation criticism with a sociological eye: The Left Hand of Darkness

Abstract

This study addresses the Turkish translation of the Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin (1969) within the framework of Antoine Berman’s translation criticism model and with a Bourdieusian approach. The novel was translated by Ümit Altuğ and published by Ayrıntı Yayınları in 1993 with the title Karanlığın Sol Eli. It has been selected for this study as it is one of the first examples of feminist science fiction and it incorporates potential challenges in its Turkish translation. Gender perception in society is constructed and reproduced by language. The basic example to this can be the gender pronouns in languages like English (he/she/it). Le Guin’s science fiction novel is narrated by a male character on a planet populated by androgynous people. The problem at the crossroads of language and gender occurs due to the absence of gender pronouns in Turkish. Therefore, Turkish readers cannot follow the criticisms and debates concerning the gender issue in the novel. As the publisher or the translator did not use any metatextual materials such as footnotes or preface, this issue was not brought to the forefront in the target text. Therefore, in line with Berman’s model, a re-translation of this novel, emphasizing its multilayered narration and sui generis language and world-making of the author can be suggested.