Translating into Galician, A Minor Language: A Challenge for Literary Translators

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the differences and similarities between translating into Spanish and into Galician, focusing on translation policy and the relationship between translation and nationalism. Literary translation into Galician, a minor language, is argued to face the power situation of translation into Spanish, a major language. To illustrate this point, translations into Galician and Spanish of some current English and American novels have been studied. The analysis focuses on identifying the translation strategies used by translators so as to check whether Schleiermacher’s concept of foreignization applies (On the Different Methods of Translation, 1813). He maintains that a national culture can be formed by refining its language through foreignizing translation. Thus, translation into Galician is supposed to challenge Spanish hegemony by enriching Galician language and culture.