Translation and ‘myth’: Norwegian Children’s literature in English

Abstract

This article examines the translations of Norwegian children’s literature into English. Translation, and the selection of texts for translation, particularly between a minor and a dominant culture, can be said to propagate the perceived identity of the source culture in the target culture. A minor language/culture may oflen be accepted solely on the terms and premises of the dominant culture, and the selection of texts for translation can therefore be a means of upholding a particular image of the source culture. This article examines one aspect of this selection and translation process which is believed to be relevant to this discussion, namely that of the popular association between the Scandinavian countries, in particular Norway, and ‘Nature’. © 1994 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.