Die sigbaarheid van vertaaldheid in resensies van vertaalde Engelse en Afrikaanse romans

The tendency to review translated texts as “original” works has been studied by various scholars in literary criticism (see for example Lamber 2010, Maier 2008, Paloposki 2012, and Schulte 2015). This means that reviews very seldom mention that the reviewed work is in fact a translation. This tendency to treat translated texts as “originals” in literary criticism is problematic. It can cause translators as well as translation to be marginalised, with negative consequences for the translation industry as well as the canonisation of translated novels (Leech 2005: 12). Furthermore, translations and translators are subjected to virtually impossible standards when reviewers are not familiar with translation and consequently reinforce the non-recognition of translated works. The research referred to above was conducted in Europe, and there is a need for similar research in the South African context. This study focuses on reviews of translated novels published in South Africa between 2006 and 2015. The analysis examines the degree to which the translator and translational acts are visible in reviews, and therefore whether translated texts are also reviewed as originals in the Afrikaans and South African English literary system. Opsomming Die neiging in die literere kritiek om vertaalde werke as “oorspronklike” werke te resenseer, is alreeds deur verskeie navorsers ondersoek (sien byvoorbeeld Lambert 2010, Maier 2008, Paloposki 2012, en Schulte 2015). Dit beteken dat resensies baie selde daarvan melding maak dat die teks in der waarheid ’n vertaling is. Hierdie neiging van die kritiek om vertaalde tekste as “oorspronklik” te hanteer, is problematies. Vertalers en vertalings kan sodoende gemarginaliseer word, met negatiewe gevolge vir die vertaalprofessie sowel as vir die kanonisering van vertaalde romans (Leech 2005: 12). Vertalings en vertalers word voorts aan haas onmoontlike standaarde onderwerp, omdat resensente dikwels nie vertroud met vertaling is nie, en sodoende die nie-erkenning daarvan in die hand werk. Die studies waarna reeds verwys is, is in Europa uitgevoer, sodat daar ruimte is vir ’n soortgelyke studie in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. In hierdie studie val die fokus op resensies van vertaalde romans wat tussen 2006 en 2015 in Suid-Afrika gepubliseer is. Die ontleding sal lig werp op die vraag na die mate waartoe die vertaler en vertaalhandelinge in resensies sigbaar raak, en derhalwe of die resensering van vertaalde werke as oorspronklikes ook binne die Afrikaanse en Suid-Afrikaanse Engelse literere sisteem plaasvind.