Interweaving In-Betweens through Self-Translation: Taiwanese Indigenous Sinophone Poetry by Adaw Palaf
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Date
2024-03
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Abstract
Mandarin, as a dominant language, serves as the primary medium for Taiwanese indigenous poets, yet they grapple with the inability to fully express themselves in the language of the “Other.” Employing self-translation as a framework, I analyzed two poems by Adaw Palaf, a Taiwanese Amis poet. The concept of the original text in self-translation is fluid and the original text might not exist (Bassnett 20). Bilingual writers may choose to create in a second language, making translation integral to the creative process (Elin-Maria 178). This study investigates the translation techniques employed by Adaw and the effect of interpreting his poems as self-translations.
In “The first day of mi-ilisin,” Adaw uses Sinophone transliteration for some culturally significant terms representing Amis collective memory. He cleverly assigns positive connotations to those words in Chinese. Via indigenizing Sinophone writing, Adaw renegotiates a space for indigenous identity. In addition to Romanized Amis and Mandarin, Adaw also uses Japanese, English, and Taiwanese Southern Min in his poem “The Butthole says: We are Aboriginals! ──To the warriors of Yami, in front of the Legislative Yuan.” The linguistic hybridity not only reflects the long colonizing history Taiwanese indigenous groups have endured, but also illustrates their resilience in inhabiting different colonial linguistic environments. He cleverly uses puns and language play to articulate his deep dissatisfaction with the government. By distorting standard linguistic conventions, Adaw transforms from a passive colonized subject into an active interpreter who mediates between different cultural and linguistic systems.
Adaw’s literary approach of bringing the target audience to the source language and culture can be interpreted as foreignization. This visibility of translation establishes Adaw as both a Sinophone writer and a creative translator, facilitating “abusive fidelity” by resisting fluency and highlighting linguistic and cultural differences (Chiu 167). Employing foreignization allows Adaw to establish connections of in-betweens inherent in his methods, themes, and their impact on readers. By weaving unfamiliar linguistic elements into familiar Chinese, Adaw prompts Han Chinese readers to experience the “in-between,” fostering exploration and appreciation of Amis culture and contributing to the formation of their Taiwanese identity. This study also demonstrates that self-translation extends beyond mere linguistic conversion between two languages; rather, the languages of the colonizers serve as Adaw’s linguistic repertoires, enabling the creation of a creative and powerful translation.
Description
Humanities: 2nd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research
Forum)
Keywords
Indigenous literature, Taiwanese, Indigenous Sinophone Poetry, Self-Translation