TRADUCIR LA DIFERENCIA A TRAVÉS DEL TERCER CÓDIGO: THINGS FALL APART EN ESPAÑA

Abstract

Beyond  the  traditional  notion  of  equivalence  or  the  classical  concepts  of original and copy, this article proposes a new way of defining translation. Through an exploration of the characteristics that define the rhythm and style employed in Things Fall Apart, it becomes apparent that the language used by its author, the well-known Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, can be characterized as a third code. A detailed analysis both of the original work and of its translations into Spanish leads  us  to  the  conclusion  that  translation,  understood  in  this  case  as  linguistic transfer, is never an innocent nor neutral act, given that it invariably participates in the construction of identities. Faced with this type of narrative, not only does the concept of translation need to be broadened, but also western models of translation which seemed limited when dealing with other cultural realities.