Une expérience vécue : l’intersection des langues, du genre et de l'identité dans la traduction

Abstract

A saying goes that “to know another language is to possess a second soul.” Passionate about languages, translation and world cultures, the author is always on the way to learn more and decode the meaning of this quote. In this Honors essay, the author is going to explore the topic of gender and resistance in language translation based on her first experience as a translator. Working together with Dr. Bannerjee, Coupeuses d’Azur, an epic French anthology written by Mauritian poet Khal Torabully, is well translated. Based on this particular experience, the author first examines the inherent sexist components in the French language in its rules for grammatical gender, which influences French speakers' way of thinking. Furthermore, the author explores how translation practice, and the role of female translator may help change this current. Secondly, this thesis focuses particularly on the creole language and the musicality of poems in the process of translation from the postcolonial perspective. During the translation process, the author came across many intricacies and nuances, but that’s what made this journey so challenging and rewarding at the same time. To summarize the highlights of this unique learning path, she also depicts her own lived experience in translation.