The formation of a sociolinguistic style in translation

cool and informal non-Japanese masculinity

Authors

  • Momoko Nakamura Kanto Gakuin University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.39954

Keywords:

enregisterment, masculinities, style, translation

Abstract

This paper illustrates the powerful role of translation in creating a sociolinguistic style. Through a quantitative survey of Japanese native speakers and a qualitative analysis of translated speech in an imported TV show and its Japanese parody, the study shows that Japanese translation practices have invented and preserved a widely recognised Japanese style associated with non-Japanese men. The study demonstrates that the style is linked with an image of non-Japanese young men characterised by cool informality; that it is marked by the use of linguistic features not commonly used among native speakers; and that it can be used to enregister a negative stereotype of non-Japanese masculinity, which serves to legitimate a polite, formal, Japanese normative masculinity. The findings suggest that translation is a process in which dominant ideologies of the target-language culture can be reinforced through the voices and bodies of nonnatives.

Author Biography

  • Momoko Nakamura, Kanto Gakuin University

    Momoko Nakamura, PhD, is Professor of English at Kanto Gakuin University, Japan. Her recent publications include Gender, Language and Ideology: The Genealogy of Japanese Women’s Language.

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Published

2020-09-02

How to Cite

Nakamura, M. (2020). The formation of a sociolinguistic style in translation: cool and informal non-Japanese masculinity. Gender and Language, 14(3), 244-262. https://doi.org/10.1558/genl.39954