Idioms – Lost in Translation (A Translation Analysis of the Novel Mission London by Alek Popov)

Abstract

In translation practice, especially in literary translation, one of the most challenging tasks is the translation of idiomatic expressions. In the search for an appropriate translation equivalent, the translator employs different types of interlingual equivalence. This paper provides an overview of existing typologies and proposes a distinction between complete, partial, semantic, and zero equivalence. The central part of the paper presents an analysis of the translation of idioms in the Croatian edition of the Bulgarian novel Mission London by Alek Popov. The analysis covers a total of 90 examples in which idioms appear in the original text and/ or in translation. A distinction is introduced between phraseological and non-phraseological translation to determine how many idioms were lost in translation or to what extent the translation was neutralized. A total of 68 idioms were translated using phraseological translation techniques (complete equivalence, partial equivalence, literal translation, and semantic equivalence). Non-phraseological techniques were used for 23 idioms, primarily through paraphrasing, with nine idioms translated using unmarked expressions, meaning that nine idioms were lost in translation. However, since some of them were compensated for (four idioms), the translator managed to achieve a similar effect in the translated text. Based on the presented translation analysis, the paper proposes a classification of translation methods, discussing their advantages, disadvantages, and impact on the final translation. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the importance of translation competence and phraseological knowledge, as well as the need for better lexicographical treatment of idioms to facilitate the translator’s work and ensure greater naturalness in translation.