Translating Irrealia – Creating a Semiotic Framework for the Translation of Fictional Cultures

In: Chinese Semiotic Studies, Volume 2, Issue 1, p. 165-175

Abstract

Abstract
This paper aims to propose a third generation semiotic method for analyzing inter-linguistic translations. The paper concentrates on translation issues related to the literary genres related to "genre" literature such as science fiction or fantasy, aiming to provide a semiotic method with which to interpret the texts as holistic entities and to isolate the specific elements that create the textual world. The translation method is based on semiotic tools and theories by Lotman, Eco and Tarasti among others, and is built around the basis of an earlier model by the same author (Loponen, 2006). To help isolate and interpret textual elements that create the genre specific texts as holistic entities, the paper introduces the concept of irrealia into semiotic translation studies.