Translation Of Select Tamil Dialects Into English: Problems And Possibilities

Abstract

The languages Tamil and English are linguistically and culturally distinct. Tamil is a Dravidian language, while English is a Germanic language. Each has its own unique features and characteristics. Both languages are diglossic in nature, with standard and nonstandard, spoken and written, formal and informal forms. In general, depending on the context, a speaker of a language adapts their style accordingly. Similarly, different forms of language are used in speech and writing. In literary works, in addition to the regular style, colloquial and dialectal styles are also employed. In recent times, writers have increasingly used their respective community dialects in their works. Dialects generally vary socially and regionally. The purpose of using dialect in a novel is to document the style and accent of the language as part of history. This paper examines the challenges of translating three major Tamil dialects—the Tamil Brahmin dialect, the coastal Tamil Muslim dialect, and the Tamil Dalit dialect—with examples. It also suggests techniques and solutions for translating these dialects from Tamil to English.