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Research Articles

No. 7

Divided Identities and Divided Selves: Fictional Translators in Turkish Literature

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13944060
Submitted
9 October 2024
Published
30.10.2024

Abstract

The article focuses on the representations of translator and interpreter characters in Ottoman and contemporary Turkish literature. It specifically highlights the depiction of these characters as individuals suffering from identity issues, including mental instability. We argue that this recurring theme is not merely a coincidence, but a reflection of the complexities of translation and the anxieties surrounding cultural transformation. We explore the origins of this trend in early Ottoman novels, which responded to the process of Westernization and its effects on Ottoman society. We then turn to contemporary works, where translators continue grappling with identity issues and are increasingly prone to forms of psychosis. Our goal is to offer a nuanced understanding of the translator’s role, both as a figure caught between worlds and as a potential source of cultural and linguistic insight.

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