Translation of Neologisms: a Case Study of Gĩkũyũ Radio Broadcast

Abstract

This study is about evaluation of translation of neologisms in Gĩkũyũ radio broadcasts as they are translated by Gĩkũyũ radio presenters. In view of this study, neologisms are words which were not initially part of the Gĩkũyũ lexicon. However, they have come into use as a result of technological advancements, scientific inventions and socio-economic interactions. This study investigated the translation strategies that are employed by the Gĩkũyũ radio presenters in the translation of neologisms in radio broadcast. This study also appraised whether Gĩkũyũ radio presenters interpreted, translated and communicated appropriately and effectively in Gĩkũyũ which is the target language. This study was limited to an assessment of neologisms from topical issues, news items and newspaper reviews in Gĩkũyũ radio stations. It restricted itself to two Gĩkũyũ radio stations namely Kameme FM and Cooro FM. The researcher used an eclectic theoretical approach, emphasis was put on some tenets of the relevance theory and skopos theory. The study also utilized a combination of interview schedules and listening to aired programmes for data elicitation from a number of respondents. The researcher presents a detailed analysis of a number of neologisms that were encountered in the course of broadcasting and the translation strategies that were employed in translating them. The researcher also assessed the effectiveness of these translation strategies that were employed by the radio presenters, noting that some were effective while others were ineffective.