2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Viability of Children's Literature Translated into Minority Languages
| Project/Area Number |
20K00397
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| Research Institution | Sophia University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | children's literature / minority languages / translation / language preservation / child rights |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
I have published a paper in the international journal of Children's Literature, 'Children's Literature in Education. This paper sets the groundwork for further writing and study of minority languages and particularly examines the reasons why activists in minority languages often resist translation into their languages: Cheetham, Dominic. “The Translation of Children’s Literature into Minority Languages.” Children’s Literature in Education (Jan. 2022).
I have also presented at a major Children's Literature conference in Chile (online) discussing the possibilities for translation of minority language Children's Literature. In this presentation I introduced the situation of translation into Hawaiian, Maori, and Scottish, and looked at the different publishing and translation choices that are made in these different situations: Cheetham, Dominic. Pedagogic and Aesthetic Conflict in Minority Children’s Literature. IRSCL Congress, Santiago, Chile. 2021.
I have continued my reading and study based research, particularly in examining the translation techniques used by translators into minority languages.This is in preparation for a presentation in Australia this July. I have been planning how to continue the research here in Japan. I will be studying how minority language users here in Japan have dealt with reading in their minority languages.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
4: Progress in research has been delayed.
Reason
My original research plan was to visit minority language areas and conduct research in those areas. With the travel restrictions from corona this has not been possible. I have concentrated on research papers and presentations.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
I plan to introduce a study program of minority language speakers here in Japan, and to examine their reading habits as they grew up. This will contribute to the original aims but in a new methodology consistent with the corona travel restrictions.
I will be presenting on translation techniques in minority languages at a conference in Australia this July.
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| Causes of Carryover |
I have money unused because I could not follow my original plan due to corona travel restrictions. This year I will change the approach to carry out research on minority language reading here in Japan. This will involve surveys, interviews, and travel to different areas in Japan to investigate the situations in bookshops and in the various communities studied.
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