Translation

Children’s literature belongs to the most translated branch of literature in many countries, and the translations have, traditionally, been seen as a means of introducing young readers to other cultures. This chapter critically examines such an assumption by asking to what degree translations for children actually do transport cultural difference. It probes the factors that determine why some children’s literatures are widely-travelled while others rarely get to transcend the borders of their own linguistic areas. It also discusses the two major forces which influence how children’s literature is actually translated: the consideration of the abilities of the child audience, and the influence of the cultural and ideological norms of the target culture.