An annotated translation into Maltese of chapter 11 from The fault in our stars by John Green accompanied by a critical analysis

Abstract

John Green is a popular name within the realm of Young Adult Literature. This study focuses on one of his most popular literary works, The Fault in Our Stars. Through the years, this book has garnered attention in the world of translation, being translated into a variety of languages. This dissertation is an addition to these works as it provides a translation of Chapter 11 of the book into Maltese. Translating an author demands a profound understanding of the author. This is why this study includes an exploration of John Green, his works and his writing style. This dissertation also discusses translation theories pertinent to this study accompanied by several examples from the translated chapter. For ease of reference and understanding, the translation is annotated with interesting cultural elements presented as footnotes and linguistic elements presented as endnotes. This study also presents a detailed analysis of the three elements which proved to be most challenging during the translation process. Discourse markers are rigorously discussed and analysed with particular focus on how their linguistic ambiguity is to be tackled in the process of translation. Another central notion which features in the analysis is that of figurative language, shedding light on the translator’s creativity and the translator’s effort to keep the same imagery as that embedded within the original. The last part of the analysis focuses on specialised terminology, specifically terms related to the medical field.