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DIFFICULTIES IN TRANSLATING HUMOR, WORD PLAY, AND AUTHOR’S OCCASIONALISMS (BASED ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL «MAJOR GROM»)
Abaeva, Izeta S.
Kavkaz Forum. 2025. Issue 24.
Abstract:
In a rapidly globalizing and digital world, comics have secured a prominent position in mass culture, particularly among younger demographics. Within Russia, Bubble Comics is a key player in developing the comic book industry, and “Major Grom” stands out as one of their most recognizable and successful creations. This analysis draws upon both the original “Major Grom” comics and their adaptation as a film on Netflix, utilizing the available English subtitles. This article explores the specific challenges inherent in translating the humorous elements of the “Major Grom” comic from Russian to English. These include navigating the complexities of wordplay, puns, and culturally embedded references that are deeply intertwined with Russian language and society. Comics and graphic novels, through their combination of visual and verbal storytelling, present unique hurdles for translators, as their humor often relies on local cultural contexts and intricate linguistic mechanics that resist straightforward cross-lingual transfer. By examining Netflix’s adaptation of the comic for an English-speaking audience, we analyze key instances where the semantic and stylistic integrity of the original is compromised due to the inability to directly replicate its jokes. Particular attention is paid to the challenges of conveying Russian slang terms (like “делюга” – delyuga), polysemantic puns (using a word like “камера” – camera, which has multiple meanings), and culturally specific political sarcasm (such as “жулики и воры” – crooks and thieves, a well-known political phrase). The author identifies key methods for more effective humor translation, including linguistic and semantic adaptation, balancing fidelity with creative freedom, and considering the necessity of cultural localization and the interplay between visual and verbal elements. The conclusion underscores that adequately capturing the comedic effect requires a holistic, creative approach, and the development of adaptive strategies that prioritize preserving the communicative intent and stylistic uniqueness of the original. Ultimately, the research emphasizes the critical importance of a profound understanding of socio-cultural codes and the nuances of linguistic polysemy for successful intercultural exchange of artistic and humorous content within the realm of comics and graphic novels.
Keywords: comics, graphic novel, translation, author’s occasionalisms, humor, Major Grom, Netflix.
Language: Russian
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For citation: Abaeva, I.S. Difficulties in translating humor, word play, and author’s occasionalisms (based on the graphic novel «Major Grom»). KAVKAZFORUM. 2025, iss. 24 (31), pp. 19-28 (In Russian). ← Contents of issue |
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