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Children books must carry palpable illustrations – Panel told
1389/02/24-08:30
A panel discussion on "indigenization of illustrations in translation of children- and youngsters-related publications" was told that illustrations and text complement one another in the age category's publications and that the two elements must be brought into a harmonious step in order to make a precise transfer of content, palpable to audience.
Staged on Monday, May 10, in the pavilion of House of Authors in the 23rd edition of Tehran International Book Fair, the panel was joined by Sayyid Ali Kashefi Khansari, an author of children books, Neda Azimi, an illustrator of the age category's publications, and Saeed Babavand, an illustrator, according to the book fair's press office.
Khansari opened the discussion, saying that translation was a recreation of a work, adding that translated publications, especially those targeting children, might be informed by a slew of factors, including social norms of the target culture, taste of translator, and methodology of translation.
He said publications leveled at the age category in question need to adapt original illustrations in a way that they mirror target culture, adding that an indigenization was essential before a desired result was produced.
The author went on to say that a palpable translation might entail some touches as to the original text, adding that children books are not confined to text rather a major part of content is assigned to illustrations and therefore a modification of the latter was essential if a given book was intended to serve a target audience.
In the same note, Khansari disputed the notion that illustrations are always comprehensible to a global audience, adding that a fine rendition will take place once text and illustrations are trans-adapted in harmony with one another.
Neda Azimi was a next panelist to take on the topic by saying that an indigenization of children books' illustration was subject to several prerequisites, including sufficient knowledge about the source culture as well as application of culture-bound signs and symbols in illustration.
"An indigenization of illustrations is more than addition of Iranian-inspired signs to original illustrations," she noted.
The children books illustrator said an absence of illustration festivals at home was in part to blame for a failure of Iranian illustrators to adapt translated publications to the target culture. She went on to say that a poor knowledge of semiotics on the part of Iranian illustrators had only led to them imitating western approaches.
In the same regard, she noted globally spread content like Cinderella might not readily put on the garment of target culture however age-old content could be easily adapted or modified.
She also regretted that children's illustrative creation has not been paid enough attention.
Next panelist was Saeed Babavand who wrapped the discussion by saying that in a postmodern world as the west is, illustration is extended to all visual affairs including body language, visual effects and many other things.
The children books' illustrator symbols of any given culture might not be accessible to other cultures. He elaborated that red color clothes signify New Year Day in Chinese culture unlike the perception of other nations, "therefore illustrations of a given story must be adapted in keeping with customs and cultural semiotics of the target culture."
