Linguistic variation in translations of “highbrow literature” and of best-selling popular fiction

Abstract

Although the study of linguistic variation in literary translations has stimulated considerable debate in Translation Studies in the last few decades, very little discussion has been developed on the (in)existence of a relationship between the use of written orality and translations of the so-called “highbrow literature” and that of bestselling fiction. Is there any relevant contrast, in terms of "written orality” occurrence, among works of fiction to which, in principle, different marketing purposes are ascribed? To answer this question, a comparative research was carried out so as to quantify written orality features, such as those outlined by Britto (2012), in a translation of a highbrow novel (Indignation, by Philip Roth), and of a bestselling novel (The Racketeer, by John Grisham).