On the Adaptation and Translation of Karl May’s Novel Der Schatz im Silbersee

Abstract

The paper offers an insight into the German adaptations and the Hungarian translation and adaptation of Karly May’s novel Der Schatz im Silbersee. The differences between the two German editions analysed (1930, 1952) are partly due to the different audiences they address: the first edition, just like the original is directed toward (younger) adults, shown by the presence of long, compound-complex sentences, formal and elevated language use, numerous adverbial constructions and repetitions. By contrast, the latter edition has a larger audience in mind: this becomes evident through omission, especially that of adjectives and adverbs in descriptions, substitution, text contraction and also addition. The two Hungarian translations (Tivadar Szinnai (1964) János Ossik (2012)) also target differences audiences: children (Szinnai) and adolescents (Ossik). Despite the significant differences between them, both with respect to length and style, the applied strategies are quite similar (both translations are characterized by strategies of domestication and foreignization, comprising the transfers operations of omission, substition, replacement, addition and also compensation).