The limits of simplification in translated isiZulu health texts

Abstract

Simplification, defined as the practice of simplifying the language used in translation, is regarded as one of the universal features of translation. This article investigates the limitations of simplification encountered in efforts to make translated isiZulu health texts more accessible to the target readership. The focus is on public health texts written in English and their translations into isiZulu. The methods of data collection combined the analysis of health texts produced by government departments for isiZulu speakers in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng (two of South Africa’s nine provinces) in an attempt to categorize and analyse the lexical simplification strategies used by the translators, and an expert-focused evaluation method to complement the assessment of the effectiveness of such strategies. The findings of this study demonstrate that, in developing contexts such as South Africa, certain texts are inaccessible because of the complex linguistic and cultural constraints and not only because of the traditional measures of simplification. To solve this problem, translators are advised to take note of the limitations of the simplification strategies.

S.Afr.J.Afr.Lang., 2006, 3