Thesis
Translating Laila Wadia's "How to become Italian in 24 hours: the diary of an aspiring Italian"
University of Iowa
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), University of Iowa
Spring 2022
DOI: 10.17077/etd.006396
Abstract
The following text includes a translation of Laila Wadia's novel How to Become Italian in 24 Hours: The Diary of an Aspiring Italian, precede by an introductory paratext describing the parallels between the fictional character Laila's life and the translators, and the difficulties in translating a text which is full of idioms, expressions, and cultural references. Using a diary format, Laila tells her story of immigrating to Italy from India. With this format, Wadia is able to create a personal relationship with the reader, and with humor and satire, she disarms twenty-four years of cultural misunderstandings, makes social and political commentary, deconstructs stereotypes, and explores themes of otherness and hyrbid identities.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Translating Laila Wadia's "How to become Italian in 24 hours: the diary of an aspiring Italian"
- Creators
- Davide A. F. Vigliotti
- Contributors
- Jan Steyn (Advisor)Cinzia Blum (Committee Member)Daniel Hahn (Committee Member)Yasmine Ramadan (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Comparative Literature-Translation
- Date degree season
- Spring 2022
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.006396
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- iii, 70 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2022 Davide A. F. Vigliotti
- Translated title
- How to become Italian in 24 hours: the diary of an aspiring Italian
- Language
- English
- Public Abstract (ETD)
- The following is a critical analysis of Laila Wadia’s novel "How to Become Italian in 24 Hours: The Diary of an Aspiring Italian," with a focus on translation struggles and guided solutions. The translation of idioms, expressions, pop culture references, dialect, and language are discussed, the reasoning behind the inclusion (or not) of footnotes, and the potential for the novel’s publication as an educational text. In addition, the translator’s life experiences are discussed, and how they impacted the translation of Laila Wadia’s novel. Laila Wadia’s "How to Become Italian in 24 Hours: The Diary of an Aspiring Italian" is a semi-autobiographical novel presented in a diary format, chronicling the author’s real-life experiences as she sought to integrate into Italian society as an Indian immigrant.
- Academic Unit
- World Languages, Literatures and Cultures
- Record Identifier
- 9984271450602771
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