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Madol Doova; A Comparative study with its English & Tamil Translations

Conference Paper · December 2019

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Jayalatha Medawatte Kumudu Karunarathne Ranaweera

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 Madol Doova; A Comparative study with its English & Tamil Translations.

K.A.J.P.K. Medawatte 1
Senior Lecturer, Department of Sinhala and Mass Communication, University of Sri
Jayewardenepura

H.K.C.K Ranaweera2
Senior Lecturer, Department of Sinhala, University of Colombo

Thilini Tharushi De Silva3

B.A Sinhala (Special), University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Key Words

Madol Doova, Children’s Novel, Bilingual Translation, Native Translators, Sinhalese

Terminology

Research Problem

Are there any differentiation between Martin Wickrmasinghe’s Madol Doova and its bilingual
translation?

Introduction

Madol Doova (ufvd,a ¥j& was written by Martin Wickramasinghe the first published in
Sinhala in 1947 as a children’s novel. Lamahewage Don Martin Wickramasinghe (1890 - 1976)
was one of the geniuses author lived in Koggala, down south in Sri Lanka. His works go through
the modern knowledge in natural and social sciences, literature, linguistics, the arts, philosophy,
education, Buddhism and comparative religion so on. He represented in modern Sinhala
Literature and contributed a large number of literary works. Thus he is known as the father of the
modern Sinhala literature.

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 Madol Doova is embraced by the younger generation and the novel has been become
very popular than other simultaneous novels among adolescent readers. The above said statement
proved with a plausible clarification that during the half a century since it was first published in
1947 over a million Sinhala copies have been printed up to now. It was translated into English in
1976 and also it has been translated into several other languages as well as Tamil (1997),
Russian (1954), Chinese (1961), Rumanian (1962), Balgarian (1964), Dutch (1979), Japanese
(2002), Italian (2009). Thus it is proved that this novel is very popular not only in Sri Lanka but
almost all over the world. The intention of this study is confined the comparing with the original
as well as in Tamil and English translations.

Madol Doova has been translated into English by Ashley Halpe. He was a professor of
English in the University of Sri Lanka. He was a poet too. His poetic language helped to success
the translation. Though he was an academic in English language he was an eminent in Sinhala
language too. He inspired to make his attention towards especially bilingual readers in Sri Lanka.
That is why he mentioned Sinhala colloquial words which were Wickramasinghe used.

Sundaram Saumiyan translated for Madol Doova as Madol Theeivu (knlhy; jPT) into
Tamil language. The Tamil translator has done his job translating the original from word to word
because he exceptionally proficient in both languages, Sinhala and Tamil. He has translated
Wickramasinghe’s Viragaya into Tamil obtained a literary award in 1992. What he felt was
that avoiding pedantic words and expressions and has rendered this work in an easy and
understandable language. He mentioned similar Tamil words instead of Sinhala words. He often
furnishes alternative Sinhala words within brackets for the further clarification.

Both English and Tamil translators are native persons. As a result of nativism of both
writers inspired the core and cultural and social background of the original novel. That is the
reason the success of both translations. Furthermore the Sinhala novel Madol Doova is
considered especially for children. Considering the language of narration in both translators’
work it seems to be successful because of applying distinguish simple, appropriate language in
short English and Tamil sentences in the dialogues. Secondly two translators also captured
authentic characteristics feelings of main character namely Upali Geniwella and his follower
Jinna whose have venturesomeness behavior themselves. The story is an account of adventure
Upali and Jinna have in Madol Doova, and how Upali the prankster matures and shows heroic
stature in the eyes of the reader.

The Tamil readers, who are unfamiliar with Sinhala terminology and Sinhalese customs,
are well explained by using appropriate Tamil words by Sundaram Saumyan though Professor
Ashley Halpe used the Sinhala lexicons in his English translation. Halpe mentioned lexicology
in the glossary at the end of the novel, but Sinhala terms which appear in the novel make a little
bit confuse not for bilingual readers in Sri Lanka but for the English readers who use English as
their mother tongue. An identification disclosing in this study has a specific feature which

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following a unique way to convey the interpretation of the original, Halpe uses basic theory that
mentioning Sinhala colloquial words in his English translation.

Sundaram Suamiyan uses the Tamil word ‘Madol Theeivu - knlhy; jPT’ for the title in
his translation, explicates the actual meaning similar to the title of the original. But Halpe
mentioned the title Madol Doova in his English translation as same as the original. It is better
that if it is be used for the tittle in the English translation ‘Island of Mangroves’ instead of Madol
Doova.

There are no harms seems that in the English as well as Tamil translations by Ashley
Halpe and Sundaram Saumyan in language, themes, background and characterization. Two
translators tried as much as possible to gain the spirit of the original novel, Martin
Wickramasinghe’s Madol Doova. Eventually this research is identified that both translations are
accepted by the English and Tamil readers without any cultural and social barriers.

Methodology

The primary and secondary sources were utilized for composing the research. As for primary
source Madol Doova by Martin Wickramasinghe and Madol Doova English and Tamil translations by
Ashley Halpe and Sundaram Suamyan were referred to. The secondary sources were the books such as
Viragaya, Ape Gama, which are the novels by Martin Wickramasinghe. In addition to,
Wickramasinghe’s books that were published in to the other languages, a couple of reviews, periodicals,
magazines and newspapers articles on the subject were further referred to as secondary sources.

Conclusion

The novel, Martin Wickrmasinghe’s Madol Doova is one of the novels for especially for
the children, which was written initially in the early part of modern Sinhala literature. Within this
works of art, the experience of boyhood are enriched by the perception of the mature artist,
Martin Wickramasinghe. Therefore, Madol Doova is being popularized, and embraced by vast
majority of Sri Lankan bilingual younger readers.

References

Barry, Peter 2002. An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. New York, Manchester
University Press.

Bell, Roger. T 1991. Translation and Translating: Theory & Practice. England, Routledge Publishers.

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 Kelly, Nataly & Zetzsche, Jost 2012. Found in Translation (How language shapes our lives and
transforms the world). U.S.A, Tracherperigee Publishers

Wickrmasinghe, Martin 1947. Madol Doova. Rajagiriya: Sarasa (Pvt.) Ltd.

Madol Doova. Trans. - Ashley Halpe 1976.Rajagiriya: Sarasa (Pvt.) Ltd.

Madol Doova. Trans. Sundaram Suamiyan 1997. Rajagiriya, Sarasa (Pvt.) Ltd.

Literacy Research Methodologies. Edt Duke, Mell.K. & Mallette, Marla.H. 2004 London, The Guilford
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