A study of translating extra-textual expressions from a non-English language into English: a case of contemporary Japanese computer-mediated communication

This study discusses how extra-textual elements found in computer-mediated communication (CMC) (such as smiley faces or emoticons) can effectively be translated between English and non-English languages. To approach this question the study focuses on Japanese CMC as CMC is quite advanced in Japan and is widely used by Japanese people (e.g., MSN or mobile e-mail); the Japanese language also integrates five different scripts when written, which can be further applied in translations from other languages. The study firstly analyses how professionals have attempted to handle these non-textual parts in translation when they explain the linguistic and cultural characteristics of Japanese CMC, and it finds that in general intersemiotic translation is a major method of handling such extra-textual elements (other than emoticons which are basically left in their original forms). After a review of previous translation methods, the study considers how these elements can be more effectively translated, in particular using an intrasemiotic means of translation in order to convey the meaning of the original message more directly without loss of some extra-textual meaning. The discussion focuses on cultural aspects and foreignness, giving case studies for a few elements which very frequently occur in Japanese CMC