Translating songs in children’s literature: the opening generic in Animated cartoons – Case of The Detective Conan

Abstract

When translating animated cartoon, which isregardedas part of children's audiovisual literature, two main dimensions should be weighed: the child, the junior recipient in the translation process, and the nature of the text to be translated. The translatoris then caught between a rock and a hard place. First, his young viewer, the childin having lively imagination, quick assimilation and creative comprehension, on the one hand, and the "text" as a distinct specialized language and a technical plot imposed by its audiovisual nature, on the other hand.

Translating songs is a challenging topic in contemporary translation studies. It callsthe translator to invoke modern theories that enable him to serve his both masters.His translation should work on the cognitive and emotional intelligence of his young viewer, as well as on his awareness about his own identity and the presence of the other in his world.

This paper aims to deal with the main issues of song translation, or musical translation, i.e. the sensory and textual musical skills it demands,and to explore how song translation contributes to develop the children's literature and enhance the child's learning abilities.