COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TRANSLATIONS OF TIRUKKURAL: THOMAS HITOSHI PRUIKSMA AND JAYAPRAKASAM

Abstract

Comparative literature in simple terms is an interdisciplinary and international thinking of a text when placed together. The traditional definition of comparative literature includes the comparison of two or more literary works and all of their diverse elements, including their historical, economic, cultural, philosophical, doctrinal, and linguistic contexts. A comparative study is inevitable in a multicultural nation like India. Likewise, under the arena of translation studies a well-known text called Tirukkural, a Tamil classical epic written in an ancient period plays a major role. This text is famously known as Kural, which is supposedly written by Tiruvalluvar.  There are numerous versions of translation is being circulated in society. The first translation was published in 1593, whilst the current one has been published in 2022. Each translator has their own language style, format, and structure while undergoing translation. Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma and R Jayaprakasam are the two translators employed by the researcher in this study for comparison. The following translationsfrom Tamil to English are the most recent ones. Native translator Thomas titled his translation as ‘The Kural: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural, A New Translation of the classical Tamil masterpiece on Ethics, Power and Love. He, is a translator, instructor, and author who lives in America on the other hand, Jayaprakasam is an advocate who lives in Chennai. He entitled his translation as Thirukkural: Text in English and Tamil.This paper aims to analyse the intricacies, similarities, and differences made by the non-native translator, Thomas, and a native translator Jayaprakasam.

Keywords: Comparative, Translation, multicultural, Native, and Non-native.