International Journal of Language & Linguistics

Between Style and Sense: a Critical Appraisal of Soyinka’s and Ajadi’s English Translations of D.O Fagunwa’s Igbo Olodumare
Dr. Gbadegesin

Abstract
This paper is a critical evaluation of the two translations of Fagunwa’s Igbo olodumare into English by Wole Soyinka and Gabriel Ajadi. The question on whether style takes precedence over sense and vice versa constitutes a central debate in translation. This is because the challenges that come with translating are relative to text typology. The dynamic equivalence theory of Nida, together with the subjective approach of translation by Gbadegesin, is employed in the analysis of the translation process by Soyinka and Ajadi. The study affirms the priority sense has over style through the analysis of practical examples drawn from Wole Soyinka’s and Ajadi’s English versions of Fagunwa’s novel under study with emphasis on the interpretative departures of the translators from the intended meaning of the author. Then, the paper concludes that translation of a literary text with cultural lodes cannot but betray the style if the implicit meaning of the message is well deverbalised. This is the case of the translations of Fagunwa’s Igbo Olodumare into English.

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