DIPLOMSKO DELO - core.ac.uk · Iskreno se zahvaljujem svoji mentorici, doc. dr. Klementini Jurančič-Petek, za ves njen trud, svetovanje, pomoč in potrpljenje pri izdelavi tega

UNIVERZA V MARIBORU FILOZOFSKA FAKULTETA

Oddelek za anglistiko in amerikanistiko

DIPLOMSKO DELO Manja Iskra

Maribor, 2009

UNIVERZA V MARIBORU FILOZOFSKA FAKULTETA

Oddelek za anglistiko in amerikanistiko

Diplomsko delo

PREVOD NAKLONSKIH GLAGOLOV CAN, COULD, MAY IN MIGHT V »ALICE'S ADVENTURES

IN WONDERLAND« LEWISA CARROLLA V PREVODIH GITICE

JAKOPIN IN HELENE BIFFIO Mentorica: Kandidatka: doc.dr.Klementina Jurančič-Petek Manja Iskra

Maribor, 2009

UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR FACULTY OF ARTS

Department for English and American studies

Diploma paper

TRANSLATION OF MODAL VERBS CAN, COULD, MAY AND MIGHT IN LEWIS CARROLL'S

“ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND” IN

TRANSLATIONS OF GITICA JAKOPIN AND HELENA BIFFIO

Mentor: Candidate: doc.dr.Klementina Jurančič-Petek Manja Iskra

Maribor, 2009

ZAHVALA Iskreno se zahvaljujem svoji mentorici, doc. dr. Klementini Jurančič-Petek, za ves njen trud, svetovanje, pomoč in potrpljenje pri izdelavi tega diplomskega dela. Prav tako se zahvaljujem svoji mami, ki je ves čas verjela vame, ter vsem, ki so mi v času študija stali ob strani.

.

I Z J A V A

Podpisana Manja Iskra, rojena 16.5.1979 v Mariboru, študentka Filozofske fakultete Univerze v Mariboru, smer angleški jezik s književnostjo in nemški jezik s književnostjo, izjavljam, da je diplomsko delo z naslovom »Prevod naklonskih glagolov can, could, may in might v Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewisa Carrolla v prevodih Gitice Jakopin in Helene Biffio« pri mentorici doc.dr.Klementini Jurančič-Petek, avtorsko delo. V diplomskem delu so uporabljeni viri in literatura korektno navedeni; teksti niso prepisani brez navedbe avtorjev. _____________________ (podpis) Maribor, 19.10.2009

POVZETEK

To diplomsko delo je obravnavalo prevod angleških naklonskih glagolov can, could, may in might v delu Lewisa Carrolla Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. V delu so bili predstavljeni različni načini prevajanja naklonskih glagolov v slovenščino ter dejanski načini prevodov, ki sta jih naredili Gitica Jakopin in Helena Biffio. Prav tako se je delo osredotočilo na to, ali se je modalnost angleškega glagola ohranila v slovenskem prevodu. Za študij teh prevodov smo zastavili dve hipotezi. Ena pravi, da bosta prevajalki uporabili enakovreden slovenski naklonski glagol za svoj prevod, druga pa, da bo modalnost prevedenih glagolov v večini ostala enaka. Analiza je pokazala, da v večini primerov prevajalki nista uporabili enakovrednega slovenskega naklonskega glagola. Namesto tega sta uporabili naklonski izraz ali prilagojeno naklonsko strukturo. Ne glede na način prevoda pa je modalnost v glavnem bila ohranjena. Ključne besede: Alica v čudežni deželi, naklonski glagoli, prevod, modalnost, Jakopin, Biffio

ABSTRACT

This diploma paper dealt with the translation of modal verbs can, could, may and might in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. It presented different ways of translating modal verbs into Slovene in theory and the actual ways of translation in Gitica Jakopin’s and Helena Biffio’s translations. It also focused on whether or not the modality of the English verb was kept in the Slovene translation. There were two hypothesis set for the study of these translations. One was that the translators would use the equivalent Slovene modal verb to translate the English one, and the second stated that in the majority of the translated cases the modality would remain the same. The analysis showed that the translators did not use the equivalent Slovene modal verb in most of the cases. Instead they used either the modal expressions or modal modifications. However, regardless of the way of translation, the modality was mainly kept. Key words: Alice in Wonderland, modal verbs, translation, modality, Jakopin, Biffio

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. 3

2 AIM AND RESEARCH PRESUPPOSITION ................................................ 4

3 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................. 5

3.1 Research methods ......................................................................................... 5

3.2 Used sources ................................................................................................. 5

4 MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AND SLOVENE.......................................... 6

4.1 English modal verbs...................................................................................... 6

4.2 Modal verbs can, could, may and might ....................................................... 6

4.2.1 Can / could ............................................................................................. 7

4.2.1.1 Can / could used to express permission .......................................... 8

4.2.1.2 Can / could used to express possibility ........................................... 8

4.2.1.3 Can / could used to express ability.................................................. 9

4.2.1.4 Could as modal past tense ............................................................. 10

4.2.1.5 Additional uses of could ............................................................... 10

4.2.2 May / might .......................................................................................... 11

4.2.2.1 May / might used to express permission....................................... 11

4.2.2.2 May / might used to express possibility........................................ 12

4.2.2.3 Additional uses of may / might ..................................................... 13

4.3 Slovene modal verbs ................................................................................... 14

4.3.1 Expressing modality in Slovene........................................................... 14

4.3.1.1 Modal verbs................................................................................... 15

4.3.1.2 Predicate........................................................................................ 15

Diploma paper

4.3.1.3 Particle .......................................................................................... 16

4.3.1.4 Modal expressions......................................................................... 18

4.3.1.5 Modal modifications ..................................................................... 18

5 TRANSLATION OF MODAL VERBS CAN, COULD, MAY AND MIGHT

IN LEWIS CARROLL’S ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND .... 19

5.1 Translation of modal verbs in Slovene ....................................................... 19

5.2. Translation of modal verbs can, could, may and might in translations of

Gitica Jakopin and Helena Biffio...................................................................... 20

5.2.1 Translation of modal verb can.............................................................. 21

5.2.1.1 Can expressing ability ................................................................... 21

5.2.1.2 Can expressing possibility............................................................. 30

5.2.1.3 Can expressing ability or possibility ............................................. 33

5.2.1.4 Analysis of ways of translating can .............................................. 34

5.2.2 Translation of modal verb could .......................................................... 36

5.2.2.1 Could expressing ability................................................................ 36

5.2.2.2 Could expressing possibility ......................................................... 49

5.2.2.3 Could expressing ability or possibility.......................................... 53

5.2.2.4 Analysis of ways of translating could ........................................... 57

5.2.3 Translation of modal verb may ............................................................ 61

5.2.3.1 May expressing permission........................................................... 61

5.2.3.2 May expressing possibility............................................................ 62

5.2.3.3 May expressing hopes and wishes ................................................ 63

5.2.3.4 May expressing concession........................................................... 64

5.2.3.5 Analysis of ways of translating may ............................................. 64

1

Diploma paper

5.2.4 Translation of modal verb might.......................................................... 67

5.2.4.1 Might expressing permission ........................................................ 67

5.2.4.2 Might expressing possibility ......................................................... 67

5.2.4.3 Might expressing ability................................................................ 73

5.2.4.4 Might as a set phrase..................................................................... 74

5.2.4.5 Analysis of ways of translating might........................................... 74

5.2.5 Summary of the analysis ...................................................................... 77

6 CONCLUSION................................................................................................. 79

2

Diploma paper

1 INTRODUCTION

There are many moments when one watches a television show in English (or any

other foreign language) with Slovene subtitles and notices that the translation

differs from the original. This is often the case with situation comedies where you

laugh at a joke told in English but when you read the translation in Slovene, the

joke just does not make any sense and is therefore not funny to the person just

reading the subtitles.

I have also experienced such moments myself. Although having some experience

with translating (and knowing that one cannot just literally translate words or that

sometimes one has difficulties finding the proper words to translate so that the

meaning could remain the same), I cannot help but wonder if the translator made

the right choice when using this or that word, especially in cases where I was able

to find the literal word to translate the English word.

All this motivated me to choose ways of translating for the topic of my diploma

paper. I decided to study the modal verbs can, could, may and might in Lewis

Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and how Gitica Jakopin and Helena

Biffio translated them in the Slovene translations. I decided on these exact four

verbs because they all have the equivalent Slovene modal verb (moči for can and

could, smeti for may, moči for might). Therefore I wanted to know if in majority

of cases the translators would use Slovene modal verbs or any other possibilities.

Of course, I was already aware that one can use other ways, I just wanted to find

out whether one would use it in the majority of cases or not.

Further I was curious, regardless of the verbs the translators finally chose for their

translations, if the meaning remains the same or not. As said previously, the

meaning sometimes changes completely when the sentences get translated, so I

wanted to find out how often this occurs in these two translations of Alice’s

Adventures in Wonderland.

3

Diploma paper

2 AIM AND RESEARCH PRESUPPOSITION

There are two aims of this diploma paper. The first is to find out, how two

different translators, namely Gitica Jakopin and Helena Biffio, translated four

English modal verbs in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The

modal verbs are can, could, may, and might.

The second aim is to find out, regardless of the way a translator translated the

English modal verbs into Slovene, whether or not the modality of the original

sentences is kept in the translation.

I know that there are always different possibilies when it comes to translation.

However, I still hypothesize that in the majority of cases both translators will use

the equivalent Slovene modal verb for the translation. Further, I hypothesize that

in most cases the translated sentences will express the same modality as the

original ones.

4

Diploma paper

3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research methods

I use comparative method to study all sources. I will compare the examples with

the intention of finding similarities and differences.

3.2 Used sources

In this diploma paper, I use mostly primary sources. These include Lewis

Carroll’s work Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, the two translations into

Slovene, as well as different grammars.

I also use secondary sources, such as dictionaries.

5

Diploma paper

4 MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AND SLOVENE

4.1 English modal verbs

In English, verb phrases can be marked for either tense or modality, but not both.

Modality refers to the mood of a verb. According to the dictionary, mood is “one

of the groups of forms that a verb may take to show whether things are regarded

as certain, possible, doubtful, etc.: the indicative / imperative / subjunctive mood”

(Hornby, 1974, 544).

English has nine central modal auxiliary verbs (also known as modal verbs and

they shall be referred to as such in this diploma paper). They are all used to

express modality. These are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would,

and must. There are also marginal auxiliary verbs which can behave like modals.

These are, for example, need (to), ought to, dare (to), or used to. In addition,

English also has a number of fixed idiomatic phrases with functions similar to

those of modals. These expressions are called semi-modals (also known as quasi-

modals or periphrastic modals). This group includes phrases like (had) better,

have to, (have) got to, be supposed to, and be going to.

Modals and semi-modals can be grouped into three major categories according to

their main meanings (an exception is used to, which relates to past time):

- permission / possibility / ability: can, could, may, might

- obligation / necessity: must, should, (had) better, have (got) to, need to,

ought to, be supposed to

- volition / prediction: will, would, shall, be going to (Biber [et al], 1999,

483 – 486).

4.2 Modal verbs can, could, may and might

In this part, I shall write something about the permission / possibility / ability

group of modal verbs. These modals are can, could, may, and might. They are

grouped in pairs (can / could and may / might), as both verbs in the same group

are used to express the same thing and usually have the same function.

6

Diploma paper

4.2.1 Can / could

In the group of modal verbs can and could, can is the form for the present tense,

while could is the form for the past tense. For other missing forms be able or be

possible are used. Could is normally used as a modal past tense and only

occasionally as the past tense of can.

Both forms can be followed by either the present (He can play football.) or the

perfect infinitive (He can easily have forgotten about his invitation to dinner.).

When can precedes the present infinitive, it refers to either present or future time.

When it precedes the perfect infinitive, it refers to past time.

When used as the past tense of can, could, followed by the present infinitive,

refers to past time. As a modal past tense, could, followed by the present

infinitive, refers to present or future time. However, when it is followed by the

perfect infinitive, it refers to past time.

The basic meaning of can in Slovene is moči, znati. However, it is often translated

in different ways according to the meaning it conveys (either permission,

possibility, ability, etc.). Here are some examples from Alice’s adventures in

Wonderland:

“Can you play croquet?” “Znaš igrati kroket?”

(Carroll, 1990, 90) (Carroll, 1983, 67)

“I can’t help it …” “Ne morem pomagati …”

(Carroll, 1990, 132) (Carroll, 1983, 95)

“I can tell you more than that, if “Še več ti lahko povem,

you like …” (Carroll, 1990, 118) če ti je do tega …” (Carroll, 1983, 86)

Can / Could may be used to express permission, possibility, ability, a

characteristic, conclusion or probability. However, there is much overlapping of

these meanings. For instance, ‘You can go to the party’ may indicate physical

ability, possibility, or permission (Blaganje, 1998, 366- 367).

7

Diploma paper

4.2.1.1 Can / could used to express permission

1. Can for present and future time sometimes expresses permission to act:

- You can smoke now. (present time)

- You can come tomorrow. (future time)

2. Both ‘can I?’ and the modal ‘could I?’ are used to make informal requests.

The use of could in such requests sounds more polite, while can might

sound somewhat rude.

- Can I borrow your car for the afternoon?

- Could I borrow your car for the afternoon?

3. The negative forms cannot and can’t denote present and future refusal of

permission, or even prohibition in some cases. On the other hand, couldn’t

is normally used for past time reference.

- I’m sorry, but you can’t borrow the car now. (refusal of

permission)

- You can’t smoke downstairs in English buses. (prohibition)

- The undergraduates couldn’t walk on the grass. (past prohibition)

4. Could for the past time, expressing permission, is used to imply something

habitual in the past.

- John could visit his club whenever he wanted (Blaganje, 1998, 367

– 368).

4.2.1.2 Can / could used to express possibility

1. When can is followed by the present infinitive it expresses possibility in

the present and future. The same is true for the modal could, but it

expresses a smaller degree of present and future possibility.

- “You can draw water out of a water-well …” (Carroll, 1990, 81)

- “… but you could keep it to half-past one as long as you liked.”

(Carroll, 1990, 76)

2. Can in interrogative sentences inquires after possibility, and in negative

sentences cannot or can’t express impossibility.

- Can it be true? Ali je morda res?

8

Diploma paper

- “Oh, you can’t help “Tu se pa ne da pomagati …”

that …” (Carroll, (Carroll, 1994, 48)

1990, 68)

3. We can use can or could followed by perfect infinitive for reference to a

past possibility, but could is more common.

- “… any shrimp could have told you that.” (Carroll, 1990, 119)

4. For a habitual past activity we normally use could or couldn’t + present

infinitive.

- You could drive for miles without coming across a petrol station.

- We couldn’t bathe in that river because of the whirlpools

(Blaganje, 1998, 368 – 369).

4.2.1.3 Can / could used to express ability

1. The most basic and common usage of can / could is for expressing ability.

This ability may arise:

a) from physical or mental capacity

- “… you can’t swim …” (Carroll, 1990, 144)

b) from being in a position, in particular circumstances, to perform

the action

- John can come to the party, but I can’t; I’ve got an exam that

day.

2. To express ability in the future, we can use the forms can, could, or will be

able to.

a) Can may be used when we have a more immediate future in mind and

when the ability is already present or certain at the moment of

speaking.

- “I can tell you more than that, if you like …” (Carroll, 1990,

118)

a) Could suggests a much less definite time. It also implies hesitation.

- “I could tell you my adventures – beginning from this

morning …” (Carroll, 1990, 119)

9

Diploma paper

b) Will be able to indicates a more remote future ability which is

dependent on some other event in the future.

- In a few weeks you’ll be able to drive a car.

3. To express mere ability in the past rather than expressing actual

performance we normally use could.

- Mary could drive a car when she was eighteen.

4. When we wish to emphasize successful achievement of something through

ability instead of mere ability, we use was / were able.

- I was able to get to the top of Mont Blanc once (Blaganje, 1998, 369 –

371).

4.2.1.4 Could as modal past tense

Could as a modal past tense expresses a more different, undecisive attitude on the

part of the speaker. When it is followed by the present infinitive it refers either to

the present or the future. It is used:

a) when an idea of condition is implied or expressed

- I could come earlier (if necessary).

b) to express a smaller degree of present and future possibility than

that expressed by can

- That noise could be a car or it could be an aeroplane.

c) to express polite requests

- Could you lend me some money?

d) to express suggestion in a humble and polite way

- How can I get in touch with him? – You could telephone

him (Blaganje, 1998, 371 – 372).

4.2.1.5 Additional uses of could

Could followed by the perfect infinitive is used:

a) in the main clause of conditional sentences where mostly an unrealized

past possibility is expressed

- We could have gone to England last year if we had had the money

for an aeroplane ticket.

10

Diploma paper

b) to express a past unfulfilled ability or opportunity

- She could have given him a lift in her car.

c) to express a past permission which was not used

- We could have gone to the cinema if we had liked.

d) to express past possibility of a smaller degree than that expressed by can

followed by the perfect infinitive

- He is so absent-minded that he could easily have forgotten that he

had promised to come (Blaganje, 1998, 372).

4.2.2 May / might

May is a defective verb. It has only two forms: may for the present tense and

might for the past tense. The missing forms are supplied by the appropriate forms

of be allowed to or be permitted to. Might is only occasionally used as the past

tense of may. Usually it is used as a modal past tense. May and might can be

followed by the present or the perfect infinitive.

The two main ideas expressed by may and might are permission and possibility.

Only can is used to express ability, while both can and may are used in the

meanings of permission and possibility (Blaganje, 1998, 372).

4.2.2.1 May / might used to express permission

1. May and might expressing permission are used only with the present

infinitive. May is used for asking and giving permission. This structure can

refer to present and to future time.

- May I come in? – Yes, you may.

- “You may go …” (Carroll, 1990, 135)

- “And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question …”

(Carroll, 1990, 29)

2. May asking for permission is generally interchangeable with the modal

past tense might which indicates some hesitation, or special politeness.

- May I ask your name?

- Might I ask your name?

11

Diploma paper

3. In affirmative sentences may followed by the present infinitive can be

ambiguous. The sentence He may go to the party tonight may express:

a) permission: I allow him to go to the party.

b) possibility: Perhaps he will go to the party.

4. To express permission in the past, a form of the verb allow or permit is

used instead of might.

- I was allowed to go to the cinema yesterday.

5. Might as the past tense of may expressing permission, however, is used in

reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past tense.

- You may go to the pictures tomorrow. (direct speech)

- Mother said that he might go to the pictures the following day.

(reported speech)

6. Refusal of permission expressed by the negative form may not is used only

in answers to questions.

- May I borrow your car? – I’m sorry, but you may not borrow the

car until you have your driving licence.

If may not is not used in answers to questions, it sounds very formal and

archaic. Nowadays it can be found in official notices.

- Dogs may not be taken into this park (Blaganje, 1998, 372 – 373).

4.2.2.2 May / might used to express possibility

1. May / might is used to indicate a possibility with doubt or uncertainty

mixed into it. The difference between these two forms is that the modal

past tense might indicates a greater reserve on the part of the speaker than

may does. Both forms followed by the present infinitive refer to present

and future time.

- You may be right. (perhaps you are right)

- You might be right. (perhaps you are right, but I doubt it)

2. We use might expressing possibility for past time in reported speech.

3. Questions using may / might with the meaning of possibility are not

frequent. Instead of ‘May he come?’ we usually say ‘Is he likely to

12

Diploma paper

come?’ because ‘May he come?’ is normally interpreted as ‘Is he

allowed to come?’.

4. May not can be used to express possibility only when possibility and

uncertainty are mixed.

- Tom may, or may not, come tomorrow.

5. May / might followed by the perfect infinitive can express past possibility

only, not past permission. May followed by the perfect infinitive indicates

that we are still uncertain whether the activity expressed by the perfect

infinitive was fulfilled or not.

- They may have gone to the cinema.

6. Might followed by the perfect infinitive expresses either:

a) a smaller degree of possibility than that indicated by may followed by

the perfect infinitive

- They might have gone to the cinema. (perhaps they have gone,

but I doubt it)

b) that a possibility was present but not realized

- It was good that Tom didn’t go any further; he might have

been killed. (he was not killed)

7. However, might followed by the perfect infinitive does not always express

unfulfilled actions.

- He might have understood what she wanted to say. (possibility)

- I might have understood if she had spoken louder (unfulfillment)

(Blaganje, 1998, 373 – 374).

4.2.2.3 Additional uses of may / might

1. May and might can also denote:

a) wishes and hopes: “May it please your Majesty …” (Carroll, 1990,

89)

b) a suggestion or a requestion: You might help me clean the living

room.

c) purpose: Take the dog to the park so that he may have a run.

13

Diploma paper

d) concession: “You may not have lived under the sea much under

the sea …” (Carroll, 1990, 113)

2. Might + perfect infinitive can also express a reproach that something was

overlooked that should not be.

- You might have invited me to the wedding (I think that you

should have invited me) (Blaganje, 1998, 374 – 375).

4.3 Slovene modal verbs

In Slovene, modal verbs are not as much analysed as in English. In his grammar

(Toporišič, 2000, 353) Jože Toporišič states that modal verbs are important for the

use of the infinitive and that some of them are can, must, want, or be allowed to.

This he states by saying: “Naklonski glagoli so npr. moči, morati, hoteti, smeti”

(Toporišič, 2000, 353).

As in English, Slovene modal verbs also express the mood. Toporišič says that

mood is the notion for a special relation of the speaker towards the verbal act,

state, course, or similar. There are three typical relations that can be expressed

with special verbal forms: indicative, subjunctive and imperative. The indicative

mood states that an action is real (or we ask about whether it is being performed

or not). It has all three persons. The imperative mood presents an action as

wanted, demanded, ordered, or, on the other hand, undemanded, unwanted, and

similar. It knows only the 2nd person in singular and the 1st and 2nd persons in dual

and plural. The subjunctive mood states imaginary action regarding the possibility

and conditions of its fulfilment. It has all three persons (Toporišič, 2000, 359).

4.3.1 Expressing modality in Slovene

There are many different ways of expressing modality in Slovene. Besides modal

verbs there are also other ways that are sometimes even more common than using

those verbs. Toporišič says: “To, kar pogojnik in velelnik izražata z obliko samo,

je mogoče tudi opisati s tako imenovanimi naklonskimi glagoli ali

14

Diploma paper

povedkovnikom in nedoločnikom. Takó zapoved, da naj se dela, namesto z obliko

Delaj lahko izrazim z Moraš delati …” (Toporišič, 2000, 360). In English, this

means that what the subjunctive and the imperative express with the form itself

can also be described with so-called modal verbs or predicate and the infinitive. In

this manner the statement that somebody should do something can be expressed

with Work or You must work.

Then he states: “Zveze naklonskega glagola, povedkovnika ali členka in drugega

glagola so tistega glagolskega naklona, v katerem je osebna glagolska oblika:

moram delati je povedni sedanjik, moral bi delati pa seveda pogojni” (Toporišič,

2000, 360). In translation the meaning is as follows: the relations of a modal verb,

predicate or particle and another verb are of the mood in which the personal

verbal form is: I have to work is indicative imperative and I should work the

subjunctive, of course.

In the following subchapters I will show all five possibilities of expressing

modality in Slovene in short and try to give some examples.

4.3.1.1 Modal verbs

As already mentioned above, Slovene language also uses modal verbs to express

modality. According to Toporišič some of the modal verbs are “moči, morati,

hoteti, smeti” (Toporišič, 2000, 353).

4.3.1.2 Predicate

Predicate is the part of speech that carries out the function of predicative phrase in

the sentence. Proof that something is a predicate is that certain words right of the

auxiliary do not carry out any other syntactical role, for instance, Ta stvar mi je

všeč (I like this thing), where biti všeč (to like) means somebody likes this, biti (to

be) is an auxiliary and všeč (like) is the predicate.

Predicates have partially other characteristics than adverbs. A perfect example of

the difference between an adverb and a predicate is the word lahko (easily, can)

15

Diploma paper

which has 7 meanings in the SSKJ (the Slovene dictionary). Out of these seven

only the first meaning applies to an adverb and the other six carry the meaning of

a predicate (Toporišič, 2000, 594).

According to the first meaning, lahko (easily) is the adverb from easy (he died

peacefully and easily). All other meanings refer to the predicate: meaning 2

expresses capability, ability for an action (the factory can work with full

capacity); meaning 3 expresses permission, concordance (the landlord says we

can go over the meadow); meaning 4 expresses more moderate urgency, necessity

(you could have told that sooner so that we would not have to search

unnecessarily); meaning 5 expresses limitation, reservation of acknowledgement

(it is easy for you to say when you have enough of everything); meaning 6

expressses readiness, offer for an action (I can stay for another half an hour, if you

wish); and meaning 7 expresses considerable content of pyhisical state, condition

(it wasn’t easy for her being left alone with the children) (SSKJ, 1997, 473 – 474).

The Slovene quotations of all meanings are in the footnotes.1

4.3.1.3 Particle

Particles are indeclinable parts of speech. With them we establish relations with

the text, we express semantic shades of individual words, parts of the sentence,

whole sentences, or we form syntactical moods, for instance, Sosedovi imajo samo

enega otroka (Toporišič, 2000, 445).

In the Slovene grammar, Jože Toporišič states two classifications of particles.

1 According to the first meaning, lahko is “prislov od lahek: mirno in lahko je umrl …”

(SSKJ, 1997, 473). All other meanings refer to the predicate: meaning 2 “izraža zmožnost, sposobnost za kako dejanje: tovarna bo lahko delala z vso zmogljivostjo …” (SSKJ, 1997, 473); meaning 3 “izraža dovoljenje, soglasje: gospodar pravi, da lahko gremo čez travnik …” (SSKJ, 1997, 474); meaning 4 “izraža omiljeno nujnost, potrebnost: res bi lahko že prej povedal, da ne bi bilo nepotrebnega iskanja …” (SSKJ, 1997, 474); meaning 5 “izraža omejitev, zadržanost priznanja: tebi je lahko govoriti, ko imaš vsega dovolj …” (SSKJ, 1997, 474); meaning 6 “izraža pripravljenost, ponudbo za kako dejanje: pol ure še lahko ostanem, če želite …” (SSKJ, 1997, 474); and meaning 7 “izraža precejšnjo zadovoljivost psihičnega stanja, razmer: ni ji bilo lahko, ko je ostala sama z otroki …” (SSKJ, 1997, 474)

16

Diploma paper

1. According to the first classification, he classifies particles as appealing

(Saj si ti, Peter, kajne?), assessing (Gotovo dobro spite), emotional (Na

nesrečo sem bil še brez vsega denarja), and text-structural (Toporišič,

2000, 445 – 447). Original Slovene denomination is in the footnotes.2

2. According to the second classification, which is in his own words easier,

if not even better, he classifies them as attaching (A mene nočeš s

sabo?), particles of feeling (Žal je tako.), emphasizing (Rávno ti bi to

moral vedeti.), excepting (Prišli so le trije.), judging (Prišli so takó

trije.), additioning (Je tudi pametna), particles of reserve (Pravzaprav je

res.), particles of confirmation or agreeing (Da, tako je.), particle of

possibility or probability (Morda je res.), particles of opinion,

assumption (Baje so ga videli.), interrogative (Ali si ga videl?),

stimulative (Ali boš ubogal?), particles of negation and disagreement

(Ne hodi ven ob tem vremenu.) (Toporišič, 2000, 448 – 449). Original

Slovene denomination is in the footnotes.3

The group of assessing particles (according to the first classification) is important

for this diploma paper. This group is further classified into modal, evaluating

comparative, correctional, suppositional, measuring, and accentual.4 The group of

modal particles is even further classified into certainty (Gotovo dobro spite,

Verjetno se ne motiš, Morda je res, To bomo komaj lahko dosegli, Kdo bi vedel,

kam je odšel v tisti zmedi), and volition particles (Nujno se bomo morali kako

dogovoriti). If we look into the second classification, the important group for this

paper is the group of possibility and probability which includes particles such as

2 Po prvi klasifikaciji se členki delijo na pozivne, vrednotenjske, čustvenostne in

besedilnozgradbenostne (Toporišič, 2000, 445). 3 Po drugi klasifikaciji Toporišič členi členke na navezovalne, čustvovanja, poudarne,

izvzemalne, presojevalne, dodajalne, zadržka, potrjevanja ali soglašanja, možnosti in verjetnosti, mnenja in domneve, vprašalne, spodbujevalne ter zanikanja in nesoglašanja (Toporišič, 2000, 448 – 449).

4 Skupina vrednotenjskih členkov (po prvi klasifikaciji) se naprej deli v naklonske, vrednotenjske, primerjalne, popravne, domnevalne, merilne ter poudarjalne. Skupina naklonskih se deli naprej še na gotovostne ter hotenjske (Toporišič, 2000, 446).

17

Diploma paper

morda, eventualno, mogoče, morebiti, morda, nemara, končno, and others

(Toporišič, 2000, 445 – 449).

4.3.1.4 Modal expressions

Toporišič gives six groups of modal expressions according to what they express:

a) intention: nameravam (I intend), mislim (I think), obljubim (I

promise) …

b) volition: hočem (I want), nočem (I don’t want), želim (I wish),

moram (I have to), ne maram (I don’t like to) …

c) urgency or necessity: moram (I have to), ne smem (I am not allowed

to), treba je (it is necessary), nujno je (it is urgent) …

d) possibility: morem (I can), zmožen sem (I am able to), ne morem (I

can’t), znam (I can), sposoben sem (I am capable of) …

e) order: zapovem (I command), prepovem (I forbid), ukažem (I order)

…

f) admissibility: imam pravico (I have the right), dovoljeno je (it is

allowed), smem (I may) … (Toporišič, 2000, 401)

4.3.1.5 Modal modifications

Modal modifications are, for instance, Težko mu bo dopovedati, da nima prav (It

will be hard to make him understand that he is wrong), Moral nas boš prepričati o

svojem prav (You will have to convince us that you are right) and so on

(Toporišič, 2000, 523).

18

Diploma paper

5 TRANSLATION OF MODAL VERBS CAN, COULD, MAY

AND MIGHT IN LEWIS CARROLL’S ALICE’S ADVENTURES

IN WONDERLAND

5.1 Translation of modal verbs in Slovene

As already mentioned previously, there are different ways of expressing modality

in Slovene and this is well seen in translations of English modal verbs. This

section of the diploma paper is dealing with how Gitica Jakopin and Helena Biffio

translated the English modal verbs into Slovene.

During my study of the sentences containing modal verbs and their translations, I

found out that the translators have ten different ways of translating the modal

verbs. Here, I will only write which possibilities these are, but the examples for

them will be provided later, each time following the table of sentences with the

modal verbs and its translations.

Here are these ten ways in which the translators translated the verbs:

1. translation of the English modal verb with an equivalent Slovene modal

verb (can – moči, could – moči, may – smeti, might – smeti, might – moči)

2. translation of the English modal verb with the Slovene modal expression

using the predicate lahko + a verb


using the verb znati + another verb


using the verb dati se + another verb


using the particle morda + a verb


using the particle mogoče + a verb


using the verb utegniti + the infinitive

8. translation of the English modal verb with Slovene modal modification

19

Diploma paper

9. translation of the English modal verb with a non-modal Slovene verb

10. the English modal verb is not translated

5.2. Translation of modal verbs can, could, may and might in

translations of Gitica Jakopin and Helena Biffio

This part of diploma paper is dealing with examples from Lewis Caroll’s book

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and its translations Alica v čudežni deželi,

translated by Gitica Jakopin, and Aličine prigode v čudežni deželi, translated by

Helena Biffio.

I have written the examples of sentences with all these four modal verbs in tables,

individually for each modal verb, according to the meaning it expresses. The table

consists of consecutive number for each example of the English book and

consecutive letters a, b, and c which mark the book the example was taken from.

Here, a) refers to Lewis Carroll’s English work, b) denotes Gitica Jakopin’s

translation, and c) is used for the translation of Helena Biffio.

Furthermore, the tables are also classified by two different criteria, namely

whether or not the modality of the translated sentence is kept, and according to the

way the sentence was translated. Of course, each translator uses different ways of

translation and, as a consequence, some sentences keep the modality and some do

not. Therefore, the classifications of the tables are not always the same according

to these criteria. Before the table, both criteria are written, of course. Following

the tables, where one translator kept the modality and the other one did not, is an

analysis which also includes the way of translation, however formed in four basic

groups of possible ways: Slovene modal verb, Slovene modal expressions and

modifications, Slovene non-modal verbs, and no translation.

Following all the tables, there is a summary of all four modal verbs (can, could,

may and might), including different ways of translation (where applicable, all ten

20

Diploma paper

ways). These possibilites are also shown by the graphs at the end of each verb.

The analysis of translation also includes percentages for more clarity.

5.2.1 Translation of modal verb can

In this section, I have made tables and written all examples that contain the modal

verb can as well as its negations can’t and cannot. The tables are formed

according to the modality which they express. As already mentioned, the tables

are classified by the way of translating the modal verb into Slovene as well as

whether or not the modality of the English verb is kept in the Slovene translation.

5.2.1.1 Can expressing ability

The following table includes examples where the modality of the English verb is

kept in both translations through the usage of the equivalent Slovene modal verb

moči.

1. a) “And she’s such a capital one for catching mice, you can’t think!”

(Carroll, 1990, 29)

b) “… in spoh si ne morete misliti, kako imenitno zna loviti miši!”

(Carroll, 1983, 26)

c) “Čudovito spretno lovi miši, še predstavljati si ne morete, kako je

hitra.” (Carroll, 1994, 25)

2. a) “Now I can do no more, whatever happens.” (Carroll, 1990, 35)

b) “Več pa ne morem narediti, in naj se zgodi, kar hoče.” (Carroll,

1983, 30)

c) “Zdaj ne morem več, pa naj se zgodi karkoli.” (Carroll, 1994, 28)

3. a) “ I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir …” (Carroll, 1990, 45)

b) “Bojim se, gospa, da se ne morem jasno izražati …” (Carroll, 1983,

36)

c) “Sebe na žalost ne morem izjasniti, gospa …” (Carroll, 1994, 35)

4. a) “I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly …” (Carroll, 1990, 45)

b) “Ampak bolj jasno res ne morem povedati …” (Carroll, 1983, 36)

c) “Bolj jasno vam tega, žal, ne morem povedati …” (Carroll, 1994,

21

Diploma paper

35)

5. a) “But perhaps he can’t help it …” (Carroll, 1990, 59)

b) “Morda pa ne more drugače …” (Carroll, 1983, 46)

c) “Mogoče si pa ne more pomagati …” (Carroll, 1994, 44)

6. a) “ ‘I’ve had nothing yet,’ Alice replied in an offended tone, ‘so I can’t

take more.’ ” (Carroll, 1990, 79)

b) “ ‘Saj ga sploh še nisem nič vzela,’ je z užaljenim glasom odvrnila

Alica, ‘torej si ga ne morem vzeti še!’ ” (Carroll, 1983, 61)

c) “ ‘Saj ga sploh še nisem poizkusila,’ je rekla Alica užaljeno, ‘zato si

ga ne morem vzeti še.’ ” (Carroll, 1994, 55)

7. a) “You mean you can’t take less …” (Carroll, 1990, 79)

b) “Reči hočeš, da ga ne moreš vzeti manj …” (Carroll, 1983, 61)

c) “Hočeš reči, da si ga ne moreš vzeti manj …” (Carroll, 1994, 55)

8. a) “You can’t think how glad I am to see you again, you dear old

thing!...” (Carroll, 1990, 99)

b) “Sploh si ne moreš misliti, kako vesela sem, da te spet vidim, ljuba

moja stvarca! ...” (Carroll, 1983, 73)

c) “Ne moreš si predstavljati, kako vesela sem, da te spet vidim, ljuba

moja …” (Carroll, 1994, 67)

9. a) “… but I can’t quite follow it as you say it.” (Carroll, 1990, 103)

b) “… ko vi to rečete, se bojim, da ne morem prav slediti!” (Carroll,

1983, 75)

c) “Takole pa ne morem čisto dobro slediti.” (Carroll, 1994, 68)

10. a) “Well, I can’t show it you myself, …” (Carroll, 1990, 111)

b) “Veš kaj, jaz ti tega ne morem pokazati …” (Carroll, 1983, 81)

c) “Jaz ti ne morem pokazati …” (Carroll, 1994, 72)

11. a) “She can’t explain it …” (Carroll, 1990, 121)

b) “Saj ne more …” (Carroll, 1983, 88)

c) “Ne, ne more …” (Carroll, 1994, 79)

12. a) “I can’t help it …” (Carroll, 1990, 132)

b) “Ne morem pomagati …” (Carroll, 1983, 95)

c) “Ne morem pomagati …” (Carroll, 1994, 85)

22

Diploma paper

13. a) “I can’t go no lower …” (Carroll, 1990, 134)

b) “Bolj dol ne morem več …” (Carroll, 1983, 97)

c) “Ne morem stopiti dol ...” (Carroll, 1994, 87)

In the following table, there are the examples in which the modality of the English

verb is kept in both translations through the usage of either a Slovene modal

expression or Slovene modal modification. The specific way of translation is

denoted in the footnotes.

1. a) “… you must manage the best way you can …” (Carroll, 1990, 11)

b) “Si boste pač morale pomagati, kakor boste vedele in znale.”

(Carroll, 1983, 13)5

c) “Same se boste morale znajti, kot boste najbolje vedele in znale!“

(Carroll, 1994, 15)6

2. a) “… that I should think very likely it can talk…” (Carroll, 1990, 17 -

18)

b) “… da se sploh ne bi začudila, če bo znala govoriti!” (Carroll, 1983,

18)7

c) “… zdi se mi prav verjetno, da zna tudi miš govoriti …” (Carroll,

1994, 18)8

3. a) “… but I think I can kick a little!” (Carroll, 1990, 39)

b) “… ampak najbrž bom vseeno še lahko malo brcnila!” (Carroll,

1983, 32)9

c) “… vendar pa lahko kljub temu še malo pobrcam!” (Carroll, 1994,

30)10

4. a) “They all can …” (Carroll, 1990, 61)

b) “To znajo vse …” (Carroll, 1983, 48)11

5 Gitica Jakopin uses a modal modification. 6 Helena Biffio uses a modal modification. 7 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 8 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 9 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression lahko + a verb. 10 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression lahko + a verb.

23

Diploma paper

c) “Vse se znajo …” (Carroll, 1994, 45)12

5. a) “… I believe I can guess that …” (Carroll, 1990, 72)

b) “Mislim, da jo bom znala rešiti.” (Carroll, 1983, 57)13

c) “Mislim, da to lahko uganem …” (Carroll, 1994, 51)14

6. a) “Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it? …”

(Carroll, 1990, 72)

b) “Hočeš reči, da misliš, da bi znala razvozlati to uganko? …”

(Carroll, 1983, 57)15

c) “Mar to pomeni, da misliš, da bi lahko poiskala odgovor? …”

(Carroll, 1994, 51)16

7. a) “Can you play croquet?” (Carroll, 1990, 90)

b) “Znaš igrati kroket?” (Carroll, 1983, 67)17

c) “Znaš igrati kroket?” (Carroll, 1994, 61)18

8. a) “I can tell you more than that, if you like …” (Carroll, 1990, 118)

b) “Še več ti lahko povem, če ti je do tega …” (Carroll, 1983, 86)19

c) “Lahko ti povem še kaj, če hočeš …” (Carroll, 1994, 77)20

9. a) “If any one of them can explain it …” (Carroll, 1990, 143)

b) “Če verze lahko razloži vsaj eden od porotnikov …” (Carroll, 1983,

103)21

c) “Če lahko kdorkoli izmed njih to razloži …” (Carroll, 1994, 92)22

11 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 12 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 13 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 14 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression lahko + a verb. 15 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 16 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression lahko + a verb. 17 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 18 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 19 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression lahko + a verb. 20 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression lahko + a verb. 21 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression lahko + a verb. 22 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression lahko + a verb.

24

Diploma paper

10. a) “… you can’t swim …” (Carroll, 1990, 144)

b) “Ti ne znaš plavati?” (Carroll, 1983, 103)23

c) “… ti ne znaš plavati …” (Carroll, 1994, 92)24

In the following table, there is an example where the modality of the English verb

is kept in both translations through the usage of a non-modal Slovene verb.

1. a) “I can hardly breathe.” (Carroll, 1990, 132)

b) “Komaj še diham!” (Carroll, 1983, 95)

c) “Saj komaj še diham.” (Carroll, 1994, 85)


kept in both translations. However, each translator uses a different way to

translate the verb. Again, the specific way of translation is described in the

footnotes.

1. a) “… If you can’t be civil, you’d better finish the story for yourself.”

(Carroll, 1990, 80)

b) “Če se ne znaš vesti, si pa zgodbo kar sama povej do kraja!”

(Carroll, 1983, 62)25

c) “Če se ne moreš lepo obnašati, potem kar ti končaj zgodbo.”

(Carroll, 1994, 56)26

2. a) “I can’t tell you just now what the moral of that is …” (Carroll,

1990, 100)

b) “Prav zdaj ti še ne morem reči, kakšen poduk je v tem …” (Carroll,

1983, 73)27

c) “Trenutno ti ne znam povedati, kakšen je nauk te zgodbe …”

(Carroll, 1994, 67)28

23 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 24 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 25 Gitica Jakopin uses the modal expression znati + another verb. 26 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 27 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 28 Helena Biffio uses the modal expression znati + another verb.

25

Diploma paper

3. a) “That I can’t remember …” (Carroll, 1990, 133)

b) “Tega se ne morem spomniti …” (Carroll, 1983, 96)29

c) “Tega se pa ne spomnem več …” (Carroll, 1994, 86)30


not kept in either translation due to the usage of a non-modal Slovene verb.

1. a) “How can I have done that?” (Carroll, 1990, 16)

b) “Kako sem jo sploh spravila nase? …” (Carroll, 1983, 16)

c) “Kako se mi je pa to posrečilo? …” (Carroll, 1994, 17)

2. a) “How can you learn lessons in here?” (Carroll, 1990, 36)

b) “Kako bi se pa v tej sobici učila za šolo?” (Carroll, 1983, 30)

c) “Kako bi se tu sploh učila?” (Carroll, 1994, 29)

3. a) “…for I can’t understand it myself to begin with …” (Carroll, 1990,

45)

b) “… ker prvič tega niti sama ne razumem …” (Carroll, 1983, 36)

c) “… saj še sama ne razumem čisto dobro …” (Carroll, 1994, 35)

4. a) “I can’t remember things as I used …” (Carroll, 1990, 47)

b) “Stvari se ne spominjam več tako dobro, kakor sem se nekoč …”

(Carroll, 1983, 37)

c) “Stvari se ne spomnem več takih, kot so bile …” (Carroll, 1994, 36)

5. a) “And oh, my poor hands, how is it I can’t see you?” (Carroll, 1990,

52)

b) “Ah, in vé, uboge moje roke, kako je vendar to, da vas ne vidim

več?” (Carroll, 1983, 41)

c) “Joj, in moje uboge roke, kako to, da jih ne vidim?” (Carroll, 1994,

39)

6. a) “We can do it without lobsters, you know.” (Carroll, 1990, 115)

b) “Veš, gre tudi brez jastogov.” (Carroll, 1983, 83)

c) “Saj bo šlo tudi brez jastogov.” (Carroll, 1994, 76)

29 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 30 Helena Biffio uses the non-modal Slovene verb.

26

Diploma paper


not kept in either translation. However, each translator uses a different way to

translate the verb. The specific way of translation is denoted in the footnotes.

1. a) “I almost think I can remember feeling a little different.” (Carroll,

1990, 13)

b) “Skoraj se mi že zdi, da se spominjam, da sem se že počutila malo

drugače!” (Carroll, 1983, 15)31

c) “Skoraj se mi zdi, da sem se počutila nekolikanj drugačno.“ (Carroll,

1994, 16) – Helena Biffio’s translation does not include the part „I

can remember“32

2. a) “… and all sorts of things - I can’t remember half of them…”

(Carroll, 1990, 19 - 20)

b) “… in še vse mogoče zna, kar mi zdajle ravno ne pride na misel!”

(Carroll, 1983, 19)33

c) “… in sploh zna še mnogo drugih, še pol ti jih nisem naštela.”

(Carroll, 1994, 19) – Helena Biffio did not translate the part “I can’t

remember half of them” 34

3. a) “I can see you’re trying to invent something!” (Carroll, 1990, 54)

b) “Misliš, da nisem opazila, da bi si rada hitro nekaj izmislila?”

(Carroll, 1983, 43)35

c) “Že vidim, da si skušaš nekaj izmisliti!” (Carroll, 1994, 40)36

31 Gitica Jakopin uses a non-modal Slovene verb. 32 Helena Biffio did not translate the English modal verb. 33 Gitica Jakopin uses a non-modal Slovene verb. 34 Helena Biffio did not translate the English modal verb. 35 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. 36 Helena Biffio uses a non-modal Slovene verb.

27

Diploma paper


kept in one translation and not kept in the other one. Again, each translator uses a

different way to translate the verb. Whether the modality of the English verb is

kept or not, as well as the way of translating, is written below the complete table.

1. a) ”… that is, if I can find them …” (Carroll, 1990, 33)

b) “… seveda, če jih bom našla!” (Carroll, 1983, 28)

c) “… če jih bom seveda lahko našla.” (Carroll, 1994, 27)

2. a) “… As it is, I can’t get out at the door…” (Carroll, 1990, 35)

b) “… saj ne bom več prišla skozi vrata ven …” (Carroll, 1983, 29)

c) “… takšna, kakršna sem zdaj, že ne morem več skozi vrata.”

(Carroll, 1994, 28)

3. a) “Can’t remember what things?...” (Carroll, 1990, 47)

b) “Česa se ne moreš več tako spominjati? …” (Carroll, 1983, 37)

c) “Katerih stvari se ne spomneš? …” (Carroll, 1994, 36)

4. a) “… and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can’t hear oneself speak

…” (Carroll, 1990, 94)

b) “… in tako grozno se prepirajo, da samega sebe ne slišiš med njimi

…” (Carroll, 1983, 69)

c) “… poleg tega se vsi tako prepirajo, da ne moreš slišati niti lastnega

glasu …” (Carroll, 1994, 63)

5. a) “Every thing’s got a moral, if only you can find it.” (Carroll, 1990,

100)

b) “Vsaka reč ima svoj poduk, samo izluščiti ga je treba!” (Carroll,

1983, 73)

c) “Vsaka reč ima svoj nauk, če ti ga le uspe najti.” (Carroll, 1994, 67)

6. a) “… can you …” (Carroll, 1990, 144)

b) this tag question is not translated in Gitica Jakopin’s translation

c) “… mar ne?” (Carroll, 1994, 92)

In example 1, Gitica Jakopin uses a non-modal Slovene verb and does not

keep the modality of the English verb. Helena Biffio keeps the modality by

the usage of the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

28

Diploma paper

In example 2, Gitica Jakopin again uses a non-modal Slovene verb and

does not keep the modality of the English verb. Again, Helena Biffio keeps

the modality, however uses the Slovene modal verb moči.

In example 3, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči and keeps

the modality. Helena Biffio uses a non-modal Slovene verb which does not

keep the modality of the English verb.

In example 4, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality as she uses a non-

modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio keeps the modality through the Slovene

modal verb moči.

In example 5, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality, although she uses

the Slovene modal modification. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, also

uses the Slovene modal modification, but keeps the modality of the

English verb.

In example 6, Gitica Jakopin did not translate the tag question and

therefore the modality is not kept. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal

modification and keeps the modality.

In this table, there is an example where the modality of the English verb is kept in

one translation, but is different in the other one.

1. a) “… as far out to sea as you can … “ (Carroll, 1990, 114)

b) “… v morje, kolikor daleč se le da …” (Carroll, 1983, 83)

c) “… tako daleč v morje, kot le moreš …” (Carroll, 1994, 75)

Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb, which

causes the modal meaning to differ from the original. Instead of expressing

ability, the translated sentence now expresses possibility.

Helena Biffio translates the sentence by using the Slovene modal verb moči and

therefore keeps the modal meaning of the English verb.

29

Diploma paper

5.2.1.2 Can expressing possibility


kept in both translations through the usage of the equivalent Slovene modal verb

moči.

1. a) “It’s all about as curious as it can be …” (Carroll, 1990, 120)

b) “Tako čudno, da bolj čudno ne bi moglo biti …” (Carroll, 1983, 87)

c) “Vse je tako čudno, kot le more biti …” (Carroll, 1994, 78)

2. a) “The trail cannot proceed …” (Carroll, 1990, 139)

b) “Obravnava se ne more nadaljevati …” (Carroll, 1983, 99)

c) “Sojenja ne moremo nadaljevati …” (Carroll, 1994, 89)

3. a) “… and they can’t prove that I did…” (Carroll, 1990, 142)

b) “… in mi tudi ne morejo dokazati, da bi bil jaz to napisal …”

(Carroll, 1983, 101)

c) “… pa tudi nihče ne more dokazati, da sem jo …” (Carroll, 1994,

91)

The following table includes an example where the modality of the English verb

is kept in both translations through the usage of a non-modal Slovene verb.

1. a) “… I don’t see how he can ever finish, if he doesn’t begin.” (Carroll,

1990, 108)

b) “Kako naj bi sploh kdaj končala, če niti ne začne!” (Carroll, 1983,

79)

c) “Ni mi jasno, kako bo končala, ko pa sploh ne misli začeti.”

(Carroll, 1994, 71)

30

Diploma paper

In the following table, there are the examples in which the modality of the English




1. a) “… and as it can’t possibly make me larger …” (Carroll, 1990, 41)

b) “… in ker me večje to ne more več narediti …” (Carroll, 1983, 34)37

c) “… ker je popolnoma nemogoče, da bi še zrasla …” (Carroll, 1994,

31)38

2. a) “Oh, you can’t help that …“ (Carroll, 1990, 68)

b) “Oh, temu se pa ne moreš izogniti …” (Carroll, 1983, 53)39

c) “Tu se pa ne da pomagati …” (Carroll, 1994, 48)40

3. a) “Nothing can be clearer than that.” (Carroll, 1990, 145)

b) “Kaj bi lahko bilo še bolj jasno?” (Carroll, 1983, 103)41

c) “Nič ne more biti jasnejše od tega.” (Carroll, 1994, 93)42

The following table includes an example where the modality of the English verb

is kept in both translations. However, each translator uses a different way to

translate the verb. Again, the specific way of translation is denoted in the

footnotes.

1. a) “… so you can have no idea what a delightful thing a Lobster

Quadrille is!” (Carroll, 1990, 114)

b) “… zato si niti v sanjah ne moreš predstavljati, kakšna imenitna reč

je četvorka z jastogi!” (Carroll, 1983, 82)43

c) “… in si torej sploh ne predstavljaš, kako prečudovita stvar je

lastogova četvorka!” (Carroll, 1994, 75)44

37 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 38 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal modification. 39 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 40 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 41 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb. 42 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 43 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči.

31

Diploma paper

The following table includes the examples where the modality of the English verb

is not kept in either translation due to the usage of a non-modal Slovene verb.

1. a) “… and in that case I can go back by railway…” (Carroll, 1990, 17)

b) “In če je tako, se pač z vlakom vrnem domov …” (Carroll, 1983, 17)

c) “V tem primeru bom šla pač domov z vlakom …” (Carroll, 1994,

18)

2. a) “They can’t have anything to put down yet, before the trial’s begun.”

(Carroll, 1990, 128)

b) “Saj nimajo česa zapisovati, dokler se ne začne obravnava!”

(Carroll, 1983, 93)

c) “Saj si nimajo kaj zapisovati, dokler se process ne začne.” (Carroll,

1994, 83)


kept in one translation and not kept in the other one. Again, the two translators

use different ways to translate the verb. Whether the modality of the English verb

is kept or not, as well as the way of translating, is written below the complete

table.

1. a) “… and I’m sure I can’t be Mabel …” (Carroll, 1990, 14)

b) “In Mabel tudi ne morem biti …” (Carroll, 1983, 15)

c) “Prepričana sem tudi, da nisem Mabel …” (Carroll, 1994, 16)

2. a) “Where can I have dropped them, I wonder!” (Carroll, 1990, 32)

b) “Pa kje sem jih vendar izgubil?” (Carroll, 1983, 28)

c) “Le kje bi jih lahko izpustil?” (Carroll, 1994, 27)

3. a) “I do wonder what can have happened to me!” (Carroll, 1990, 35)

b) “Presneto rada bi vedela, kaj se je pravzaprav zgodilo z menoj!”

(Carroll, 1983, 30)

c) “Kaj vse se mi še lahko primeri!” (Carroll, 1994, 28)

4. a) “What can all that green stuff be?...” (Carroll, 1990, 52)

b) “Kaj neki je vse to zelenje? …” (Carroll, 1983, 41)

44 Helena Biffio uses a non-modal Slovene verb.

32

Diploma paper

c) “Kaj bi lahko bila ta zelena zadevščina? …” (Carroll, 1994, 39)

5. a) “You can draw water out of a water-well …” (Carroll, 1990, 81)

b) “Če se vodo potegne iz vodnjaka …” (Carroll, 1983, 62)

c) “Če lahko vlečeš vodo iz vodnjaka …” (Carroll, 1994, 56)

In example 1, Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality of the English verb by

using the Slovene modal verb moči. Helena Biffio uses a non-modal

Slovene verb and does not keep the modality.

In examples 2, 3, 4 and 5, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality as she

uses a non-modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, uses the

Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb and keeps the modality of the

English verb.

5.2.1.3 Can expressing ability or possibility

Both examples in the following table keep the modality of the English verb. Also,

in example 1, both translators use the Slovene modal verb moči to translate can,

and in example 2, both translators use the Slovene modal expression lahko + a

verb.

1. a) “… and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key …” (Carroll,

1990, 10)

b) “… in če me bo povečalo, bom dosegla ključek …” (Carroll, 1983,

12)

c) “Če bom zrasla, bom dosegla ključek …” (Carroll, 1994, 13)

2. a) “… and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door …”

(Carroll, 1990, 10)

b) “… če me bo še zmanjalo, bom pa lahko zlezla skozi špranjo pod

vrati.” (Carroll, 1983, 12)

c) “… če pa se bom še pomanjšala, se bom lahko splazila skozi režo

pod vrati …” (Carroll, 1994, 13)

33

Diploma paper

5.2.1.4 Analysis of ways of translating can

Altogether there are 60 sentences with the modal verb can (and its negations) in

Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Gitica Jakopin translated them mainly with the

Slovene modal verb moči. This is the case in 24 examples. Second most frequent

way of translating can into Slovene is by using a non-modal Slovene verb (19

examples). There are 5 examples where she used lahko + another verb, and there

are seven cases of znati + another verb. She used dati se + another verb only

once and she translated can with a Slovene modal modification three times. Only

once she did not translate the part of the sentence which included the modal verb

can.

Graph 1: translation of can by Gitica Jakopin

24

5 7

1 3

19

10

10

20

30

40

50

60

moč

i

lahko

znat

i

dati s

e

mod

al mod

ificatio

n

non-

mod

al ver

b

no tr

ansla

tion

According to the four groups of possible translations, Gitica Jakopin translated

can with a Slovene modal verb 24 times, which is 40%, with a modal expression

or modification 16 times, which makes 26,7%, 19 times a non-modal verb

(31,7%) and she did not translate it once (1,6%). To summarize, she mostly used

the equivalent modal verb, this was closely followed by the use of a non-modal

34

Diploma paper

verb and she also used modal expressions and modifications. The one case of non-

translation is negligible.

In Gitica Jakopin’s translations, the modality of the translated verb was kept in 39

sentences (65%), in 20 cases (33,3%) it did not express any modality, and only

once (1,7%) the translated sentence expressed a different modal meaning. Instead

of expressing ability, as in the original, the translated sentence expressed

possibility.45

On the other hand, Helena Biffio also translated can with moči, although slightly

less often (in 22 examples). She used lahko + a verb 11 times, the verb znati +

another verb 5 times and once dati se + another verb. There are 3 examples of

Slovene modal modification, and 15 examples of translation by a non-modal verb.

She did not translate the part with the modal verb can twice.

Graph 2: translation of can by Helena Biffio

22

11

51 3

15

2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

moč

i

lahko

znat

i

dati s

e

mod

al mod

ificatio

n

non-

mod

al ver

b

no tr

ansla

tion

45 “… as far out to sea as you can … “ (Carroll, 1990, 114) vs.“… v morje, kolikor

daleč se le da …” (Carroll, 1983, 83)

35

Diploma paper

From the four possible groups of translation, Helena Biffio used the Slovene

modal verb 22 times (36,7%) and modal expressions and modifications 21 times,

what makes 35%. In 15 cases she used a non-modal verb (25%) and she did not

translate 2 parts containing modal verb can (3,3%). In summary, she almost

equally frequently used a modal verb and modal expressions and modifications,

slightly followed by non-modal verbs. Again, the percentage of not translated

parts is negligible.

Regarding the preserved modality in the translated sentences, Helena Biffio’s

translated verbs kept the original modality in 47 sentences (which makes 78,3%),

and in just 13 cases, the translated sentences did not express any modality

(21,7%).

5.2.2 Translation of modal verb could


verb could as well as its negations couldn’t and could not. The tables are formed

according to modality which they express. Again, the tables are classified

according to the kept modality and the way of translating.

5.2.2.1 Could expressing ability

In the following table, there are examples where both translators use the Slovene

modal verb moči and therefore keep the modality of the English verb.

1. a) “… as well as she could … “(Carroll, 1990, 1)

b) “… kolikor je pač mogla …” (Carroll, 1983, 5)

c) “… kot je pač najbolje mogla …” (Carroll, 1994, 9)

2. a) “… for, you see, as she couldn’t answer either question …” (Carroll,

1990, 5)

b) “Ker si ni mogla odgovoriti ne na eno ne na drugo vprašanje …”

(Carroll, 1983, 8)

c) “Ker ni mogla odgovoriti …” (Carroll, 1994, 11)

36

Diploma paper

3. a) “… she couldn’t guess of what sort it was … “(Carroll, 1990, 39)

b) “… kakšne vrste živalca, tega ni mogla uganiti …” (Carroll, 1983,

32)

c) “… kakšne, tega ni mogla ugotoviti …” (Carroll, 1994, 30)

4. a) “This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear …” (Carroll,

1990, 82)

b) “Te neotesanosti Alica ni mogla več kar tako požreti …” (Carroll,

1983, 63)

c) “Te nove grobosti pa Alica ni mogla kar tako požreti …” (Carroll,

1994, 57)

5. a) “I couldn’t help it …” (Carroll, 1990, 85)

b) “Ne morem pomagati …” (Carroll, 1983, 64)

c) “Če pa ne morem pomagati …” (Carroll, 1994, 59)

6. a) “… she could not tell whether they were gardeners, or soldiers …”

(Carroll, 1990, 88)

b) “… kraljica ni mogla videti, ali so to vrtnarji ali vojaki …” (Carroll,

1983, 66)

c) “Kraljica ni mogla uganiti, ali gre za vrtnarje, vojake …” (Carroll,

1994, 60)

7. a) “So they couldn’t get them out again.” (Carroll, 1990, 118)

b) “Zato jih niso mogle več spraviti ven.” (Carroll, 1983, 85)

c) “Pa jih ne morejo več potegniti ven.” (Carroll, 1994, 77)

8. a) “This, of course, Alice could not stand … “ (Carroll, 1990, 128)

b) “Tega Alica kajpada ni mogla prenašati …” (Carroll, 1983, 93)

c) “Alica tega seveda ni mogla prenašati …” (Carroll, 1994, 84)

9. a) “She did it so quickly that the poor little juror (it was Bill, the Lizard)

could not make out at all what had become of it …” (Carroll, 1990,

129)

b) “To je izpeljala tako urno, da si ubogi porotniček (kuščar Bill) sploh

ni mogel razlagati, kam mu je izginilo pisalo.” (Carroll, 1983, 93)

c) “To je storila tako hitro, da ubožec (bil je to Kuščar Bill) sploh ni

mogel razumeti, kaj se je zgodilo.” (Carroll, 1994, 84)

37

Diploma paper

The following table shows the examples where the modality of the English verb is

kept in both translations through the usage of the Slovene modal expression

lahko + a verb or znati + another verb.46

1. a) “That’s nothing to what I could say if I chose …” (Carroll, 1990,

103)

b) “O, to ni še nič v primerjavi s tistim, kar bi jaz lahko rekla, če bi le

hotela …” (Carroll, 1983, 75)

c) “To ni še nič v primerjavi s tistim, kar bi lahko rekla, če bi se mi

zljubilo …” (Carroll, 1994, 68)

2. a) “… before Alice could speak again.” (Carroll, 1990, 110)

b) “… preden je Alica lahko spet odprla usta.” (Carroll, 1983, 79)

c) “… še preden je Alica lahko odgovorila.” (Carroll, 1994, 71)

3. a) “I could tell you my adventures – beginning from this morning …”

(Carroll, 1990, 119)

b) “Lahko bi vama pripovedovala o svojih pustolovščinah … kar sem

jih doživela od davi …” (Carroll, 1983, 87)

c) “Lahko vama pripovedujem o svojih prigodah – od današnjega jutra

dalje …” (Carroll, 1994, 78)

4. a) “Alice could see this, as she was near enough to look over their

slates …” (Carroll, 1990, 140)

b) “Alica je to lahko videla, ker je stala tako blizu njih, da jim je videla

na tablice.” (Carroll, 1983, 100)

c) “Alica je to lahko jasno videla, saj je bila dovolj blizu, da je lahko

gledala čez tablice.” (Carroll, 1994, 90)

5. a) “… said I could not swim …” (Carroll, 1990, 144)

b) “… samo da plavati ne znaš …” (Carroll, 1983, 103)

c) “… a plavati ne znam …” (Carroll, 1994, 92)

46 In examples 1 do 4, both translators use the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

In example 5, they both use the Slovene modal expression znati + another verb.

38

Diploma paper


kept in both translations. However, each translator uses a different way to

translate the verb. Again, the specific way of translation is specified in the

footnotes.

1. a) “… as nearly as she could guess …” (Carroll, 1990, 16)

b) “… kolikor pač more presoditi tako na hitro …” (Carroll, 1983, 16)47

c) “Kolikor je lahko uganila …” (Carroll, 1994, 17)48

2. a) “I couldn’t afford to learn it …” (Carroll, 1990, 110)

b) “Moji starši tega dodatnega niso zmogli …” (Carroll, 1983, 80)49

c) “Jaz si ga nisem mogla privoščiti …” (Carroll, 1994, 72)50


not kept in either translation due to the usage of a non-modal Slovene verb.

1. a) “… and she tried to curtsey as she spoke – fancy curtseying as you’re

falling through the air! Do you think you could manage it?” (Carroll,

1990, 4)

b) “Ko je to izrekla, je skušala narediti poklonček – si morete misliti,

poklonček, ko je vendar padala po zraku! Saj menda ne mislite, da bi

se komu od vas to posrečilo?” (Carroll, 1983, 8)

c) “… pri tem se je skušala pokloniti, si predstavljate, kar med

padanjem!” (Carroll, 1994, 10)

2. a) “… and the poor little thing howled so, that Alice could hardly hear

the words …” (Carroll, 1990, 63)

b) “… in revše se je tako drlo, da je Alica komaj še razumela besedilo

…” (Carroll, 1983, 50)

c) “… in ubožec je tako vreščal, da je Alica komaj razločila besede

…” (Carroll, 1994, 46)

47 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 48 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb. 49 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. 50 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči.

39

Diploma paper

3. a) “… Alice could hear him sighing as if his heart would break.”

(Carroll, 1990, 107)

b) “… je Alica zaslišala takšen vzdih, kakor da želvi poka srce.”

(Carroll, 1983, 77)

c) “… je Alica slišala, kako vzdihuje, kot bi ji hotelo počiti srce.”

(Carroll, 1994, 70)

4. a) “… and she could even make out that one of the didn’t know …”

(Carroll, 1990, 128)

b) “… in razločila je celo, da eden od njih ni znal …” (Carroll, 1983,

93)

c) “Celo to je videla, da eden niti ni znal …” (Carroll, 1994, 84)


not kept in the Slovene translation. The translators use different ways to translate

could, therefore these different ways are again written in the footnotes.

1. a) “… but she could not even get her head through the doorway …”

(Carroll, 1990, 7)

b) “… da še glave ni spravila skozi.” (Carroll, 1983, 10)51

c) “… vendar so bila vratca premajhna še za njeno glavo. ” (Carroll,

1994, 11)52

2. a) “… as the large birds complained that they could not taste theirs …”

(Carroll, 1990, 26)

b) “… kajti veliki ptiči so tožili, da to sploh nima nobenega okusa …”

(Carroll, 1983, 24) – the part “they could not taste theirs” is

translated so that it has a completely different meaning53

c) “… ker so se velike ptice pritoževale, da sladkorčkov niti ne čutijo

…” (Carroll, 1994, 23)54

51 Gitica Jakopin uses a non-modal Slovene verb. 52 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal modification. 53 Gitica Jakopin did not translate the English modal verb. 54 Helena Biffio uses a non-modal Slovene verb.

40

Diploma paper

3. a) “… Alice said to herself, as well as she could for sneezing.” (Carroll,

1990, 60)

b) “… si je rekla Alica, in čudno, da je to sploh spravila iz sebe, ker je

tako nazarensko kihala.” (Carroll, 1983, 48)55

c) “… je med kihanjem rekla Alica.“ (Carroll, 1994, 44) – the part „as

well as she could for sneezing“ is not translated in Helena Biffio’s

translation56

4. a) “… where Alice could see it trying in a helpless sort of way to fly up

into a tree.” (Carroll, 1990, 96)

b) “… in Alica ga je videla, kako si precèj nebogljeno prizadeva, da bi

zletel na eno od dreves.” (Carroll, 1983, 71)57

c) “Težava je bila le v tem, da je flamingo odletel na drugo stran vrta,

kjer si je neuspešno prizadeval, da bi zletel na drevo.” (Carroll, 1994,

64) – the part “where Alice could see it” is not translated in Helena

Biffio’s translation58


kept in one translation and not kept in the other one. Again, each translator uses a

different way to translate the verb. Whether the modality of the English verb is

kept or not, as well as the way of translating, is written below the table.

1. a) “… for she could not remember ever having seen such a thing.”

(Carroll, 1990, 9)

b) “… ni se namreč mogla spomniti, da bi bila že kdaj videla kaj

takega.” (Carroll, 1983, 11)

c) “… saj kaj takšnega ni še nikoli videla.” (Carroll, 1994, 12) – the part

“could not remember” is not translated in Helena Biffio’s

translation

55 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. 56 Helena Biffio did not translate the English modal verb. 57 Gitica Jakopin uses a non-modal Slovene verb. 58 Helena Biffio did not translate the English modal verb.

41

Diploma paper

2. a) “… she found she could not possibly reach it …” (Carroll, 1990, 9)

b) “… pa je opazila, da plošče ne doseže več.” (Carroll, 1983, 11)

c) “… vendar pa ga zdaj ni mogla več doseči.“ (Carroll, 1994, 12)

3. a) “… she could see it quite plainly through the glass …” (Carroll,

1990, 9)

b) “Skozi steklo ga je razločno videla …” (Carroll, 1983, 11)

c) “Lahko ga je prav razločno videla skozi steklo …” (Carroll, 1994,

12)

4. a) “It was as much as she could do, lying down on one side, to look

through into the garden with one eye; but to get through was more

hopeless than ever: she sat down and began to cry again.” (Carroll,

1990, 12)

b) “Drugega ni mogla, kakor da je legla na bok in z enim očesom

poškilila na vrt; da bi prišla tja, je bilo še bolj nemogoče kakor prej.

Sedla je na tla in spet zajokala. ” (Carroll, 1983, 14)

c) “Naj je še tako poskušala in se ulegla nab ok, je vendar lahko le z

enim očesom poškilila na vrt, da pa bi se spravila skozi vrata, je bilo

popolnoma nemogoče. Alica je sedla in se znova razjokala.” (Carroll,

1994, 15)

5. a) “This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of

thought …” (Carroll, 1990, 25)

b) “Tega jim pelican ni mogel povedati kar tako …” (Carroll, 1983, 23)

c) “Vprašanje je bilo tako težko, da se mu je moral Racon resno

posvetiti …” (Carroll, 1994, 22) – the part “could not answer” is not

translated in Helena Biffio’s translation

6. a) “… as she could not think of anything to say …” (Carroll, 1990, 26)

b) “… in ker ni imela kaj reči …” (Carroll, 1983, 24)

c) “… in ker se ni mogla spomniti ničesar drugega …” (Carroll, 1994,

23)

7. a) “And oh, I wish you could see her after the birds!” (Carroll, 1990,

29)

b) “Pa tudi – ko bi jo videli, kako se zna vreči za ptičem!” (Carroll,

42

Diploma paper

1983, 26)

c) “In kako se šele spravi na ptiče!” (Carroll, 1994, 25) – the part “I

wish you could see” is not translated in Helena Biffio’s translation

8. a) “… and Alice could only hear whispers now and then …” (Carroll,

1990, 38)

b) “… Alica je samo od časa do časa zaslišala nekaj zašepetanih besed

…” (Carroll, 1983, 32)

c) “… in Alica je samo včasih lahko ujela šepetanje …” (Carroll, 1994,

30)

9. a) “As for pulling me out of the window, I only wish they could!”

(Carroll, 1990, 38)

b) “Bosta mene potegnila skozi okno? O, ko bi me le mogla!” (Carroll,

1983, 32)

c) “Ko bi se jim le posrečilo, da me potegnejo skozi okno!” (Carroll,

1994, 30)

10. a) “… but she could not see anything that looked like the right thing to

eat or drink under the circumstances.” (Carroll, 1990, 44)

b) “… pa ni mogla odkriti nič takega, kar bi bilo pripravno za ta

namen.” (Carroll, 1983, 35)

c) “… vendar se ji nobena stvar ni zdela primerna …” (Carroll, 1994,

32) – the part “she could not see” is not translated in Helena

Biffio’s translation

11. a) “… all she could see when she looked down …” (Carroll, 1990, 52)

b) “… ko je pogledala dol, je videla samo del grozansko dolgega vratu

..” (Carroll, 1983, 41)

c) “… vse, kar je lahko videla, je bil neznansko dolg vrat …“ (Carroll,

1994, 39)

12. a) “… because they’re making such a noise inside, no one could

possibly hear you.” (Carroll, 1990, 58)

b) “… ker znotraj tako razsajajo, da te nihče ne more slišati.” (Carroll,

1983, 46)

c) “… da notri povzročajo tak hrup, da te ne bo nihče niti slučajno

43

Diploma paper

slišal.” (Carroll, 1994, 43)

13. a) “… and I could let you out, you know.” (Carroll, 1990, 59)

b) “… jaz bi te pa spustil ven, veš.” (Carroll, 1983, 46)

c) “… jaz pa bi te lahko spustil ven, a veš.“ (Carroll, 1994, 43)

14. a) “… in fact, I didn’t know that cats could grin.” (Carroll, 1990, 61)

b) “… pravzaprav niti nisem vedela, da se mačke sploh režijo.”

(Carroll, 1983, 48)

c) “… pravzaprav nisem vedela, da se mačke sploh znajo režati.”

(Carroll, 1994, 45)

15. a) “I never could abide figures!” (Carroll, 1990, 63)

b) “… številk nisem nikdar mogla trpeti!” (Carroll, 1983, 49)

c) “Nikoli nisem prebavljala števil!” (Carroll, 1994, 46)

16. a) “… while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens

and writing-desks …” (Carroll, 1990, 73)

b) “… Alica pa je medtem obračal v glavi vse, kar se je le mogla

spomniti o krokarjih in pisalnih mizah …” (Carroll, 1983, 57)

c) “… Alica pa se je skušala domisliti vsega, kar je vedela o krokarjih

in pisalnih mizah …” (Carroll, 1994, 52)

17. a) “… but he could think of nothing better to say than his first remark

…” (Carroll, 1990, 74)

b) “… vendar se ni domislil ničesar boljšega, kakor da je ponovil, kar je

bil rekel že prej …” (Carroll, 1983, 58)

c) “… vendar se ni mogel spomniti nič pametnejšega od svoje prve

pripombe …” (Carroll, 1994, 52)

18. a) “… but she could not remember ever having heard of such a rule at

procession …” (Carroll, 1990, 87)

b) “… vendar se ni spomnila, da bi bila že slišala o taki šegi pri

slavnostnih sprevodih.” (Carroll, 1983, 65)

c) “… vendar se ni mogla spomniti, da bi kdaj slišala kaj podobnega za

povorke …” (Carroll, 1994, 60)

19. a) “Alice could think of nothing else to say but …” (Carroll, 1990, 97)

b) “Alica je rekla, ker ji ni nič boljšega prišlo na misel …” (Carroll,

44

Diploma paper

1983, 72)

c) “Alica se ni mogla spomniti nič drugega …” (Carroll, 1994, 65)

20. a) “Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over their shoulders

… “(Carroll, 1990, 128)

b) “Alica je dobro videla, tako dobro, kakor da bi jim vsem skupaj

gledala čez ramo …” (Carroll, 1983, 93)

c) “Alica je lahko videla (prav kot če bi jim kukala preko ram) …”

(Carroll, 1994, 84)

21. a) “… she could hear the very tones of her voice …” (Carroll, 1990,

149);

b) “kot da še vedno sliši Aličin glas …” (Carroll, 1983, 105)

c) “… lahko je slišala zven njenega glasu …” (Carroll, 1994, 94)

22. a) “… she could hear the rattle of the teacups as the March Hare and his

friend shared their never-ending meal …” (Carroll, 1990, 151)

b) “… zažvenketale so čajne skodelice, ko je marčni zajec s svojimi

prijatelji sedél pri malice, ki je ni konca ne kraja …” (Carroll, 1983,

105) – Gitica Jakopin did not translate the part “she could hear”,

altogether “she could hear the rattle of the teacups” has a different

meaning

c) “… lahko je slišala žvenketanje skodelic, ki so jih Marčni zajec in

njegova prijatelja prelagali v svoji neskončni čajanki …” (Carroll,

1994, 94)

In example 1, Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality through the usage of the

Slovene modal verb moči. Contrary to her, Helena Biffio does not keep the

modality, as she did not translate the English modal verb.

In example 2, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality. She uses a non-

modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, keeps the modality

through the usage of the Slovene modal verb moči.


keep the modality. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko

+ a verb and keeps the modality.

45

Diploma paper

In example 4, Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality of the English verb by

using the Slovene modal verb moči. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal

modification and does not keep the modality.

In example 5, Gitica Jakopin again uses the Slovene modal verb moči and

keeps the modality of could. Helena Biffio did not translate the English

verb, so there is no modality present.


keep the modality. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči and

keeps the modality of the English verb.

In example 7, Gitica Jakopin uses a non-modal Slovene verb and still

keeps the modality. Helena Biffio, again, did not translate could in this

sentence.

In example 8, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality, as she uses a non-

modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression

lahko + a verb and keeps the modality.

In example 9, Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality by using the Slovene modal

verb moči. Helena Biffio uses a Slovene modal modification and does not

keep the modality.

In example 10, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči and keeps

the modality. Helena Biffio does not keep the modality, as she did not

translate the English modal verb.


keep the modality. Helena Biffio does, however, use the Slovene modal

expression lahko + a verb and keeps the modality.

In example 12, Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality of could by using the

Slovene modal verb moči. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, uses a non-

modal Slovene verb and the modality is not kept.

In example 13, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality, as she uses a

non-modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression


46

Diploma paper


keep the modality of could. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, uses the

Slovene modal expression znati + another verb and keeps the modality.

In example 15, the translation of Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality by the

usage of the Slovene modal verb moči. Helena Biffio uses a non-modal

Slovene verb and does not keep the modal meaning.

In example 16, both translators use the same way of translation as in

example 15. The expressed modality is the same as in that example.

In example 17, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality. She uses a non-

modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio’s translation keeps the modality

through the usage of the Slovene modal verb moči.

In example 18, again, both translators use the same way of translation as in

example 17. Accordingly, the expressed modality in the translated sentences

is the same as in the previous example.

In example 19, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality of could. She

uses the Slovene modal modification for its translation. Helena Biffio uses

the Slovene modal verb moči and keeps the modality.


keep the modality. Helena Biffio keeps the modality through the usage of

the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

In example 21, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality of the English

verb through the usage of a non-modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio uses

the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb and keeps the modality.

In example 22, Gitica Jakopin did not translate the English verb could, so

the modality is not kept. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, keeps the

modality through the usage of the Slovene modal expression lahko + a

verb.

47

Diploma paper

The following table includes an example where could was translated in such a

way that the Slovene sentences express a different modality.

1. a) “The poor little thing was snorting like a steam-engine when she

caught it, and kept doubling itself up and straightening itself out

again, so that altogether, for the first minute or two, it was as much as

she could do to hold it.” (Carroll, 1990, 64)

b) “Uboga stvarca je pihala kakor parni stroj, ko ji priletela na roke, in

se je kar naprej zvijala, pa spet iztezala, tako da se je morala Alica

precèj dolgo truditi, da ga je sploh obdržala.“ (Carroll, 1983, 50)

c) “Dojenček je hrkal kot parni stroj, ko ga je ujela, in se nenehno zvijal

v dve gube pa se spet raztegoval, zato se je Alica morala prvih nekaj

minut pošteno truditi, da ga je sploh obdržala v rokah.“ (Carroll,

1994, 47)

Here, both translators use the Slovene modal modification to translate the English

verb. Instead of ability, the sentences in Slovene express obligation.

In this table, there is an example where the modality of the English verb is kept in

one translation, but is different in the other one.

1. a) “… with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting

out laughing …“ (Carroll, 1990, 92)

b) “… se je vselej obrnil in ji tako preplašeno pogledal v obraz, da se je

morala na ves glas zasmejati.” (Carroll, 1983, 68)

c) “… da Alica ni mogla drugega, kot da je bruhnila v smeh.” (Carroll,

1994, 62)

In this case, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. The modal

meaning, expressed in the translation, is obligation, as opposed to the original

modal meaning, which is ability.

Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči and therefore keeps the original

modality of the English verb in Slovene.

48

Diploma paper

5.2.2.2 Could expressing possibility

The following table shows the example where both translators use the Slovene

modal verb moči and hence the modality of the English verb is kept in the

translation.

1. a) “This time there could be no mistake about it …” (Carroll, 1990, 66)

b) “Zdaj se ni mogla več slepiti …” (Carroll, 1983, 51)

c) “Zdaj ni moglo biti nobene pomote …” (Carroll, 1994, 47)

In the following table, there are the examples where the modality of the English




1. a) “… to see if she could have been changed for any of them.” (Carroll,

1990, 13)

b) “… da bi ugotovila, ali se je morda spremenila v katerega od njih.”

(Carroll, 1983, 15)59

c) “… če se ni mogoče spremenila v koga izmed njih.“ (Carroll, 1994,

16)60

2. a) “… but you could keep it to half-past one as long as you liked.”

(Carroll, 1990, 76)

b) “… ampak uro bi lahko držala na pol dveh, kolikor dolgo bi se ti

ljubilo.” (Carroll, 1983, 59)61

c) “… vendar bi uro lahko držala na pol dveh tako dolgo, kot bi

hotela.” (Carroll, 1994, 53)62

3. a) “… and wondering whether she could get away without being seen

…” (Carroll, 1990, 93)

b) “… in ravno se je vprašala, ali se ne bi dalo neopaženo izmuzniti …”

59 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression morda + a verb. 60 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression mogoče + a verb. 61 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb. 62 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

49

Diploma paper

(Carroll, 1983, 69)63

c) “… in premišljala, če bi se lahko neopaženo izmuznila …” (Carroll,

1994, 63)64

4. a) “The King’s argument was, that anything that had a head could be

beheaded …“ (Carroll, 1990, 97)

b) “Kralj je trdil, da se da odsekati vsako glavo, ki je glava …” (Carroll,

1983, 71) 65

c) “Kralj je vpil, da je lahko vse, kar ima glavo, tudi obglavljeno …”

(Carroll, 1994, 64)66

5. a) “However, she did not like to be rude, so she bore it as well as she

could.” (Carroll, 1990, 100)

b) “Toda Alica ni hotela biti nevljudna in je to prenašala, kar najbolje

se je dalo.” (Carroll, 1983, 74)67

c) “Vsekakor pa je ni hotela užaliti, zato jo je prenašala, kolikor se je

dalo.” (Carroll, 1994, 67)68

6. a) “… any shrimp could have told you that.” (Carroll, 1990, 119)

b) “… to ti lahko pove vsaka najmanjša rakovica.” (Carroll, 1983, 86) 69

c) “To bi ti lahko povedal vsak gumpec.” (Carroll, 1994, 78)70

The following table shows examples where the modality is kept in both

translations. The way, however, is different in each of the translations, so again,

the various ways of translation are specified in the footnotes.

1. a) “They couldn’t have done that, you know …” (Carroll, 1990, 78)

63 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 64 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb. 65 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 66 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb. 67 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 68 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 69 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb. 70 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

50

Diploma paper

b) “To se pa ne bi dalo, veste …” (Carroll, 1983, 61)71

c) “To pa ne bo šlo, veš …” (Carroll, 1994, 55)72

2. a) “The executioner’s argument was, that you couldn’t cut off a head

unless there was a body to cut it off from …” (Carroll, 1990, 97)

b) “Rabelj je trdil, da se ne da odsekati glave, če ni telesa, s katerega bi

jo odsekal …” (Carroll, 1983, 71)73

c) “Rabelj je trdil, da ne moreš odsekati glave, če nima telesa, od

katerega bi jo lahko odsekal …” (Carroll, 1994, 64)74

The following table contains examples of translated sentences that do not keep

the modality. Again, the different ways of the translation are specified in the

footnotes.

1. a) “And yet I wish I could show you our cat Dinah …” (Carroll, 1990,

19)

b) “Vseeno bi ti jako rada pokazala našo mačko Dino …” (Carroll,

1983, 18) 75

c) “Želim pa si, da bi spoznala mojo muco Dino …” (Carroll, 1994,

18)76

2. a) “There could be no doubt that it has a very turn-up nose …” (Carroll,

1990, 64)

b) “Nobenega dvoma ni bilo o tem, da je imel zelo zelo prifrknjen nos

…” (Carroll, 1983, 51)77

c) “Nedvomno je imel zelo prifrknjen nos …” (Carroll, 1994, 47)78

3. a) “… but she could not help thinking there must be more to come …”

71 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 72 Helena Biffio uses a non-modal Slovene verb. 73 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 74 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči. 75 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. 76 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal modification. 77 Gitica Jakopin uses a non-modal Slovene verb. 78 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal modification.

51

Diploma paper

(Carroll, 1990, 109)

b) “Toda obenem ji je nekaj govorilo, da mora še kaj priti …”

(Carroll, 1983, 79)79

c) “… vendar si je kljub vsemu mislila, da mora slediti tudi

nadaljevanje …” (Carroll, 1994, 71)80

4. a) “ ‘You couldn’t have wanted it much,’ said Alice; ‘living at the

bottom of the sea.’ ” (Carroll, 1990, 110)

b) “ ‘Umivati se vam pa vendar ni bilo treba,’ je rekla Alica, ‘ko ste

živeli na dnu morja!’ ” (Carroll, 1983, 80) – the part “you couldn’t

have wanted it much” is translated so that it has a completely

different meaning81

c) “ ‘Pa saj ga niste potrebovali,’ je rekla Alica, ‘če ste živeli na dnu

morja.’ ” (Carroll, 1994, 72) - the part “you couldn’t have wanted it

much” is translated so that it has a completely different meaning82

The following table shows examples of translation where one translator keeps

the modal meaning and the other one does not. Whether or not the modality is

kept and the way the English verb was translated is written below the table.

1. a) “ ‘You can draw water out of a water-well,’ said the Hatter; ‘so I

should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle-well – eh,

stupid?’ ” (Carroll, 1990, 81)

b) “ ‘Če se vodo potegne iz vodnjaka,’ je rekel klobučar, ‘bi se sirup

potegnilo pa iz sirupnjaka – ne, trda glava?’ ” (Carroll, 1983, 62)

c) “ ‘Če lahko vlečeš vodo iz vodnjaka,’ je rekel Klobučar, ‘potem

lahko vlečeš sirup iz sirupnega vodnjaka, a, tepka?’ ” (Carroll, 1994,

56)

2. a) “… if people had all to lie down upon their faces, so that they

79 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. 80 Helena Biffio uses a non-modal Slovene verb. 81 Gitica Jakopin did not translate the English verb. 82 Helena Biffio did not translate the English verb.

52

Diploma paper

couldn’t see it?” (Carroll, 1990, 87)

b) “… če bi morali vsi ljudje ležati na obrazu, tako da sploh ne bi

ničesar videli?” (Carroll, 1983, 65)

c) “… če bi ljudje morali ležati na obrazih in ne bi mogli čisto nič

videti?” (Carroll, 1994, 60)


keep the modality. Helena Biffio keeps the modality through the usage of

the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.


modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, uses the Slovene

modal verb moči and keeps the modality.

The following table shows an example in which the Slovene translation expresses

a different modality than the original.

1. a) “Alice felt that this could not be denied …” (Carroll, 1990, 68)

b) “Alica je sprevidela, da temu ne more oporekati …” (Carroll, 1983,

52)

c) “Alica temu seveda ni mogla oporekati …” (Carroll, 1994, 48)

In this case, both translators use the Slovene modal verb moči. Instead of

possibility, both sentences now express ability.

5.2.2.3 Could expressing ability or possibility

In the following table, there is an example where the modality is kept through the

usage of the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

1. a) “Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope!” (Carroll, 1990, 7)

b) “Oh, kako srečna bi bila, če bi se lahko kot daljnogled stistnila

vase!” (Carroll, 1983, 10)

c) “Ko bi se le lahko zaprla kot teleskop!” (Carroll, 1994, 11)

53

Diploma paper

The following table shows examples where the modality is not kept. Both

translators use the Slovene modal modification to translate could.

1. a) “For the Mouse was swimming away from her as hard as it could go

…” (Carroll, 1990, 20)

b) “Miška je namreč s tako naglimi in odločnimi zamahi plavala od

nje …” (Carroll, 1983, 19)

c) “Miš je namreč na vso moč plavala vstran …” (Carroll, 1994, 19)

2. a) “… and Alice called out as loud as she could …” (Carroll, 1990, 40)

b) “Tedaj je Alica na ves glas zavpila …” (Carroll, 1983, 33)

c) “Takrat je Alica na ves glas zaklicala …” (Carroll, 1994, 31)

3. a) “… but she ran off as hard as she could …” (Carroll, 1990, 41)

b) “… toda spustila se je v dir, kolikor so jo nesle noge …” (Carroll,

1983, 34)

c) “… zato je stekla, kar so jo nesle noge …” (Carroll, 1994, 31)

In the following table, there are the examples where one translation keeps the

modal meaning and the other one does not. The ways of translation as well as

whether or not the modality is kept is specified below the table.

1. a) “I think I could, if I only knew how to begin.” (Carroll, 1990, 7)

b) “Najbrž bi se mi posrečilo, če bi le vedela, kako je treba začeti!”

(Carroll, 1983, 10)

c) “In zdi se mi, da bi se lahko, ko bi le vedela, kje naj začnem.”

(Carroll, 1994, 11)

2. a) “… and scurried away into the darkness as hard as he could go.”

(Carroll, 1990, 13)

b) “… in jo na vse pretege ucvrl nazaj v temo.” (Carroll, 1983, 15)

c) “… ter odhitel naprej v temo, kakor hitro so ga le nesle šape.”

(Carroll, 1994, 16)

3. a) “How could he turn them out with his nose, you know?” (Carroll,

1990, 121)

b) “Kako le naj bi jih iztegnil z nosom?” (Carroll, 1983, 88)

c) “Kako le lahko ‘poplesuje z nogo’?” (Carroll, 1994, 79)

54

Diploma paper

4. a) “… but the Hatter was out of sight before the officer could get to the

door.” (Carroll, 1990, 135)

b) “… toda klobučar je bil že izginil, preden je sodnijski nameščenec

prišel do vrat.” (Carroll, 1983, 97)

c) “… vendar je Klobučar že izginil, še preden sta stražarja lahko prišla

do vrat.” (Carroll, 1994, 87)

In example 1, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modal meaning as she uses a

non-modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression

lahko + a verb. The sentence, however, expresses only ability.

In example 2, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification and

does not keep the modality. Helena Biffio also uses the Slovene modal

modification and the sentence now expresses the modal meaning of just

possibility.

In example 3, Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality as she uses the

Slovene modal modification. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal

expression lahko + a verb and keeps the modality.


keep the modality. Helena Biffio, again, uses the Slovene modal expression


The following table shows examples where at least one possible modality is

kept. There is an explanation of which modal meaning the translated sentences

have and the way they were translated below the table.

1. a) “… looking as solemn as she could.” (Carroll, 1990, 26)

b) “… s kar se da slovesnim obrazom …” (Carroll, 1983, 24)

c) “… in slovesno, kolikor je le mogla, vzela naprstnik.” (Carroll, 1994,

23)

2. a) “She drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could …”

(Carroll, 1990, 39)

b) “Potegnila je nogo iz dimnika, kolikor daleč je mogla …” (Carroll,

1983, 32)

55

Diploma paper

c) “Potisnila je nogo v dimnik kolikor se je le dalo globoko …”

(Carroll, 1994, 30)

3. a) “Alice crouched down among the trees as well as she could …”

(Carroll, 1990, 55 - 56)

b) “Alica se je sklonila pod drevje, kolikor se je pač dalo …” (Carroll,

1983, 44)

c) “Alica se je sklonila med drevesa kolikor globoko je le mogla …”

(Carroll, 1994, 40)

4. a) “… she said, as politely as she could.” (Carroll, 1990, 74)

b) “… je rekla, kolikor vljudno je le mogla.” (Carroll, 1983, 58)

c) “… je rekla, kar se da vljudno.“ (Carroll, 1994, 53)

5. a) “… and began picking them up again as quickly as she could …”

(Carroll, 1990, 138 – 139)

b) “… in začela pobirati porotnike, kar najhitreje jih je mogla …”

(Carroll, 1983, 99)

c) “… in začela pobirati porotnike kakor hitro se je le dalo …”

(Carroll, 1994, 89)

6. a) “… and she told her sister, as well as she could remember them, all

these strange Adventures of hers …” (Carroll, 1990, 148)

b) “In sestri je povedala vse te svoje čudne pustolovščine, o katerih ste

bili pravkar brali, kolikor se jih je le mogla spomniti.” (Carroll,

1983, 104)

c) … in začela ji je pripovedovati, kolikor se je pač spomnila, o vseh

the čudovitih dogodivščinah, ki ste jih vi ravnokar prebrali.” (Carroll,

1994, 93)

In example 1, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. The

translated sentence expresses only possibility. Helena Biffio uses the

Slovene modal verb moči and this sentence expresses only ability.

In example 2, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči and

expresses only ability. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, uses the Slovene

modal expression dati se + another verb and expresses only possibility.

56

Diploma paper

In example 3, Gitica Jakopin’s sentence expresses only possibility through

the usage of the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. Helena

Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči and her sentence expresses just

ability.

In example 4, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb moči and her

sentence expresses only ability. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal

modification and the sentence now expresses only possibility.

In example 5, Gitica Jakopin again uses the Slovene modal verb moči. This

sentence expresses only ability. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, uses the

Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. Her sentence expresses

possibility only.

In example 6, Gitica Jakopin’s translation expresses just possibility through

the usage of the Slovene modal verb moči. Helena Biffio uses a non-modal

Slovene verb and this time, both modal meanings are present in the

Slovene translation (ability or possibility).

5.2.2.4 Analysis of ways of translating could

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland there are 78 sentences containing the modal

verb could and its negations. Gitica Jakopin translated them with moči 24 times.

She used lahko + a verb seven times, znati + another verb once, dati se + another

verb six times, and once morda + a verb. In thirteen cases she used a modal

modification, in twenty-three cases she used a non-modal verb, and she did not

translate could in three sentences.

57

Diploma paper

Graph 3: translation of could by Gitica Jakopin

24

71

61

13

23

3

-2

8

18

28

38

48

58

68

78

moč

i

lahko

znat

i

dati s

e

mor

da

mod

al mod

ificatio

n

non-

mod

al ver

b

no tr

ansla

tion

In the case of could according to the four possible groups, Gitica Jakopin used a

Slovene modal verb for her translation of could in 24 sentences (30,8%). In 28

cases she used modal expressions and modifications (35,9%), in 23 cases she used

a non-modal verb (29,5%), and she did not translate 3 sentences containing could

(which makes 3,8%). Once more, she used modal expressions and modifications

in the majority of cases, followed by the Slovene modal verb and then by a non-

modal verb. The three cases where she did not translate it make a really small

percentage.

The same modal meaning was kept in Gitica Jakopin’s translation in 35 cases

(that makes 45%), in 34 sentences (43,6%) there is no modal meaning present.

There are three cases (3,8%) in which the translation expresses only ability and

three 3 cases (3,8%) where it expresses only possibility instead of ability or

possibility. A different modal meaning is also found in three sentences (3,8%).

58

Diploma paper

Out of these three, two express obligation instead of ability83, and one expresses

ability instead of possibility84. In the latter example it can also be noted, that the

original sentence uses the passive voice, whereas the translated uses the active

voice. This might also be the reason for a different modal meaning.

For the translation of could, Helena Biffio used moči in twenty-two and lahko + a

verb in twenty-one examples, znati + another verb in 2 examples, dati se +

another verb three times and mogoče + a verb once. She translated could with a

modal modification eleven times, in the same number of cases (namely eleven)

she used a non-modal verb, and there are seven cases where she did not translate

the modal verb could.

83 “The poor little thing was snorting like a steam-engine when she caught it, and kept

doubling itself up and straightening itself out again, so that altogether, for the first minute or two, it was as much as she could do to hold it.” (Carroll, 1990, 64) vs. “Uboga stvarca je pihala kakor parni stroj, ko ji priletela na roke, in se je kar naprej zvijala, pa spet iztezala, tako da se je morala Alica precèj dolgo truditi, da ga je sploh obdržala.“ (Carroll, 1983, 50); “… with such a puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing …“ (Carroll, 1990, 92) vs. “… se je vselej obrnil in ji tako preplašeno pogledal v obraz, da se je morala na ves glas zasmejati.” (Carroll, 1983, 68)

84 “Alice felt that this could not be denied …” (Carroll, 1990, 68) vs. “Alica je

sprevidela, da temu ne more oporekati …” (Carroll, 1983, 52)

59

Diploma paper

Graph 4: translation of could by Helena Biffio

22 21

2 3 1

11 117

-2

8

18

28

38

48

58

68

78

moč

i

lahko

znat

i

dati s

e

mog

oče

mod

al mod

ificatio

n

non-

mod

al ver

b

no tr

ansla

tion

Regarding the four groups of possible ways to translate modal verbs, Helena

Biffio used the Slovene modal verb in 22 cases (which makes 28,2%), modal

expressions and modifications in 38 cases (48,7%), 11 times she used a non-

modal veb (14,1%), and she did not translate could in 7 sentences (9%). To

summarize, the prevailing way of translating could for Biffio is certainly the

usage of modal expressions and modifications. She also used the Slovene modal

verb quite frequently, followed by a non-modal verb. In the case of could, the

percentage of not translated parts of sentences with could is not so negligible.

In Helena Biffio’s translation, the modality of the English verb was kept in the

Slovene translation in 45 sentences (which makes 57,7%). In 24 cases, there is no

modal meaning (2,6%). There are also 3 cases (3,8%) of expressed ability and 4

cases (5,1%) of expressed possibility, where the original sentences express ability

or possibility. There are also two cases, in which there is a different modal

60

Diploma paper

meaning. The first expresses obligation instead of ability85, the second ability

instead of possibility86. As in the case of Gitica Jakopin, the latter might be a

consequence of a changed voice (passive to active)

5.2.3 Translation of modal verb may


verb may as well as its negations may not and mayn’t. The tables are formed

according to modality which they express. Following each table is a description of

the ways of translating the modal verb into Slovene, including the examples from

the table, as well as the examples of whether or not the modality of the English

verb is kept in the Slovene translation.

5.2.3.1 May expressing permission

In the following table, there are the examples where both translators use the

Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb and keep the modality.

1. a) “Here! you may nurse it a bit, if you like! …” (Carroll, 1990, 63)

b) “Nà! Če hočeš, ga lahko malo popestuješ!...” (Carroll, 1983, 50)

c) “Na, lahko ga še ti malo pestuješ, če si ravno pri volji! …” (Carroll,

1994, 46)

2. a) “… however, it may kiss my hand if it likes.” (Carroll, 1990, 95)

b) “… toda roko mi vseeno lahko poljubi, če bi rada.” (Carroll, 1983,

70)

c) “… lahko pa mi poljubi roko, če hoče.” (Carroll, 1994, 63)

3. a) “If that’s all you know about it, you may stand down …” (Carroll,

1990, 134)

85 “The poor little thing was snorting like a steam-engine when she caught it, and kept

doubling itself up and straightening itself out again, so that altogether, for the first minute or two, it was as much as she could do to hold it.” (Carroll, 1990, 64) vs. “Dojenček je hrkal kot parni stroj, ko ga je ujela, in se nenehno zvijal v dve gube pa se spet raztegoval, zato se je Alica morala prvih nekaj minut pošteno truditi, da ga je sploh obdržala v rokah.“ (Carroll, 1994, 47)

86 “Alice felt that this could not be denied …” (Carroll, 1990, 68) vs. “Alica temu

seveda ni mogla oporekati …” (Carroll, 1994, 48)

61

Diploma paper

b) “Če je to vse, kar veš o stvari, lahko greš dol …” (Carroll, 1983, 97)

c) “… lahko stopiš dol.” (Carroll, 1994, 87)

4. a) “You may go …” (Carroll, 1990, 135)

b) “Lahko greš …” (Carroll, 1983, 97)

c) “Lahko greš …” (Carroll, 1994, 87)

This is an example where the modality is kept in both cases, but the translators

use different ways to translate the English verb. The ways are specified in the

footnotes.

1. a) “A cat may look at a king …” (Carroll, 1990, 95)

b) “Vsaka mačka sme gledati kralja …” (Carroll, 1983, 70)87

c) “Maček lahko opazuje kralja …” (Carroll, 1994, 64)88

In the following example one translator keeps the modality and the other one

does not. Whether or not the modality is kept and the classification of the ways of

translation is written below the table.

1. a) “Then you may sit down …” (Carroll, 1990, 134)

b) “Pa sédi! …” (Carroll, 1983, 97)

c) “Potem se pa lahko vsaj usedeš! …” (Carroll, 1994, 87)

Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality as she uses a non-modal

Slovene verb. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a

verb and keeps the modality.

5.2.3.2 May expressing possibility

The following table shows the examples where the modality is kept in both

translations, but the way of translating the original sentence is different. In both

examples, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression morda + a verb

and Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression mogoče + a verb.

87 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal verb smeti. 88 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

62

Diploma paper

1. a) “I dare say there may be one.” (Carroll, 1990, 80)

b) “En tak vodnjak pa morda kje je!” (Carroll, 1983, 62)

c) “Mogoče pa eden le obstaja.” (Carroll, 1994, 56)

2. a) “Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn’t believe it –“

(Carroll, 1990, 109)

b) “Da, v morje smo hodili v šolo, čeprav morda ne boš verjela – “

(Carroll, 1983, 79)

c) “Da, hodila sva v morsko šolo, čeprav se ti to mogoče zdi neverjetno

– “ (Carroll, 1994, 71)

The following example shows one case where the modality is kept and one

where it is not. In addition to this, the note below the table shows the way of

translation.

1. a) “I think I may as well go in at once.” (Carroll, 1990, 83)

b) “Menda bi lahko kar stopila noter!” (Carroll, 1983, 62)

c) “Mislim, da bom kar vstopila.” (Carroll, 1994, 57)

Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality throught the usage of the Slovene modal

expression lahko + a verb. Helena Biffio, on the other hand, does not keep

the modality. She uses a non-modal Slovene verb.

The following table shows an example where both translators use a non-modal

Slovene verb and do not keep the modality of may.

1. a) “I don’t know where Dinn may be …” (Carroll, 1990, 117)

b) “Kje je Miz, sicer ne vem …” (Carroll, 1983, 85)

c) “Sicer ne vem, kje je Kos …” (Carroll, 1994, 77)

5.2.3.3 May expressing hopes and wishes

In the following example, both translators use the Slovene modal modification.

The modality in both sentences is now changed. Instead of expressing hopes and

wishes, the Slovene sentences express permission.

63

Diploma paper

1. a) “May it please your Majesty …” (Carroll, 1990, 89)

b) “Z dovoljenjem vašega veličanstva …” (Carroll, 1983, 66)

c) “Če dovolite, Vaše veličanstvo …” (Carroll, 1994, 61)

5.2.3.4 May expressing concession

The following table shows one example where the modality is not kept and one

where the modality of the translated sentence is changed. An explanation of how

the translators translated the English verb is also written below the table.

1. a) “You may not have lived much under the sea …” (Carroll, 1990,

113)

b) “Najbrž se še nisi kaj dosti zadrževala pod morsko gladino …”

(Carroll, 1983, 82)

c) “Mogoče nisi dolgo časa živela v morju …” (Carroll, 1994, 75)

Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality as she uses a non-modal

Slovene verb. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression mogoče + a

verb. Instead of concession, her sentence now expresses possibility.

5.2.3.5 Analysis of ways of translating may

Out of 12 sentences with the modal verb may, Gitica Jakopin used smeti once,

lahko + a verb five times, and morda + a verb two times. Three times she

translated may and its negations with a non-modal verb and once she used a modal

modification.

64

Diploma paper

Graph 5: translation of may by Gitica Jakopin

1

5

2

3

1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

smeti lahko morda non-modal verb modalmodification

With the modal verb may, as regards to the mentioned four groups, Gitica Jakopin

used the Slovene modal verb only once (8,3%). On the other hand, modal

expressions and modifications were used in 7 cases (58,4%), in 3 cases she used a

non-modal verb (25%), and she did not translate may in one sentence (8,3%).

According to the percentages, she most frequently used modal expessions and

modifications in translation of may, surprisingly followed by a regular verb. Both

possibilities, a modal verb and no translation, were used once, which makes 8,3%.

In Gitica Jakopin’s translation, the modal meaning of the translated verb was kept

in 8 sentences (66,7%). In 3 cases, the verb does not express any modal meaning

(that makes 25%) and only once the modal meaning in the Slovene translation is

different from the modal meaning in English (8,3%). Instead of hopes and wishes,

the translated verb expresses permission89.

89 “May it please your Majesty …” (Carroll, 1990, 89) vs. “Z dovoljenjem vašega

veličanstva …” (Carroll, 1983, 66)

65

Diploma paper

Helena Biffio, on the other hand, used lahko + a verb six times, three times

mogoče + a verb, two times a non-modal verb and once a modal modification.

Graph 6: translation of may by Helena Biffio

6

3

2

1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

lahko mogoče non-modal verb modal modification

Helena Biffio never used the equivalent Slovene modal verb to translate may. Out

of other three possible groups she used modal expressions and modifications 9

times, which makes 75%. She used a non-modal verb in 2 cases (16,7%), and did

not translate the part with may once (8,3%).

Although her translation does not include the equivalent Slovene modal verb, the

modal meaning was kept in 8 sentences (66,6%). In two cases (16,7%) the

sentences do not express any modal meaning, and in the same number of cases

(namely 2, which makes 16,7%) the modal meaning is different than in the

original sentence. The first case expresses hopes and wishes in the original

66

Diploma paper

sentence, whereas the translation expresses permission90, and the second original

expresses concession, whereas the translated sentence expresses possibility91.

5.2.4 Translation of modal verb might


verb might and its negation might not. The tables are formed according to

modality which they express. Following each table there are ways of translating

the modal verb into Slovene, including the examples from the table, as well as the

examples of whether or not the modality of the English verb is kept in the Slovene

translation.

5.2.4.1 Might expressing permission

This is an example where both translators use the Slovene modal verb smeti and

keep the modality of the English verb.

1. a) “And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question …”

(Carroll, 1990, 29)

b) “Kdo pa je Dina, če smem vprašati …” (Carroll, 1983, 26)

c) “Kdo pa je Dina, če smem zastaviti to vprašanje? …” (Carroll, 1994,

25)

5.2.4.2 Might expressing possibility


translations due to the usage of the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

1. a) “There are no mice in the air, I’m afraid, but you might catch a bat,

and that’s very like a mouse, you know.” (Carroll, 1990, 4)

b) “Miši tu sicer ne letajo po zraku, lahko bi pa ujela vsak kakšnega

netopirja! To je skoraj isto kot miš, veš.” (Carroll, 1983, 8)

90 “May it please your Majesty …” (Carroll, 1990, 89) vs. “Če dovolite, Vaše

veličanstvo …” (Carroll, 1994, 61) 91 “You may not have lived much under the sea …” (Carroll, 1990, 113) vs. “Mogoče

nisi dolgo časa živela v morju …” (Carroll, 1994, 75)

67

Diploma paper

c) “Na žalost v zraku ni mišk, vendar bi mogoče lahko ujela netopirja,

in ta je skoraj kot miš, veš.” (Carroll, 1994, 10)

2. a) “… for it might end, you know … in my going out altogether, like a

candle.” (Carroll, 1990, 8 - 9)

b) “Saj se mi končno še lahko zgodi … da se sploh neham, kakor se

neha na primer sveča.” (Carroll, 1983, 11)

c) “Prav lahko se zgodi, da ugasnem kot sveča …” (Carroll, 1994, 12)

3. a) “Alice thought she might as well wait, as she had nothing else to do

…” (Carroll, 1990, 47)

b) “Alica je pomislila, da navsezadnje čisto lahko še počaka, saj nima

nič drugega početi …” (Carroll, 1983, 37)

c) “Alica je pomislila, da prav lahko počaka, saj ni imela kaj drugega

početi.“ (Carroll, 1994, 36)

4. a) “For instance, if you were inside, you might knock, and I could let

you out, you know.” (Carroll, 1990, 59)

b) “Če bi bila na primer ti znotraj, bi lahko potrkala, jaz bi te pa spustil

ven, veš.” (Carroll, 1983, 46)

c) “Na primer, če bi bila ti notri, bi lahko potrkala, jaz pa bi te lahko

spustil ven, a veš.” (Carroll, 1994, 43)

5. a) “But at any rate he might answer question.” (Carroll, 1990, 59)

b) “Vsekakor pa mi bo lahko odgovoril, če ga kaj vprašam.” (Carroll,

1983, 46)

c) “Vsekakor pa bi se lahko potrudil odgovoriti na vprašanja.” (Carroll,

1994, 44)

6. a) “Why, you might just as well say that …” (Carroll, 1990, 73)

b) “Ravno tako bi potem lahko rekla …” (Carroll, 1983, 57)

c) “Tako bi prav lahko rekla …” (Carroll, 1994, 52)

7. a) “You might just as well say …” (Carroll, 1990, 73)

b) “In enako bi potem lahko rekla …” (Carroll, 1983, 57)

c) “In prav tako bi lahko rekla …” (Carroll, 1994, 52)

8 a) “You might just as well say …” (Carroll, 1990, 73)

b) “In enako bi potem lahko rekla …” (Carroll, 1983, 57)

68

Diploma paper

c) “In lahko bi celo rekla …” (Carroll, 1994, 52)

9. a) “I think you might do something better with the time …” (Carroll,

1990, 75)

b) “Po mojem bi lahko tudi na kakšen boljši način preganjala čas …”

(Carroll, 1983, 58)

c) “Mislim, da bi lahko čas bolje izkoristili …” (Carroll, 1994, 53)

10. a) “Alice thought she might as well go back and see how the game was

going on …” (Carroll, 1990, 96)

b) “Alici je prišlo na misel, da bi lahko šla pogledat, kako kaj napreduje

igra …” (Carroll, 1983, 71)

c) “Alica je pravkar pomislila, da bi lahko šla pogledat, kako se odvija

igra …” (Carroll, 1994, 64)

11. a) “… that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than

what you had been …” (Carroll, 1990, 103)

b) “… da tisto, kar bi bila ali kar bi lahko bila, ne bi bilo drugačno od

tega, kar bi se njim zdelo drugačno.” (Carroll, 1983, 75)

c) “… da kar si bila ali bi lahko bila, ni bilo drugačno od tistega, kar si

bila, in bi se bilo njim zdelo drugačno.” (Carroll, 1994, 68)

In the following example, both translators use the Slovene modal expression

mogoče + a verb and keep the modality.

1. a) “… and perhaps after all it might tell her something worth hearing.”

(Carroll, 1990, 47)

b) “… in prav mogoče, da ji bo gosenica povedala kaj uporabnega.”

(Carroll, 1983, 37)

c) “Mogoče pa ji bo Gosenica le dala kakšen uporaben nasvet.”

(Carroll, 1994, 36)


translations but through different ways of translating. The ways are specified in

the footnotes.

1. a) “… so she went back to the table, half hoping she might find another

69

Diploma paper

key on it …” (Carroll, 1990, 7)

b) “… zato se je vrnila k mizici; na pol je upala, da jo morda tam čaka

drug ključ …” (Carroll, 1983, 10)92

c) “Potihem je upala, da bo na njej mogoče našla še en ključek …”

(Carroll, 1994, 12)93

2. a) “And, as you might like to try the thing yourself some winter day

…” (Carroll, 1990, 24)

b) “In ker bi se morda tudi vam kakšnega zimskega dne zahotelo to

preizkusiti …” (Carroll, 1983, 23)94

c) “In ker si jo boste nekega dne mogoče zaželeli prirediti tudi sami …”

(Carroll, 1994, 22)95

3. a) “… but she was terribly frightened all the time at the thought that it

might be hungry …” (Carroll, 1990, 43)

b) “… vendar se je obenem ves čas grozno bala ob misli, da je morda

lačen …” (Carroll, 1983, 34)96

c) “… čeprav se je ves čas bala, da bi utegnil biti lačen …” (Carroll,

1994, 32)97

4. a) “… it occurred to her that she might as well look and see what was

on the top of it.” (Carroll, 1990, 44)

b) “… ji je prišlo na misel, da bi se dalo tudi še ugotoviti, kaj je

zgoraj.” (Carroll, 1983, 35)98

c) “… se ji je posvetilo, da bi prav lahko pogledala, kaj se skriva na

vrhu.” (Carroll, 1994, 32)99

5. a) “There might be some sense in your knocking …” (Carroll, 1990,

92 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression morda + a verb. 93 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression mogoče + a verb. 94 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression morda + a verb. 95 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression mogoče + a verb. 96 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression morda + a verb. 97 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression utegniti + the infinitive. 98 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression dati se + another verb. 99 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a verb.

70

Diploma paper

59)

b) “Morda bi se ti splačalo trkati …” (Carroll, 1983, 46)100

c) “Mogoče bi bilo celo pametno trkati …” (Carroll, 1994, 43)101

In the following translation the modality of might is not kept due to the usage of a

non-modal Slovene verb.

1. a) “And she began thinking over other children she knew, who might

do very well as pigs …” (Carroll, 1990, 66)

b) “… in si je priklicala v spomin vse svoje male znance, ki bi bili prav

primerni tudi za pujske …” (Carroll, 1983, 51)

c) “In začela se je spominjati drugih otrok, ki jih je poznala in ki bi bili

tudi dokaj čedni prašički.” (Carroll, 1994, 47)

This table shows an example where the translators use different ways of

translating and do not keep the modality. Again, the ways are denoted in the

footnotes.

1. a) “… she might well say this …” (Carroll, 1990, 12)

b) “… to si je tedaj upravičeno rekla …” (Carroll, 1983, 14)102

c) “… in to je bilo še kako res …” (Carroll, 1994, 15) – this quote has

another meaning in Helena Biffio’s translation103

In the following table, there are the examples where in one case the modality is

kept and in the other one it is not. This and the different ways are described

below the table.

1. a) “So she tucked it away under her arm, that it might not escape again

…” (Carroll, 1990, 96)

100 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression morda + a verb. 101 Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal expression mogoče + a verb. 102 Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal modification. 103 Helena Biffio did not translate the modal verb.

71

Diploma paper

b) “Svojega flaminga je stisnila pod pazduho, da ji ne bi spet ušel …”

(Carroll, 1983, 71)

c) “Vtaknila je flaminga pod pazduho, da ne bi mogel pobegniti …”

(Carroll, 1994, 64)

2. a) “He might bite …” (Carroll, 1990, 101)

b) “ Prav lahko, da grize …” (Carroll, 1983, 74)

c) “Zelo oster kljun ima …” (Carroll, 1994, 68) – this quote has a

different meaning in Helena Biffio’s translation

3. a) “Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might

appear to others …” (Carroll, 1990, 103)

b) “Nikoli si ne domišljaj, da nisi drugačna, kakor pa bi se moglo zdeti

drugim …” (Carroll, 1983, 75)

c) “Nikoli si ne predstavljaj, da nisi drugačna od tistega, kar se drugim

zdi …” (Carroll, 1994, 68)


modal Slovene verb. Helena Biffio uses the Slovene modal verb moči and

keeps the modality.

In example 2, Gitica Jakopin uses the Slovene modal expression lahko + a

verb and keeps the modality. Helena Biffio did not translate the modal

verb might so the modality is not kept.

In example 3, Gitica Jakopin keeps the modality of the English verb

through the usage of the Slovene modal verb moči. Helena Biffio uses a

non-modal Slovene verb and does not keep the modality.

This is an example where in one case the modality is not kept and in the other it

is different from the English one. Below the table the ways the translators

translated might in this case are also discussed.

1. a) “… and Alice’s first idea was that this might belong to one of the

doors of the hall …” (Carroll, 1990, 6)

b) “Alica je najprej pomislila na to, da mora biti to ključ za katera od

vrat …” (Carroll, 1983, 9) - this quote has another meaning in

72

Diploma paper

Gitica Jakopin’s translation

c) “Alica je takoj pomislila, da gotovo odpira eno izmed ključavnic v

dvorani.” (Carroll, 1994, 11) - this quote has another meaning in

Helena Biffio’s translation

Gitica Jakopin does not keep the modality as she did not translate the modal

verb. Helena Biffio also did not translate the verb but her sentence now has a

different modality. Instead of possibility, the sentence now expresses logical

necessity.

5.2.4.3 Might expressing ability

The following example shows one case where the modality is different from the

original and one where there is no modality kept.

1. a) “So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she

might, what a wonderful dream it had been.” (Carroll, 1990, 148)

b) “In Alica je vstala in stekla čez travnik; medtem ko je tekla, kar so jo

nesle noge, je pa še vedno mislila, kako čudovite sanje so to bile.”

(Carroll, 1983, 105)

c) “In Alica je vstala in stekla proti hiši, zraven pa si je mislila (in imela

je še kako prav), kako čudovite sanje so to bile.” (Carroll, 1994, 93) –

the part „as well as she might“ is not translated in Helena Biffio’s

translation

Gitica Jakopin translated this English verb by using the Slovene modal

modification. The modality of the sentence in Slovene is changed. Instead of

expressing merely ability, the sentence now expresses ability or possibility.

Helena Biffio did not translate might in this case and thus the modality is not

kept.

73

Diploma paper

5.2.4.4 Might as a set phrase

In the following example, neither of the translated sentences expresses any

modal meanings. Both translators use the Slovene modal modification to

translate might in this case.

1. a) “I might as well be at school at once.” (Carroll, 1990, 121)

b) “Saj se mi skoraj zdi, kakor da sem spet v šoli!” (Carroll, 1983, 87)

c) “Saj je skoraj tako, ko bi bila spet v šoli.” (Carroll, 1994, 79)

5.2.4.5 Analysis of ways of translating might

There are 26 sentences with the modal verb might and its negation in Alice’s

Adventures in Wonderland. Gitica Jakopin translated it only once with smeti and

moči, twelve times with lahko + a verb, four times with morda + a verb, and once

with mogoče + a verb and dati se + another verb. She used a non-modal verb in

two cases and three times a modal modification. There is only one case where she

did not translate might.

Graph 7: translation of might by Gitica Jakopin

1 1

12

4

1 12

31

-4

1

6

11

16

21

26

smeti

moč

i

lahko

mor

da

mog

oče

dati s

e

non-

mod

al ver

b

mod

al mod

ificatio

n

no tr

ansla

tion

74

Diploma paper

This is the summary in view of the four groups. The Slovene modal verb was used

two times (7,7%) to translate might by Gitica Jakopin. In 21 cases, she used modal

expressions and modifications, which makes 80,8%. Again, in two cases, she used

a non-modal verb (7,7%) and she did not translate might in one sentence (3,8%).

This shows that she mostly used modal expressions and modifications, followed

by a relatively small percentage of Slovene modal verb and non-modal verb, and a

quite negligible percentage of cases with no translation.

The modality in the translation of Gitica Jakopin was kept in 20 sentences (that

makes 77%). In 5 cases, the Slovene translation does not express modality

(19,2%) in once the modal meaning differs from the original (3,8%). The original

in this case expresses ability, the translation can be understood as expressing

ability or possibility104.

Helena Biffio also translated might with smeti once, twelve times with lahko + a

verb, four times with mogoče + a verb, one time with utegniti + the infinitive, two

times with a non-modal verb and once with a modal modification. She did not

translate might in four sentences.

104 “So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she might, what a

wonderful dream it had been.” (Carroll, 1990, 148) vs. “In Alica je vstala in stekla čez travnik; medtem ko je tekla, kar so jo nesle noge, je pa še vedno mislila, kako čudovite sanje so to bile.” (Carroll, 1983, 105)

75

Diploma paper

Graph 8: translation of might by Helena Biffio

1 1

12

4

12

1

4

-4

1

6

11

16

21

26

smeti

moč

i

lahko

mog

oče

uteg

niti

non-

mod

al ver

b

mod

al mod

ificatio

n

no tr

ansla

tion

As for the four groups of modal verb translation, Helena Biffio also used a

Slovene modal verb 2 times (7,7%). In 18 cases, she used modal expressions and

modifications, which makes 69,2%. A non-modal verb was used in 2 sentences

(7,7%), and she did not translate might in 4 cases (15,4%). To summarize, she

used modal expressions and modifications in the majority of cases, surprisingly

followed by no translation. Slovene modal verb and non-modal verb were used in

a small percentage of cases.

In the translation of Helena Biffio, the modality in the translated sentences was

kept in 19 cases (73,1%), in six cases there is no modal meaning present (that

makes 23,1%), and only once the modal meaning is different in the translation

than it is in the original (3,8%). The original in this case expresses possibility,

whereas the translation expresses logical necessity105.

105 “… and Alice’s first idea was that this might belong to one of the doors of the hall

…” (Carroll, 1990, 6) vs. “Alica je takoj pomislila, da gotovo odpira eno izmed ključavnic v dvorani.” (Carroll, 1994, 11)

76

Diploma paper

5.2.5 Summary of the analysis

I have analysed the ways in which Gitica Jakopin and Helena Biffio translated

can, could, may, and might in the previous chapters. In this chapter, I summarize

the previous analysis, also according to the four major groups.

Due to the fact that we set two hypothesis in the beginning, this summary also

includes the analysis of whether or not the translated sentences kept the modality

of the original English sentences or not.

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, there are 60 sentences, containing the

modal verb can, 78 sentences with could, 12 sentences with may, and 26

sentences containing might. Altogether, there are 176 sentences with these four

modal verbs.

Gitica Jakopin used a Slovene modal verb in 51 sentences, which makes 29%. In

73 cases, she used modal expressions and modifications (41,5%), in 47 cases she

used a regular Slovene verb (26,7%), and she did not translate English modal

verbs into Slovene in 5 sentences (2,8%).

There are 46 sentences, in which Helena Biffio used a Slovene modal verb to

translate English modal verbs. This makes 26,1%. In 87 cases (49,4%), she used

modal expressions and modifications. In 30 sentences, she used a non-modal verb,

which makes 17,1%, and she did not translate the modal verbs in 13 cases (7,4%).

To sum up, both translators used mainly modal expressions and modifications to

translate can, could, may, and might. This is followed by a Slovene modal verb

and a non-modal verb, with slightly higher percentage for modal verb in Gitica

Jakopin’s translation. The percentage of not translated cases is quite low in both

cases, however higher in the case of Helena Biffio.

Regarding the preserved modality in the translated sentences, Gitica Jakopin‘s

translations kept the modal meaning in 102 sentences, which makes 58%. In 62

77

Diploma paper

cases there is no modal meaning present (35,2%). Six translated sentences (3,4%)

express a different modal meaning, and 6 sentences (3,4%) express only one

modality where the original expressed both (ability or possibility). The latter two

possibilities might be put into one category, but there is more clarity if they are

presented separately.

Helena Biffio, on the other hand, kept the modality of the English verb in the

Slovene sentences in 119 cases (67,6%). In 45 sentences one cannot find a modal

meaning present, which makes 25,6%. Again, there are two categories of different

modal meaning. First, the completely different modal meaning is expressed in 5

sentences (2,8%), and only one modal meaning where the original expressed two

is found in 7 cases (4%).

Again, to sum up, regardless of the way the translators translated the English

verbs, the modality was kept in the majority of cases, with a slightly higher

percentage in Helena Biffio’s translation. However, there is a considerable

percentage of sentences that do not express modal meaning. All this is followed

by the cases in which the translated sentences expressed a different modal

meaning.

78

Diploma paper

6 CONCLUSION

This diploma paper shows many possibilities of translating English modal verbs

into Slovene in theory and then focuses on translation of modal verbs can, could,

may and might in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. The

translations into Slovene were done by Gitica Jakopin and Helena Biffio.

There were two hypotheses in the beginning, one being that in the majority of

cases the translators would use the equivalent Slovene modal verb to translate the

English modal verbs. This hypothesis was refuted. Although being the second

most frequent way of translating, the majority of sentences with these modal verbs

was translated by modal expressions and modal modifications.

The second hypothesis was that regardless of the way of translating, the modality

of the English verb would be kept in the Slovene translation. This hypothesis is

confirmed. The majority of the translated sentences express the same modality as

the original sentence in English.

To conclude, I wanted to point out that translating is a very difficult task. One

needs to know one’s own language perfectly as well as having a great knowledge

of the foreign language to be able to do the translation. As there are always

different possibilities of translating a word or a sentence, one needs to decide

which possibility is the best. This is why translations differ from each other.

Although in the case of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland we had to refute the

first hypothesis, it is my humble opinion that both translations were done very

well as both of them kept the modality of the original in most of the cases which I

belive to be more important than the actual way of translation.

79

Diploma paper

BIBLIOGRAPHY PRIMARY LITERATURE Biber, Douglas [et al] (1999). Longman grammar of spoken and written English. Pearson Education Limited: Essex. Blaganje, Dana in Konte, Ivan (1998). Modern English grammar. DZS: Ljubljana. Carroll, Lewis (1983). Alica v čudežni deželi. Mladinska knjiga: Ljubljana Carroll, Lewis (1990). Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. Tiger books international: London Carroll, Lewis (1994). Aličine prigode v čudežni deželi. Založba Devin: Trst Toporišič, Jože (2000). Slovenska slovnica. Založba obzorja: Maribor SECONDARY LITERATURE Hornby, A.S. (1974). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. Oxford University Press: Oxford Slovar slovenskega knjižnega jezika (1997). DZS: Ljubljana

80

Diploma paper

81

SUPPLEMENT A TABLE OF GRAPHS

Graph 1…………………………………………………………………………...34

Graph 2…………………………………………………………………………...35

Graph 3…………………………………………………………………………...58

Graph 4…………………………………………………………………………...60

Graph 5…………………………………………………………………………...65

Graph 6…………………………………………………………………………...66

Graph 7………………………………………………………………………..….74

Graph 8…………………………………………………………………………...76

Documents

DIPLOMSKO DELO - core.ac.uk · Iskreno se zahvaljujem svoji mentorici, doc. dr. Klementini Jurančič-Petek, za ves njen trud, svetovanje, pomoč in potrpljenje pri izdelavi tega