Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Translating a Work of Gonzo Journalism

Abstract

Style is an important but at the same time problematic subject in the field of literary translation. In this thesis, the style-related translation problems that present themselves in a specific case study and the potential translation strategies that can be used to solve these will be examined. This examination serves as the basis for the choices I made in my own translation of three passages selected from the case study. The case study I will concentrate on is Hunter S. Thompson’s "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream". Three stylistic features will be discussed in detail in the light of translation: discoursal point of view, slang, and rhythm.