Paper short abstract:

This paper traces distinct features of the numerous Japanese translations based on Thomas Mann’s novel “Tonio Kröger” against the backdrop of Japan’s 20th Century intellectual-academic history. The extensive comparative analysis is facilitated by a digitally augmented criticism via Topic Modeling.

Paper long abstract:

This paper presents results from my PhD project focusing on the comparative digital analysis of several Japanese translations based on the novel "Tonio Kröger" by German Nobel laureate Thomas Mann. Concepts and methods associated with the emerging Digital Humanities are applied in order to redefine prevalent notions of translation as a makeshift, semantically equivalent exchange.

To that effect, Steven Ramsay’s approach of a combined Algorithmic Criticism, i. e. determining text passages suited for further Close Reading via Distant Reading, has been proven to be heuristically adequate. Whilst traditional Close Reading only allows for a narrow scope of analysis, combining it with corpus-driven quantitative Distant Reading can expand the scope of inquiry to a substantial amount of Japanese translations. Because the combined approach includes textual characteristics that are usually neglected during Close Reading, it allows for a stilometric reassessment of literary translations.

Accordingly, a corpus-driven digital analysis further elucidates general strategies of translating Thomas Mann’s literary works into Japanese. Those strategies are considerably influenced by Japan’s intellectual-academic history: Since in 20th Century Japan, Mann’s writings are predominantly read and translated in an academic context, the development of Japan’s academic institutions before and after World War II needs to be considered.

Accordingly, my project aims to exemplify the historic complexity of literary translation in 20th Century Japan. Translating Thomas Mann into Japanese isn’t merely a necessity provided just so that non-native readers can satisfy their interest in foreign literature, but directly tied to changing cultural and educational interests, politics and attitudes towards the West.