Translation and Adaptation of English Song Lyrics into Turkish between 1965 and 1980: Analysis within the Framework of Polysystem Theory and Song Translation Strategies

Abstract

Song translation is a broader term used for the translations and adaptations of foreign song lyrics into target language preserving the rhythm and melody of the original song, which is a newly emerging subject field handled within the framework of translation studies. These practices bring about changes in various aspects of the sociocultural life of the target society, which has also been the case in Turkey. The aim of this study was to explore how the translations and adaptations of the English songs in the period between 1965-80 affected the music system within the sociocultural context and how these were made quantitatively and qualitatively. Selected English songs were analyzed at macro- and micro-level.At the macro-level, the translations and adaptations were conducted within the framework of Polysystem Theory; the introduction of pop music into this music system as a new genre. At the micro-level, analyses are studied in line with Low’s categorization and ‘Pentathlon Principle’.