Self-translation or translation: A false dichotomy

Traditional definitions of self-translation claim that a self-translated text is essentially a second original, unlike other forms of translation. Such a perspective also pre-supposes that author's authority directly transfers to self-translated texts, assuming that the author does not function as a translator. In addition to this, current research on self-translation focuses on power dynamics taking place in self-translation, not on target texts. Therefore, the present thesis aims at the present thesis will use Erendiz Atasü's Dağın Öteki Yüzü (1995) and its self-translation The Other Side of the Mountain (2000) as an example case to show that there might be self-translation cases that are incongruent with the assumptions of the aforementioned traditional perspectives. Also, the example case will be studied with a perspective that puts the target text in the center, unlike traditional studies on self-translation. In order to challenge the assumption that there is a direct authority transfer from the source text into the target text in self-translation, Theo Hermans' and Giuliana Schiavi's methodology on translator's voice will be used. Then, a comparative study of the source and target texts will be carried out, where Translation universals will be revealed, demonstrating that the present self-translation shows the typical features of translations carried out by non-authorial translators. By determining the differences between the voices in the texts and detecting translation universals, it will be argued that studying self-translations merely as translations would be more accurate besides putting the author in the position of a translator as cultural agent.