The shaping role of retranslations in Turkey: The case of Robinson Crusoe

This thesis aims to problematize the shaping role of the retranslations of Robinson Crusoe (1719) in the Turkish culture repertoire. To explore this role, a database of the Turkish translations of Robinson Crusoe published between 1864 and 2006 was prepared. Despite its various interpretations, this almost 290 years old literary classic has not received enough criticism in Turkey, considering the large number of different Turkish translations. It was found that the retranslations maintained an ambivalent status in the Turkish literary polysystem, and that the different versions can be categorized into three groups: abridged translations intended for children, abridged translations of non-canonized adult literature, and the unabridged translations produced as literary classics of canonized literature. Three unabridged retranslations (published in 1950, 1968, and 2005, respectively) were analyzed as a case study, and two abridged versions were also included. It was shown that the ambivalent status was a consequence of making retranslations for different purposes, such as contributing to culture-planning activities, making ideological manipulations, and trying to make the retranslations acquire the position of a literary classic. It was also found that the different readings of this novel affect both the paratextual elements and the translated texts. Furthermore, this study revealed that retranslations affected the culture repertoire; and other deserted-island novels were translated and similar indigenous works were produced as new options. This thesis intends to complement the studies of the notion of retranslations, and encourage further researchers to work on this concept.Key words: Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe, Retranslation, Ambivalent status, Paratext, Culture Repertoire, Culture-planning, Option, Polysystem Theory.