Like walking on cobblestones: An analysis of translator’s prefaces in Japanese intralingual translations

Abstract

This paper explores epitexts and peritexts (prefaces) written by translators to intralingual translations. It carries out a preliminary study on several translator’s prefaces (here called ‘translatorial prefaces’) in the Japanese context to determine the function that said prefaces have within modern Japanese translations (or gendaigoyaku) of Japanese classics, to examine translation methodologies and translation issues found in the texts, and to ascertain the level of self-awareness that intralingual translators had with their role as ‘translators’. Ultimately, this study aims to contribute new approaches to the ongoing discussion regarding intralingual translation and the study of paratexts, both in the Japanese context and in a broader sense.