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Research Paper | Language Research | India | Volume 12 Issue 5, May 2023

The Problems of Translating the Nonsense of Sukumar Ray

Riya Dutta

Abstract: This paper explores the challenges of translating the nonsense literature of Sukumar Ray, a prominent Bengali writer, into English. Before delving into the specific issues of translation, the paper first provides an overview of the characteristics and definition of nonsense literature, which is often associated with children's literature but disrupts traditional conventions and logic. Drawing from the works of literary critics such as Sir Edward Strachey and Susan Stewart, the paper examines how nonsense literature achieves a deeper harmony of life by subversively playing with common sense and creating new ways of making sense. The paper then discusses the influence of English nonsense writers such as Lewis Carroll on Sukumar Ray and the development of a hybrid genre of nonsense literature in India. Finally, the paper examines the challenges of translating Sukumar Ray's nonsense literature, which often contains cultural references and wordplay that do not easily transfer to English. Overall, the paper highlights the complexity and nuance of translating nonsense literature and suggests potential strategies for addressing these challenges.

Keywords: Nonsense Literature, Translation, Sukumar Ray, Bengali Nonsense, Language

Edition: Volume 12 Issue 5, May 2023,

Pages: 1047 - 1049