Translating the neologism

comparative study of the novel Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau and its Bulgarian translation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60056/CCL.2024..181-190

Keywords:

adequacy, equivalence, neologism, Raymond Queneau, translation

Abstract

The study seeks to determine the level of adequacy of the transfer into Bulgarian of the neologisms coined by Raymond Queneau in the novel Zazie in the Metro (1959). To this end, we examine the translation strategies implemented in Зази в метрото (2001). Starting from the assumption that, while translation is possible, the degree of translatability of a neologism is variable, we evaluate the relevance of the equivalents proposed by the translator.

Author Biographies

  • Irena Kristeva, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

    Irena Kristeva is a full professor of Translation Studies and French Literature at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. She holds a PhD in Semiotics from Paris Diderot University and a DSc in Translation Studies from Sofia University. Her research interests focus on Hermeneutics, Poetics, Semiotics and Comparative Literature. Author ID (SCOPUS): 57210142028. Researcher ID (Web of Science): U-8608-2017.

  • Galena Dobreva, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"

    Galena Dobreva holds a master’s degree in Translation studies from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, pursued under the supervision of Irena Kristeva.

References

Queneau, R. (2001). Zazi v metroto (Transl. R. Markova). FAMA.

Delabastita, D. (Ed.). (1997). Traductio: Essays on punning and translation. Routledge.

Fradin, B. (2015). Les mots-valises: Jeux et enjeux. Neologica, (9), 35–60.

Guilbert, L. (1975). La créativité lexicale. Larousse.

Kristeva, I. (2015). La réinvention calvinienne de l’humour dans Les Fleurs bleues de Raymond Queneau. Traduire, (232), 56–66.

Poier-Bernhard, A. (2018). Créativité et potentialités du jeu de mots: Pratiques et concepts oulipiens. In B. Full & M. Lecolle (Dirs.), Jeux de mots et créativité: Langue(s), discours et littérature (pp. 135–162). Walter de Gruyter.

Queneau, R. (1950). Bâtons, chiffres et lettres. Éditions Gallimard.

Queneau, R. (1959). Zazie dans le métro. Éditions Gallimard.

Rey, A. (1976). Néologisme: Un pseudo-concept? Cahiers de lexicologie, 28(1), 3–17.

Salas Subirat, J. (1985). Traduire, (1).

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Published

2025-11-06

Issue

Vol. 10 (2024)

Section

II. Miscellanea

License

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How to Cite

Translating the neologism: comparative study of the novel Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau and its Bulgarian translation. (2025). Colloquia Comparativa Litterarum, 10, 181-190. https://doi.org/10.60056/CCL.2024..181-190