Chico Buarque in Italy: an analysis of the translation ff sociocultural aspects in “La Tv”

Abstract

This paper attempts to identify how Sergio Bardotti, Italian lyricist and translator, deals with sociocultural aspects in his Italian translation of the song “A televisão” (1967), composed by the Brazilian singer Chico Buarque de Hollanda. At first, we present an overview of the circumstances surrounding the production and the reception of the album Chico Buarque de Hollanda na Itália (1968), in which “La tv” (1968) was recorded. In doing so, we intend to briefly contextualize the object of study by demonstrating certain pragmatic factors that permeated the translation process and how the Italian public received those translations. With regard to theorical approach, the analysis is based on the hermeneutic model of translation proposed by Lawrence Venuti (2010/2013/2019), who understands translation as an interpretative act according to Peircean semiotics and Derridean poststructuralism. Therefore, focusing on sociocultural traces inscribed on the source text, the aim is to provoke a discussion that not only identifies the translator’s interpretation acting on the text, but also recognizes how those actions can give rise to choices that simplify, acculturate and erase meanings and values from a cultural product.