Folktales and language. Why the Wasp Has a Tiny Waist

…did you know that as of today, there are endangered 3045 languages?

To me, this number was unfathomable. Let’s make it more tangible by looking at this graphic:

Language:

In the translation provided, some words are left in the original Likpakpaln, a practice known as foreignized translation.

In that way, we learn about the ulangben (wasp), the kiloŋ (a west African drum-like instrument) and the kinachuŋ (a communal dance of the Konkomba people) or koin koin koin (the storyteller’s imitation of the sound the wasp is making with the drums). In the glossary, you will find a much more detailed description of these terms. What I want to show here is that by keeping certain terms in the source language, a great amount of cultural meaning can be conveyed that otherwise would have been lost in translation. In highlighting single words, the marginalized language is made visible, while still sustaining readability for the english reader.

Culture:

Why did the wasp have to carry all the instruments on its own?

To answer this question, we have to understand the importance of community in Konkomba culture. The text therefore introduces the word nkpaawiin. It describes a communal activity in which, if one member of the community struggles with his load of work, the community comes to help. But it is not only work, but also an instance of communal interactions and possibility to tell stories. Members of the community are expected to engage in nkpaawiin in order to receive help in return.

The wasp however did not participate, making himself a social exile. As he was not there for his community, his community does not show up for him once he needs them to perform the communal dance for his in-laws funeral. The wasp ends up on his own, trying to proceed with the funeral rites alone. From this, we can also learn another thing. In this folktale, we find an instance in which translation has the potential to interfere in conveying cultural meaning. As you might have noticed, the wasp in the story is male. This is because in the Konkomba culture only males attend the funerals of in-laws. In the English version of the tale this translates well, but might pose a difficulty in a translation into German where the wasp is described using the female article.