Presentation focuses on the problems encountered while translating slangs, four words and swear words from source language to target language. It focuses on the translation from Marathi to English. This presentation is not a mere creation of the author, as it is based on various sources and purely designed to assist students in their examination. Quality of this presentation cannot be compared with original text and genuine resources. Students are advised to prefer the authentic texts and resources for better results.

1. Translating Slangs, Four Words
and Swear Words:
Problems in Translation of Bhau Padhye’s Novels
Dr. Mahendra Madhav Kamat
Associate Professor and Head,
Department of English,
S.H. Kelkar College, Devgad, Sindhudurg
(MS)

2. Slang, four words and swear word are
the most controversial concepts in
language moreover these concepts are
also called “the other language”.
J. Green describes slang “a ‘counter
language’, the desire of human beings,
when faced by a standard version, of
whatever might be, to come up with
something different parallel, perhaps
oppositional.

3.  Swear words, four words, slangs, dirty words,
vulgarisms, profanities, taboo words... there seem to
be almost as many names for these “bad” words as
there are the actual words.
 It shows how important their role is in human
language, behaviour and society, and therefore also
in fiction, be it literature.
 wide range of semantic as well as pragmatic
categories they occupy.

4. Category of Swear Words:
 Words revolves around sex, sexual acts and body
parts as well as related bodily functions, including
menstruation.
 Words reference to sexual organs, genitalia as well as
secondary sex characteristics such as breasts; and
the bodily fluids produced by them.
 Words revolving around excrements or more
generally bodily waste products and the body parts
that produce them.

5. Slangs, four words and swear words have
strong cultural roots and hence while
translating it becomes very difficult to find
parallel words in the Target Language.
They also imbibe strong symbolism which
also reflect cultural and social history of
some region.
Also creation of these types of words is a
continuous process that also reflects
transition in any culture and society.

6. Source Language Target Language
mUgs mrjyh Eg.kts vkeph
daiuh oqyu iWaV p<owu
oklwukD;koj Hkadlfxjh
djk;yk ter gksrh- nqljk
/kankp uOgrk-(Vasunaka,
p.6)
As the sun sets,
our company were
wearing woollen
trousers and
joining Vasunaka
for twaddle.
P;k;yk e/kqckyslkj[kh
i.krh idM.ks “kD; vkgs
dk (Vasunaka, p.6)
Can we catch a
chickabee like
Madhubala?

7. Source Language Target Language
H;kapksn vlyh vDdjek”kh vkSykn
ikgÓyh dh vkeP;k MksD;kr v”kh
l.kd ;srs ,[kk+++|kyk nksu ykQk Bsowu
|kO;kr v”kh Hkkouk gksrs- uk;rj
dk; pkaxys ykbZu”khj jgk;pa lksMwu
tj gh eqya okbZV yk;uhyk xsyh] rj
R;kph ftEesnkjh dks.kkoj ;sbZy
lkgftdp iCyhd vkeP;kdMsp cksV
nk[ko.kkj! m|k gs vkbZckii.k
vkEgkyk Eg.k.kkj rqeps /kans ikgwu gh
iksja eokyh >kyhr! Eg.kts Cyse
vkeP;kojp ;s.kkj !”
Sister fucker…. I get
boiled when I see such
bastards. I wish to slap
them off. If they got
spoilt, who is responsible?
Surely, the blame will
come to us. People will
blame us that because of
these children have
become hooligans and
their parents too will hold
us responsible for this.

8. Source Language Target Language
vkrk rj dk;] ugk.k vkY;k iklwu
Hkkuwpk nk.kk l.kl.khr Hk# ykxyk
gksrk ! vkf.k pkyrkauk frpk iqëk
dk; mMr gkrk ! ek÷;k rksaMkyk
ik.kh lqVys gksrs- Hkkuw ek÷;k”kh vkrk
HkhM /k#up ikgk;ph( uqlrh glwu
vkiyk jLrk lq/kjk;ph- i.k ek>s
Mksds isVk;ps ! eh Eg.kr vls] ß
D;k pht gS ! i.krh gS i.krh !Þ &
rs ,sdwu ekew eyk /khj nsr vls]
ßrqe pkgrk gS mldks& lpeqp rks
fQj er Mjks ! ge gS !Þ
(Vasunaka, p.8)
Since came sally to her,
Bhanu’s cunt was gaining
flesh now a days. How her
ass used to get tossed while
walking. My mouth waters.
Now a days she used to see
me with diffidence. Used to
change her path with a
smile. My head burnt. I used
to say what a flesh ! Simply a
betty ! Listening this Mamu
used to raise my spirit, “ Do
you want her? Really? Then,
do not worry. I am with you

9. Source Language Target Language
eqD;k dkdklkj[;k uanhcSyklkBh
vlyh xGljh cka/k.îkis{kk ;k
[kqclqjr ckbZauh vkiY;k thokoj
/kank dsyk vlrk rjh vki.k
fry ekuya vlra-
(Rada, p. 74)
I would have
appreciated her
even if she had
traded her beauty
than to tie this chain
in the neck for
scruffy uncle,
Mukya.

10. ➢Finding parallel words for cultural symbols in
target language is very difficult Ex. Mangalsutra
or Galsari
➢Some cultural slangs expressions are common and
can be used with maximum similarity, Ex. Bastard
➢ Translator should coin some new words while
translating to continue the effect of the original
source language. Ex. Sister Fucker
➢Some similar expressions can be used to continue
effect though the words are not similar in meaning.
Ex. Chickabee
➢Some times the words from the source language
should be used as it is Ex. Vasunaka

11. References:
− Green Jonathan. Green’s Dictionary of Slangs.
Chambers Harrap Publishers, (Online) 2011.
− Padhye Bhau. Vasunaka. Mumbai: Popular
Prakashan, 1965.
− Padhye Bhau. Rada. Mumbai: Mumbai: Forward
Publication, 1975.
− Allan, Keith, and Kate Burridge. Forbidden Words:
Taboo and the Censoring of Language.
Cambridge/New York: CUP, 2006. PDF File.