Censura e letteratura per l'infanzia: traduzione, ritraduzione, riscrittura

Translation is always an issue of ideology and power and so is translating for children. In authoritarian societies, not only the works as such but also their translations go through the censorial processes. This article depicts the ambience and censorship of children’s literature in two contexts, the Northern and Eastern Europe after the II World War. Our starting point is the child image(s) of the authors, illustrators and publishers, as books are always–consciously or not–translated for certain kinds of audiences. Moreover, we discuss the societal background visible in children’s literature, its translations and retranslations. At the very core of translation and censorship, there is transcreation with issues such as a brand and a brand’s voice. We discuss to what extent a story for children might be seen as a conveyor of ideas and ideologies with the intent of educating the child about how to be a good citizen. This kind of branding may be seen as an operative tool, a way of approaching texts, for instance with a persuasive intention. All in all, we look at the topic from the angle of ethics and moral issues. The censored contents are often considered as harming or frightening the child. Yet, the aim of censorship is also about editing such contents that could mold the child’s outlook on life into dangerous and improper directions.