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When translating a stylistic written language there are lot to consider, in particular metaphors are said to be one of the most specific challenges. Herta Müllers writing is known to be filled with rhetorical devices. As metaphors belong to one of the major characteristics in Müllers texts, the novel Atemschaukel was studied to find out whether the readers comprehension and experience would differ when reading the text in German language or reading it translated into Swedish.The analysis was based on which strategies was used for the translation and if, and in that case how, it effects the reception of the text by the readers. It showed that most parables and metaphors were directly translated and that the difference in understanding and reading experience mainly didn’t differ much from reading the original text.

abstract: After being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2009, Herta Müller attained great prominence around the world. Commentators, especially in English-speaking countries, seemed shocked by the decision. One of the primary concerns was that Müller was relatively unknown. This thesis seeks to address this and other concerns by looking at reviews of her works in German- and English-language publications both before and after the Nobel Prize was awarded. This thesis analyses chronologically the reception of her books beginning with Niederungen in 1982 and ending with the reception of her novel Atemschaukel in 2009. It compares the reception of the original German text to that of the English translation; therefore only works which have been translated and published in English are discussed. The study also shows that while Müller's work did not top the bestseller charts, at least before the Nobel Prize, she was hardly the completely unknown author that some in the English-language media believed. This thesis seeks to present trends in the reception as well as provide a basis for further study of the reception of Herta Müller. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. German 2011