Abstract

Sexuality and language are two fundamental characteristics of human culture, and the relationship between both shows the role language has in expressing such inexpressible feelings as lust, desire and passion. Humans have long been preoccupied with the mysteries of sex, and language has been the vehicle through which to express such curiosities. Erotic literature has become a genre with such distinct characteristics that translating such texts requires a methodology and approach different from traditional translation tactics. By discussing aspects of both French and English language which influence erotic writing as well as applying existing theories of translation to a translator’s approach, this thesis aims to ultimately show how the role of the reader as a consumer and the translator as a creative agent influences both the translation and reception of an erotic text. I draw comparisons between Anaïs Nin’s erotic short stories, entitled Delta of Venus, and Emma Becker’s erotic novel, Mr., and analyze their subsequent translations to illustrate the absolute importance of interpretation and sensation over linguistic loyalty when approaching an erotic translation.