"Montalbano hier!" On translating Camilleri into German

Abstract

This study endeavors to examine the representation of 'Sicilianness' within the German translations of Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano series. With a primary focus on the analysis of dialectal intricacies and Sicilian cultural elements embedded in the original texts, the overarching aim is to assess the fidelity with which these linguistic and cultural subtleties are rendered within the framework of the German language. Drawing upon a curated corpus of translated works, the study delves into the translational strategies employed by translators to capture both the distinctive narrative voice of Camilleri and the idiosyncratic traits of his characters. Ultimately, this analysis seeks to furnish a nuanced critique of the translations' efficacy in preserving the cultural and linguistic integrity of Camilleri's oeuvre within the German-speaking milieu, thereby enriching our understanding of the multifaceted challenges inherent in literary translation.