"Hell on Earth": Translating Trauma in Hiroshima Memoirs

This thesis explores the intricate process of translating trauma within the Japanese-English language pair. It centres its investigation on the nuanced articulation of trauma within Japanese memoirs penned by survivors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and evaluates effective strategies for translating such trauma accounts into English. Employing a practice-based approach, this thesis involves the translation of fifteen firsthand accounts of the event, authored by survivors. These translated narratives serve as practical examples to demonstrate my proposed translation framework in action. This thesis contributes valuable insights into the multifaceted task of faithfully conveying trauma across linguistic and cultural boundaries, and allows for a broader understanding of such a historically significant moment.