Homophonic Translation as Humpty-Dumpty’s Choice

Abstract

The article considers mechanisms of sense formation in the course of receptive speech activity and deformation of the source text meaning as a result of intentional receptive distortion in the course of auditory perception. Homophonic translation termed soramimi is discussed as a product of audial perception, as a carnivalized text and as a result of an interpretative strategy of cognitive dissonance alignment. We hereby address the auditory modality from the viewpoint of its inherent potential for misinterpretation, both intentional and unintentional. The perceptional phenomena are viewed through addressee’s strategies of realizing the semantic potential of the target text across several languages.