From Mountain to Metaphor: Purpose, Audience, and Fidelity in Two Intersemiotic Poetic Retellings of ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’
J. Yasodhara Menon, Krishnavanie Shunmugam, and Selvajothi Ramalingam
Abstract:
Introduction: Intersemiotic translation, the transformation of a text from one semiotic system to another, remains under explored in Translation Studies. This study examines how purpose, audience, and fidelity influence two intersemiotic poetic renditions of the Malay folktale ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’, originally documented in prose. Methods: The analysis employed Chatman’s Narrative Theory (1978) combined with Freytag’s Pyramid Model (1863) to identify invariant and variant elements and Braun and Clarke’s (2006) Thematic Analysis to classify themes by comparing each poetic version with the source folktale. Vermeer’s Skopos Theory (1978) was applied to interpret the translators’ stated purposes, gathered through semi-structured interviews. Results: Despite multiple variant features introduced in both renditions, a clear invariant narrative core persists, ensuring functional fidelity to the original. Thematic mapping of interview data revealed that the translators’ creative choices were shaped by personal experiences, their understanding of the role of art, and their aspirations to transmit cultural heritage to future Malaysian generations. Discussion: The findings demonstrate that fidelity in intersemiotic translation is maintained not by literal replication but by preserving a functional core, in line with Skopos Theory. Variations served to adapt the folktale for intended audiences while reflecting the translators’ artistic visions and sociocultural commitments. Conclusion: This study highlights how intersemiotic translation balances fidelity and creativity, with translators’ purposes and audience considerations guiding variance. Such works serve as both artistic reinterpretations and vehicles for cultural continuity and heritage preservation.
Keywords:
Intersemiotic translations, Invariant Core and Variant Features, ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’, Skopos Theory, Malay Folklore, Cultural Heritage.
Citation: J. Yasodhara Menon, Krishnavanie Shunmugam, and Selvajothi Ramalingam (2025). From Mountain to Metaphor: Purpose, Audience, and Fidelity in Two Intersemiotic Poetic Retellings of ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’. Horizon J. Hum. Soc. Sci. Res. 7 (2), 95–106. https://doi.org/10.37534/bp.jhssr.2025.v7.n2.id1320.p95
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