Educazione emotiva, letteratura per l’infanzia e traduzione Il caso della giraffa Gerald/Zelda // Emotional education, children’s literature and translation The case of the giraffe Gerald/Zelda

Abstract

Studies in psychology, particularly since the 1970s, have demonstrated the complexity of the concepts of emotion and emotional intelligence. Nevertheless, the centrality of these aspects in the process of growth and education of each individual is evident. In this light, children’s literature assumes an important role in fostering the socialization of emotions and improving children’s emotional development, especially in the practice of shared (picture)book reading with adults. Such a crucial role cannot be disregarded in the translation process. This contribution aims to present the case of the Italian translation of the picturebook Giraffes can’t dance. After some consideration of the overall translation choices, the analysis will focus on those parts of the text that describe the emotional evolution of the main character Gerald. The story of the giraffe, guided by a love for dance and music through a journey of self-discovery, will be analyzed in source and target languages.