Cross-cultural childhood: Translation and the sanitization of stories in the song of Mio Cid

Abstract

Within the realm of translation, scholars have noted that the themes of violence, sex, and bodily functions are often changed depending on time, place, and audience. For this project, I examined this phenomenon within the case study of The Song of Mío Cid. This translation helps to identify the shifts that have occurred in these areas between the original Spanish ballad and the 21st century Spanish children’s edition, and what further modifications are required to make the story acceptable for an audience of 21st century children in North America. The changes that were necessary, in terms of grammar and style choices as well as the sanitization of “taboo” topics, were consistent with the findings of the initial research.