När replikerna räknas: Att översätta dramatik med ordbegränsningar

Abstract

This essay reflects on the translation process undertaken in producing the Swedish version of Sam Steiner’s play Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons, a drama set in a world where individuals are restricted to speaking only 140 words per day. It discusses key considerations in translating drama – performability, spoken language, and cultural context – and explores how these factors specifically shaped the translation work. Particular attention is given to the linguistic challenges arising from the play’s premise, due to which the characters develop strategies for linguistic economy, for example by omitting or contracting words. The essay examines how these features operate in the original text, and the translation strategies used to preserve their function, meaning and connotations in Swedish. It also examines how the text evolved during rehearsals, reflects on the performance, and discusses how the collaboration between the translator, actors, and director influenced both the translation and the stage adaptation.