Abstract

• In this paper a study of explicitating and implicitating shifts was made in the translation of the short story “Not Till After Independence” written by Thein Pe Myint. The major aim of the study is to know why and how the translator Patricia M. Milne used explicitation and implicitation in her translation of the short story. Explicitating and Implicitating shifts were identified at the phrase level. They were identified according to formal-semantic criteria. Additions, omissions and substitutions of nouns, pronouns, proper names and adjectives were formally identified and distinguished. Shifts were functionally categorized into interactional, cohesive and denotational shifts according to Victor Becher (2011). In the data analyzed, instances of explicitation were found to be more frequent than instances of implicitation. The study identified a number of factors that caused explicitation. These factors made it difficult to perceive explicitation instances as having a universal tendency. Professional translators as well as budding translators should consider that explicitation strategy should be applied both meaningfully and logically with a clear purpose.