Grammaticality and Acceptability In Translation: A Case Study of The Song, “French Kiss” By Alpha Diallo

Abstract

Noam Chomsky makes a distinction between grammaticality and acceptability in translation. A sentence may be grammatically correct (competence) but it may not be acceptable (performance) if it runs counter to common sense or extra- linguistic reality. This paper, however, treats the level of alignment of the song, “French kiss” by Alpha Dialloto competence and performance. To carry out this task, linguistic theory of translation was used. The conclusion shows that thesong, “French kiss”, based on paraphrasing, imitation and adaptation is grammatically incompetent but goes in line with common sense and extra – linguistic reality, thereby gains acceptability.