The translation of the question tag ‘no?’ by using different expressions raises concerns and is discussed in detail. However, it is worth noting that certain expressions in English are translated. Respecting the culture represented by the source text, Fortier Masek does not attempt to translate Sinhala words into French. Récifs, similar to the original, does not offer footnotes or a glossary to explain Sinhala terms.

The object of this study will be whether the translator preserves the Sinhala terms and/or the English terms typical of Sri Lankan people in the French translation. Sinhala terms are often used by the author in the original: exclamations, terms of address, swear words, food items, religious terms, species of flora and fauna and also terms such as ‘men’ and 'no?' the popular question tag used in Sri Lankan English. The influence of the Sri Lankan culture, Buddhism and the Sinhala language is noteworthy. The text chosen for the present study Récifs is set in Sri Lanka. Product-oriented Descriptive Translation Studies are an important area of academic research in Translation Studies. The present paper examines the French translation and the strategies used by the translator.

Reef was translated into French as Récifs (Serpent à plumes, Paris) by Marie-Odile Fortier Masek in 1995. The novel was later translated into many languages including French. In 1994, British Sri Lankan writer Romesh Gunesekara's debut novel Reef, was short listed for the Booker Prize.

Reef romesh