Unmasking sentiment disguise in cross-cultural literary translation: analyzing Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince and its heartbroken audience

The emotional impact of literature, especially children’s literature, has sparked interest in understanding sentiment across cultures. This study investigates sentiment disguise in readers’ perceptions of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince and Other Tales. Using sentiment analysis and a translation studies framework, it examines how emotions may be altered during translation. Employing the NRC Emotion Lexicon, the study analyzes translated versions and receptions of Wilde’s work to uncover sentiment disguise. Findings reveal that emotions were subtly transformed or disguised, reflecting linguistic and cultural influences. This study highlights the interplay between translation, cultural norms, and emotional expression, emphasizing translation’s role in shaping sentiment and affecting readers’ emotional experiences. It underscores the need for awareness of sentiment disguise in different cultural contexts to enhance the appreciation of literary works across borders.