Translation of Poetry and its Difficulties
Ilmira Dadvar
Professor in Comparative literature studies
University of Tehran
idadvar@ut.ac.ir
Abstract
Translation has always been a bridge between two languages, two cultures, and two kinds of literature. For this reason, translation is one of the main pillars of comparative literature for all scholars of the subject. What is especially important in translation is knowing at least two languages other than one's own. In addition, the translator must be aware of grammar and cultural terms, semantic and implicit implications of his or her language, and that of another language; because translation must be essentially a re-creation of the work. Undoubtedly, one of the most challenging translations is the translation of poetry. For many, poetry is untranslatable. Poetry translation always carries the essential question: Was the translated poem trustworthy? Keep the same rythm? Did it equate the same concepts correctly or not? To this end, in this article, the translation of a lyric by Hafez into French by two translators, Charles-Henri de Fouchécour and Vincent-Mansour Monteil, will be studied and analyzed to determine whether the translations have been responsive to the comprehension of the specific French audience or not? Moreover, to what extent can the audience correctly understand the meaning of Hafez's sonnet? Expert opinions will pave the way for this study.
Keywords: Translation, Comparative Literature, Hafez, Sonnet (Ghazal), Charles-Henri de Fouchécour, Vincent-Mansour Monteil |
