1. Translation

2. Translation ‘An art both estimable and difficult… not the labour of common minds…’ (Ignacy Krasicki) ‘An art both estimable and difficult… not the labour of common minds…’ (Ignacy Krasicki) We are going to ask you to find a poem in any language, ancient or modern, and create a new translation We are going to ask you to find a poem in any language, ancient or modern, and create a new translation

3. The challenge To translate a piece of poetry – a very difficult thing in itself as the language of poetry is often compressed and / or suggestive As well as seeking an accurate translation the translator has several key decisions to make about the form, structure and language of his new piece

4. THESEUS’ SHIP A philosophical problem: A philosophical problem: Theseus asks a boat-builder to mend his ship. The boat-builder removes some rotten wood and lays it aside. At night a thief comes and steals it. Next morning Theseus sees that the new wood looks better so tells the boat builder to change all the wood. The thief pinches the remaining rotten wood and builds a ship. Which ship is Theseus’s ship? Theseus asks a boat-builder to mend his ship. The boat-builder removes some rotten wood and lays it aside. At night a thief comes and steals it. Next morning Theseus sees that the new wood looks better so tells the boat builder to change all the wood. The thief pinches the remaining rotten wood and builds a ship. Which ship is Theseus’s ship?

5. Translators What’s the difference between a poem that is labelled in the original author’s name and ended with ‘translated by…’ And a poem entitled ‘After…’

6. John Dryden 1631-1700 ‘It would be unreasonable to limit a translator to the narrow compass of the author’s words…’ ‘It would be unreasonable to limit a translator to the narrow compass of the author’s words…’ Vs Vs ‘When a painter copies from the life he has no privilege to alter the features and lineaments’ ‘When a painter copies from the life he has no privilege to alter the features and lineaments’

7. In other words ‘Verbum pro verbo’ v ‘free translation’ ‘Verbum pro verbo’ v ‘free translation’ Metaphrase (literal) v paraphrase Metaphrase (literal) v paraphrase Fidelity v transparency Fidelity v transparency

8. Problems of language Some languages may have considerably different grammars/ syntaxes than the ‘target’ language Some languages may have considerably different grammars/ syntaxes than the ‘target’ language Idiomatic phrasing – the problems of equivalency Idiomatic phrasing – the problems of equivalency Each language, each text presents different problems Each language, each text presents different problems

9. Translating Poetry Further problem – what to do about the poem’s ‘formal aspects’ Further problem – what to do about the poem’s ‘formal aspects’ Prosody – stanza form, rhyme scheme, metrical system – retain/ adapt/ dispense? Prosody – stanza form, rhyme scheme, metrical system – retain/ adapt/ dispense?

10. Possibilities Ancient – Classical Greek, Latin, Anglo- Saxon Modern – one of your curriculum languages, such as French, German, Spanish A language you don’t know (with the help of a literal translator) A language of your family/ heritage

11. Timetable Come back to school in January with a poem, a literal translation, perhaps a first draft Consult with teachers (languages/ English) in first week back) Perfect/ complete & write 200-300 words of commentary Publish, school prize, and enter national competitions

12. Robert Frost ‘Poetry is what gets lost in the translation’ ‘Poetry is what gets lost in the translation’