Language is the central subject of any discussion about translation. However, there are certain elements involved in the process of translation which go beyond this conventional area. Literary translation is one of the most decisive sub – fields of translation studies which has given rise to theoretical and practical debates among scholars. According to R. Jackson, “literary translation is a translational species in itself, but it differs in many important respects from the kind of translation practiced in a language class” [2, p. 3]. P. Newmark reinforces this where he asserts that “literary translation is the most testing type of translation” [4, p.162].
On the one hand, literary translation involves a good deal of interpretation about intent and effect. On the other hand, the literary translator is often not as much interested in literal transliteration as in finding a corollary mood, tone, voice, sound, response, and so forth. It is especially true about Belarusian poetry, which represents a vivid example of how the human mind can find its expression through the language means into culture and history.
Belarusian poetry is insufficiently presented in the English language and few works are devoted to the peculiarities of Belarusian poetry translation. In this paper the translation of the poems by M. Vasilyok [6] is analysed.
While translating poetry it is inevitable to make some changes. In our translation we are able to transmit Belarusian free word combinations as metaphors in the English language in order to preserve the authentic character of the poems.
| Дзеўбарымаёсэрцавiтае
Вольных птушак нямоўкнучы хор [6, p. 40]. |
In the forest, where I have been welcomed
By a “round-the-clock” songs of birds. |
| Узнялася, як гiмн, песня родная,
Гадаваная ў сэрцы збалелым [6, p. 21]. |
But native anthem has been raised,
From “all to pieces” soul. |
In the first example the adjective “нямоўкнучы” is translated as a metaphor “round-the-clock”, which conveys and emphasizes an unusual and vivid image. According to H. Kenner, “an image is that which presents an intellectual and emotional complex in an instant of time” [3, p. 33]. In this definition, the image is an imposition into a word or word combination the emotional, intellectual and concrete notion. It also should be pointed out, that an image in poetry is not simply visual. So in this case metaphor is used to achieve the effect of association, comparison and resemblance.
Moreover in the first example the meaning is extended. Compare:
round-the-clock – ‘lasting or happening all day and all night’ [5, p.1336];
In the second example the word combination “ўсэрцызбалелым” is transmitted as a metaphor “all to pieces soul” in order to preserve the invisible message of the poet, the uniqueness of the style and to obtain the same effect in the English language as it is in the Belarusian language.
In the following example the use of the emotionally coloured expression changes the mode of thought, adds variation and embellishment to the literary work:
| Да грудзей прытуляючы жыта,
Пяе песню нядолi жняя [6, p. 40]. |
Pours up on the pastures with drear
Woman’s song of unbearable hurt. |
Moreover, the expression “to pour up a song” is expanded in order to preserve the poetic structure. It is important to note that the plan of the poem, as a whole, is the shape and the balance of individual sentence of each line.
In the next three examples phrasal verbs “to shine up”, “to stand by” and “to spin round” are used in order to highlight the aesthetic value of the poem and to preserve the rhythm:
| Каб пасля начэй бясконцых,
Заiрдзела яна сонцам! [6, p. 14] |
Sosheshinesupwiththelight
Evenafterahundredofnights! |
| Ланцугiзатрашчалiсталёвыя,
Прытаiлiся зграiлiхiя [6, p. 21]. |
The steely chains start to stridulate,
And evil hordes stand by. |
| Завiхрыцьшалёнымўзлётам,
Узяцьсонцапазалоту [6, p. 14]. |
All I need is spinning round,
As to see sun’s gilt in clouds. |
According to P. Newmark, “aesthetic value is also dependent on sound. Sound is anything connected with sound cultivation including rhyme, rhythm, etc. a translator cannot ignore any of them although s/he may order them depending on the nature of the poem translated” [4, p. 65].
The following example represents the usage of the phraseological unit “to be born daredevil”, which is used to create a stronger emotive effect on the reader:
| Нам змарнець у няволi не суджана,
Нашы сэрцы палаюць адвагай [6, p. 21]. |
We have no destiny to die,
We were born daredevils. |
The term “phraseological unit” can be defined as “a lexicalised, reproducible bilexemic or polylexemic word group in common use, which has relative syntactic and semantic stability, may be idiomatised, may carry connotations, and may have an emphatic or intensifying function in a text” [1, p. 128].
The usage of this phraseological unit helps to highlight particular notions and to create a more harmonious and fluent effect. Compare:
to be born daredevil – to be a reckless person, who enjoys doing dangerous things;
The following research shows that poetry translation is a type of literary creativeness where the written-work of one language is re-created in another. It assumes that in translating poetry, it is difficult to separate the content of the original text from its form and cast it into a different poetry form in the other language. These facts cause much to be lost in translation. By using the metaphors, phrasal verbs and phraseological units in the English translation of Belarusian poetry rhythm, meaning and authentic character of the poems are preserved.
Literature
1. Gläser, R. The stylistic potential of phraseological units in the light of genre analysis / R. Gläser // Phraseology. Theory, Analysis and Applications / Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2001. – 256 p.
2. Jackson, R. From Translation to Imitation [Electronic resource] / R. Jackson – Mode of access:http://www.utc.edu/~engldept/pm/ontransl.htm. – Date of access: 29.01.2015.
3. Kenner, H. The poetry of Ezra Pound / H. Kenner. – Nebraska : University of Nebraska Press, 1951. – 342 p.
4. Newmark, P. A Textbook of Translation / P. Newmark. – Hertfordshire : Prentice Hall, 1988. – 292 p.
5. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. – 8th. ed. – Oxford; New York : Oxford University Press, 2010. – 1796 p.
6. Васiлёк, М. Вершы / М. Васiлёк / рэдкал.: Р. Барадулiн (гал. рэд.) [i iнш.]. – Мiнск : Мастацкаялiтаратура, 1973. – 176 с. з iл.