SEELANGS Digest - 19-20 May 2010 (#2010-185)

[David Powelstock]

Although loathe to extend this thread any further than necessary, I believe
this kerfuffle can be traced to a simple misunderstanding of Olga's original
message. Here's what Olga wrote: 

"Everyone familiar with your work, Robert, knows what an ear you have as a
poet--not merely as a translator--or rather, what your brilliant
translations owe to your poetic ear. But not everyone is aware of your
greatness, who works with the originals without resorting to translations or
studying translators' considerations."

It took me a moment to realize that the antecedent of the "who" of the last
clause is not Robert, but others, who might not be aware of the quality of
Robert's translation work because they work only with the Russian originals
and never with English translations. I'm quite sure that Olga was not
lauding Robert simply because he translates *from the original* (as opposed
to translating from what, one wonders?). That would indeed be ridiculous.

I hope that clears things up.

Best wishes,
David Powelstock


-----Original Message-----
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list
[mailto:SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu] On Behalf Of STEPHEN PEARL
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 5:06 PM
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] SEELANGS Digest - 19-20 May 2010 (#2010-185)

The point of my comment on Monday, 24th. May  must have got lost in the
wash, or perhaps it was worded too obliquely. 
 
What astounded me was the idea that no particular translator, but any
translator, anywhere or at an any time, or between any two languages, should
be commended - let alone extolled - for simply performing the basic function
of "translation", namely working from, or basing the finshed product on, the
text of the original. It would be like commending a [medical] doctor for
actually taking the trouble to examine the patient before producing a
diagnosis.
 
                   Stephen Pearl

--- On Wed, 5/26/10, SEELANGS automatic digest system <LISTSERV at bama.ua.edu>
wrote:


From: SEELANGS automatic digest system <LISTSERV at bama.ua.edu>
Subject: SEELANGS Digest - 25 May 2010 (#2010-185)
To: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Date: Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 1:00 AM


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