Field of Research: Translation Studies
Name of author) (s): Thawabteh, Mohammad Ahmad, Abdoo, Mohammad and Qafesha, Razan
Title of published work: “The Labyrinth of Translating Poetry: The Case of the Translator’s Self in Darwīshʼs ʻIn the Presence of Absence”
Name of Journal: Logos et Littera: Journal of Interdisciplinary Approaches to Text
Year: 2016
Volume: 3(1)
Pages: 62-76
Publisher: University of Montenegro, Montenegro
Abstract:
The pervasiveness of poetry in most cultures is crystal-clear. Connoisseurs of poetry in the Arab World, for instance usually enjoy a higher status in society. The paramount importance of poetry in cultures necessitates meticulous attention to the transference from one language into another. Many translation theorists and practitioners take cognisance of the labyrinth of translating poetry. The present article aims to touch on the dilemma of the translation of the ʻselfʼ in Sinan Antoon’s translation of Maḥmūd Darwīsh’s masterpiece (2011) “In the Presence of Absence”. A potpourri of examples is analysed demonstrating the subdued presence of the translator’s self and the impact this exerts on the translation of some allusions, and the determination of the meaning of specific ambiguous signifiers (i.e. words, phrases and sentences). The findings show that Antoon’s translation is a rip-off of the apex of Darwīsh’s creativity.
Keywords:
ʻSelfʼ translation; Darwīsh; Antoon; literary translation; allusion.
Contact author (s):
Name: Mohammad Ahmad Thawabteh, PhD.
Address: Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Al-Quds University.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
