EZRA POUND AS A REVOLUTIONARY TRANSLATOR: THE CASE OF “THE SEAFARER”

AUTHOR(S) / АУТОР(И): Tamari Iremadze

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DOI: 10.46793/LLD24.055I

ABSTRACT / САЖЕТАК:

The present paper explores Pound’s innovative approach to translation. Pound’s translations were not mere renderings of one language into another. They were creative acts that managed to capture the essence and spirit of the original work. Pound believed that a translation should not only convey the meaning of the text but also its form, sound, and rhythm. To achieve this, he often adapted it to fit the stylistic and linguistic conventions of the target language. This approach, known as “translating with an accent”, allowed Pound to create translations that were not only faithful to the original but also distinct works of art in their own right. Pound’s translations were also revolutionary in their engagement with other disciplines, such as music, art, and anthropology. He drew on these fields to inform his translations, incorporating elements of musicality, visual imagery, and cultural context into his work. Through a close examination of Pound’s translation techniques, this article reveals the depth of his linguistic and cultural insights and underscores his enduring legacy as a translator. This article focuses on Pound’s translation of an Old English/Anglo-Saxon poem – “The Seafarer”. Pound’s rendition of this ancient text exemplifies his method, which involved not only translating the words but also capturing the spirit and form of the original works.

KEYWORDS / КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ:

translation, rhythm, imagery, original, innovative

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