book on translation

[Adam]

Morning,

I’m trying to thaw my brain while at the same time supplement my crummy Deutsch-as-a-second-language course with some dilettante poetry translation.

I don’t know what I am doing, and because my German is horrendous and my skill with formal verse limited to say the least, I find the whole process extremely difficult. However, it’s fascinating—seeing the poem open up, or not, and why and how and what it looks like at the end is amazing. So far my violent transmogrifications have been limited to a few pieces by Heinrich Heine because his vocabulary and grammar are relatively simple, but the only practical guide I have is an entry on “Translation” in an old edition of the Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Prosody (not to mention some of Robert Bly’s Rilke massacres to serve as null models). I’m wondering if anyone knows of a better, more interesting book on poetry translation? It would have to be for sale on the web, as I have limited library resources. Also, a German focus would be nice.

My ignorance covers the entire spectrum, ranging from practical questions like how to stretch two lines composed of four four-syllable German monster words into two lines of English, and not add anything that wasn’t originally there, to theoretical questions about loyalty to the original thematic intentions of the author, as well as the various intentions of translators themselves (e.g. Pound’s use of translation to bring new idioms and techniques into English).

I’d appreciate any tips,

Adam

[Mandolin]

Although he turns out to be a horrid translator himself, Douglas Hofstatder's Le Ton Beau de Marot is a wonderful exploration of just the issues you mention.

[Adam]

Originally posted by Mandolin:
Although he turns out to be a horrid translator himself, Douglas Hofstatder's Le Ton Beau de Marot is a wonderful exploration of just the issues you mention.


Thanks Mandolin. I appreciate the tip and will check it out.


Adam

[jsdb]

Adam,
you could also check out William Gass's book on Rilke, very wonderful, called Reading Rilke (I think). Besides his translations, he looks at the ways in which many other translators approached Rilke's poetry, and the art itself.
Jacob

[Mandolin]

Thanks for mentioning the Gass book. I found an online review <A HREF="http://www.n2hos.com/acm/rev012001.html">here</A>. The review is generally very positive and also treats some of these issues. Think I'm going to order the book.

[This message has been edited by Mandolin (edited 02-07-2001).]

[Adam]

Originally posted by jsdb:
Adam,
you could also check out William Gass's book on Rilke, very wonderful, called Reading Rilke (I think). Besides his translations, he looks at the ways in which many other translators approached Rilke's poetry, and the art itself.
Jacob

Hi Jacob,

I checked out Mandolin's link to the review of the Gass book, and it seems to be exactly what I am looking for. Thanks a lot.

Adam


[This message has been edited by Adam (edited 02-07-2001).]