Translation is intriguing. I wonder if, on different days and under different moods, if a translation might be affected (either slightly or radically.) As you well know, poetry is a game of sound, meaning(s), rhythm, context, and EMOTION.
Do you think a happier day creates a happier translation? Is it a different mental process than composing the original poem?
Jorge Borges, who wrote in Spanish, was also fluent in English (he was born in Argentina, but his grandmother was British), but he always chose to have someone ELSE translate his work from Spanish to English. Does this make sense to you? He claimed that he was comfortable speaking English but not confident enough to WRITE it.
Fascinating. I find translation in general to be interesting, but POETRY! That's an even trickier task!
(Welcome to HIVE! Not everyone here blathers as much as I do. Sorry!)
Hi, sorry for only responding now! That is something I have never thought of (difference in translations on different days). I think it will definitely change depending on days. I think if a poem is happy and you try to translate it on a sad say, there might be a big difference when done the other way round.
That is very interesting (the Author who did not translate his own work). I know there is a South African author (Andre P. Brink) who wrote in Afrikaans, but while writing in Afrikaans, he wrote the English version of the book. So, I think it is up to the author?
I appreciate your blathering! Thanks so much. I hope to produce some interesting work here via translating my poetry and essays! Hope to hear from you.