Principles of translating allusions

At present, the major books on translation theory (V.Komissarov, A.Fyodorov, V.Karaban) do not consider the problems of translating allusions. However it is a very important aspect because even experienced translators make mistakes if they do not recognize the allusion. In Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” there is a phrase: Here are the angels that you sent for, to deliver you. Both in Ukrainian and in Russian translations the reference was ignored: “Ось ангели, по яких ви мене посилали, що мають вас урятувати”; “И вот в мешке ангелочки, посланные освободить вас”. The allusion is not intertextual, in Shakespeare’s time there were golden coins worth 6-10 shillings depending on the period. Such coins were called angels because Michael the archangel was depicted on them. So one variant of translating this allusion can be: “ось ангели-грошики, за якими ви посилали”.

The translation of explicit allusion is not very difficult because if the source /author of the allusion is well-known the allusion can be rendered by complete translation. However, indirect allusions as references to unknown texts or events cannot be translated so simply. D.I. Yermolovych suggests 3 variants of translating proper nouns (in most cases, allusions). The example is taken from F.Scott Fitzgerald: What I want to know is – does he take me home afterward. I’m not Emily Posted. The name and surname Emily Post are not known to Ukrainian /Russian readers.

She was the author of books on etiquette. That is why 3 variants of translation in the given case and implicit allusions in general can be suggested (D.Yermolovych):

1) transcoding + footnotes: Я не читала Емілі Поуст (Е.Поуст – авторка відомої книги з етикету); 2) transcoding + explanation words in the text: Я не навчалася етикету по книзі Е.Поуст; 3) omission of the name, the use of descriptive translation: Я не навчалася по книжках з етикету.

In general the problem of translating indirect (implicit) allusions is very complicated, as the translator must know history, folklore, literature of the country. Dictionaries of allusions, quotations, reference books can be useful.

Intertextuality

(Illustrations to lecture)

1. God, whom he had searched for in his loneliness, had formed her for his mate as Eve for Adam out of Adam’s rib. (D.Thomas)

2. And he felt so secure, as though this house were the Ark in the flood, and all the rest was drowned. (D.Lawrence)

3. E.T. and the Satisfaction of Human Wants (title) Remember the movie E.T.? Well, suppose E.T. were to return to Earth and hand each person 50 million dollars. What would happen when everyone rushed out to spend this money? (“Economics”).

4. Rhianon blew away the chills of the west wind like a wind from Tahiti. […] She had gone and had returned with food as simply as a maiden out of the Old Testament. She had a strange name out of the Bible. Such a woman had washed the body after it had been taken off the tree. (D.Thomas)

5. Here are the angels that you sent for, to deliver you. (W.Shakespeare, “The Comedy of Errors”).

a) Ось ангели, по яких ви мене посилали, що мають вас урятувати.

б) И вот в мешочке ангелочки, посланные освободить вас.