94 CONNOTATIVE MEANING AND TRANSLATION ISSUES

Translators must obviously be able to recognize affective meanings in the ST. But they must also be careful not to introduce unwanted ones into the TT. For example, a customer at the baker's asks for some rolls: `Mi dia quattro panini.' This might sound rude if translated literally as `Give me four rolls', although the ST does not have that affective meaning at all. A safer TT would cushion what sounds to the English-speaker's ear like the brusqueness of the Italian: `(I'd like) four rolls, please.'

As we have seen, although these six types of connotative meaning are distinguishable from each other, it often happens that two or more occur together and nourish each other. In acquiring a translation method, it is useful to learn to distinguish exactly which sorts of connotative meaning are in play. Practical 9 involves detailed analysis of connotations, because it is designed to help in the acquisition of this ability. Once the ability has been acquired, however, it becomes relatively easy to respond to the sometimes complex connotations of a given piece of text without labelling every last component in them. All that remains then is to find a way of rendering the connotative meanings without too much translation loss!

PRACTICAL 9

9.1 Connotative meaning

Assignment

Taking the expressions printed in bold type in the ST printed on p. 102:

(i)Categorize and discuss those in which connotative meaning plays a part, and discuss the translation of them in the TT printed opposite. Where necessary, give a revised TT rendering the ST connotations more successfully into English, and explain why you think your TT is better.

(ii)Identify and discuss expressions where unwanted connotative meanings have been introduced into the printed TT. Give a revised TT in each case, and explain your decisions.

Contextual information

The ST is from Santità! (1996), a novel by Vittorio Russo. God has appeared to a contemporary pope, and is criticizing the record of the Church. Here, arguing about the rights and wrongs of the Spanish Inquisition, they are discussing the case of Elvira del Campo, who was accused of sympathizing with Jews, tortured and put on trial for heresy. When the passage begins, God is responding to the pope's reminder that the court did finally acknowledge her innocence. (NB The TT was produced from a pre-publication version of the ST.)

THINKING ITALIAN TRANSLATION 95

ST

`Sì, dopo averla umiliata e trattata come la più immonda delle bestie, dopo averla denudata e ricoperta appena di paños de verguenza, dopo averne fiaccato la personalità e averle strappato fino all'ultimo brandello di dignità, dopo averla seviziata e dopo che la sventurata ebbe implorato pietà per quei suoi crimini.

5 `E che dovrei fare io per tutti i crimini del genere umano? I crimini veri, intendo! Elvira aveva già languito per un anno nelle segrete della Inquisizione e fu condannata a scontarne ancora tre. Fu obbligata a portare sulle vesti la croce

inquisiti erano regolarmente confiscati e divisi tra gl'inquisitori, gli scribi, i delatori, gl'impiccatori e, beninteso, il papa. Proprio come avvenne sotto la croce.'

Seguì una lunga pausa più cupa della notte.

15 `L'Inquisizione non era un'istituzione brutale,' rilevò cauto Sua Santità, `se rapportata alla mentalità del tempo, alle sue fobie, alle sue angosce e ai suoi spettri. Era il terrore di non essere in linea con la Tua volontà che muoveva lo zelo degli inquisitori. Io ho sinceramente pietà per le follie determinate

mio deve generare sofferenza! Quello però non era amore, era il fanatismo della cecità di esaltati, lontani dal capire che l'opera loro mirava esclusivamente a 25 rafforzare il potere del papa sulle anime.'

`Eppure, non era certo alla propria cecità che gl'inquisitori attribuivano l'annientamento degli eretici, ma alla Tua volontà. E Tu tacevi, accoglievi le lodi, i profumi degli incensi e le messe di ringraziamento¼'

`Avrei dovuto intromettermi, dici tu? E disapprovi perché non 1'ho fatto. E se 30 avessi reagito, quante volte credi che avrei dovuto ridurre questo mondo ad un cumulo di macerie e di carogne immonde?'

`Dopo però avresti potuto rifarlo migliore! Magari prendendoTi un po' di tempo per non avere sorprese. Che Ti costava? Hai voluto utilizzare materiale umano scadente e Ti lamenti se poi non risponde!' ironizzò Sua Santità.

35 `Dunque avrei dovuto sottoporre la mia opera ad un collaudo: un esame di riparazione! Io, insomma, rimandato a settembre come uno scolaretto! Sappi che quello che ho creato m'è sacro, ed è irripetibile e definitivo.'

ª¼e Paganini che credeva di essere originale!º considerò di sfuggita Sua 40 Santità e replicò:

96 CONNOTATIVE MEANING AND TRANSLATION ISSUES

`Beh, qualche correzione l'hai fatta¼col diluvio, per esempio, con qualche intervento incendiario.'

(Russo 1996a: 85±7)

TT

`Yes, after humiliating her and treating her like some wild beast, and stripping her down until she was barely decent; after destroying her personality and robbing her of her dignity; after continuing to torture her when she cried for mercy for her crimes.

5 `Tell me, what should I do about all those crimes against humanity? Real crimes! Elvira had already been locked away in prison by the Inquisition for a year and she was then sentenced to imprisonment for three more years. She had to wear the yellow cross of shame on her clothes, which served to identify those condemned by the Inquisition. Last but not least, she was deprived of all her 10 worldly goods. It was common practice for victims of the Inquisition to lose all their possessions which would be shared out among the inquisitors, penpushers, spies, hangmen and naturally, the pope himself. Which was precisely what happened at the foot of the Cross,' He added.

A long pause followed, gloomier than dead of night.

15 `The Inquisition was not a cruel institution,' His Holiness suggested cautiously, `if You look at it in perspective. The period was rife with phobias, fear and paranoia. It was the terror of not doing Your will that made the inquisitors so zealous. I cannot condone the folly which derives from fanaticism but, in their way, the inquisitors were devout. Pitiless of course, but for Your sake. Bigoted 20 rather than guilty, they were moved by a mistaken sense of orthodoxy.'

`For my sake, indeed!' He repeated. `I would really prefer to be hated if deeds committed for my sake cause such suffering! It was not for my sake at all, it was sheer bigotry by fanatics who could not see that what they were doing had no 25 other purpose than to strengthen the pope's hold over the people.'

`It was to You that the inquisitors attributed the annihilation of heretics, not to their bigotry. You said nothing, accepting their praise, frankincense and myrrh, thanksgiving masses¼'

`So, I should have done something about it, should I? And you rebuke me for 30 not doing so? If I had intervened, I would have had to reduce the world to a heap of rubble with rotting corpses every five minutes!'

`Then You could have built a better world! Maybe You would have been more careful, so as to avoid unpleasant surprises. It wouldn't have cost You anything! You create second-rate human beings and then You complain because things 35 aren't quite ship-shape!'

`So I should have been checked out, should I? If I failed my exam I would have to re-sit it like some schoolboy! I'll have you know that what I create is sacred, unrepeatable and final.'

`Well, You did intervene sometimes¼what about the Flood? Or Your tricks with fire?'

(Russo 1996b: 89±91)