Don Quixote some translations thoughts
Samuel Putman, translated this text on 1949, and it reflects the style of the time, it uses words such as “an ancient buckler…a greyhound for the chase. A stew…” These are interesting choice of words as they are not often used this decade. I specially like the he refers to the left overs from Saturdays as “scraps for a Saturday,” as I would not refer to scraps as left overs. Overall I do like the style of writing, as he uses terms such as “fond of the hunt.” I like those choice of words, to be fond really sets across a feeling of like, at least in my perspective.
John Rutherford, translates Don Quixote in 2003, in a similar fashion he chooses to use a different words to translate the same sentences and terms. On oppose to using an ancient buckler he uses “an ancient leather shield”, which is easily understood, he translate a “greyhound for the chase” to “a greyhound for the coursing.” Which was not as easy to understand. And to represent his liking of the hunt he translates to “a keens huntsman.” I really would not have translated this in this manner.
Edith Grossman translation, done on 2003, had a better choice of words, at least to my liking. She chose “a greyhound for the racing”. And a “great lover of the hunt.” This latter translation sets forward his true love of the hunt. And thought it was the most appropriate translation of these sentence.
This is a good beginning, William. You show a good understanding of the temporal element of translation and the way linguistic usage changes over time. Much of your analysis here is based on what is and is not easiest for you to understand among slightly variant word choices. Do you see any differences that go beyond that? What about the different ways the translators approached Quijote’s various names — Quijada, Quesada, etc.
EAllen — October 8, 2013 @ 4:20 pm