Translation of Poetry from a Hermeneutical Perspective: A Case Study of Rumi

Karimnia, Amin; Hosseini Fard, Seyed Mohammad

doi:10.22049/jalda.2021.27231.1306

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics, Department of English, Fasa Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fasa, Iran

² MA in ELT, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22049/jalda.2021.27231.1306

Abstract

Works of poetry are characterized by specific elements (e.g. symbols, images, concepts) that help interpret and thematize such works. The principle of “holism” in hermeneutics is concerned with analyzing how part-whole relationships are established in a text and how they may give rise to a particular reading of it. A problem, however, is analytical frameworks / models are rarely used for hermeneutic textual analysis and most studies are very subjective / abstract in this area. This study explores the English translations of Rumi’s prelude to his masterpiece Masnavi to analyze how they represent the “mystical” reading of the work. The study draws on a hermeneutical model of poetry translation, which is regulated by two sub-components: cultural-linguistic complexity rate and hermeneutical complexity rate. To identify the characterizing elements, the study considers the keywords in the original and tries to analyze how they are rendered into English by focusing on holistic relationships between the sub-components of the model. The study then compares the choices and suggests which ones could thematically contribute to the mystical reading. Besides confirming the practicality of the model, the findings show that the mystical reading is scattered across the translations and no single one tries to reflect the mystical interpretation.

Keywords

20.1001.1.2383591.2021.9.2.13.6

Main Subjects

Translation

Article Title [Persian]

ترجمه شعر از منظر هرمنوتیک: مطالعه موردی مولانا

Authors [Persian]

دکتر امین کریم نیا ¹
سید محمد حسینی فرد ²

¹ دانشیار زبانشناسی کاربردی، گروه زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد فسا، فسا، ایران

² کارشناس ارشد آموزش زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد مرودشت، مرودشت، ایران

Abstract [Persian]

آثار شعری به طور معمول با عناصری خاص (مانند نمادها، تصاویر، مفاهیم) مشخص می شوند که به تفسیر و موضوعات چنین آثاری کمک می کند. یکی از امور چالش برانگیز در ترجمه شعر این است که چنین عناصری را در زبان و فرهنگ دیگر بازنمایی کند. آثار شاعرانه ای که اغلب ترجمه می شوند، مبنای محکمی را برای تجزیه و تحلیل نحوه ی نمایش یک خوانش متعارف در ترجمه فراهم می کنند. این تحقیق ترجمه های انگلیسی مقدمه ی مولانا در مثنوی را بررسی می کند تا دریابد که چگونه "عرفانی" بودن اثر در ترجمه های انگلیسی نشان داده شده است. این مطالعه از مدل هرمنوتیکی ترجمه شعر ارایه شده توسط خرمندار و کریم نیا استفاده می کند که با دو زیر مولفه یعنی میزان پیچیدگی فرهنگی-زبانی و میزان پیچیدگی هرمنوتیکی به کار برده می شود. برای شناسایی عناصر، کلمات کلیدی متن مبدا مورد بررسی قرار می گیرد و سعی می شود چگونگی تبدیل آنها به انگلیسی در پرتو اجزای فرعی تحلیلی مدل مشخص شود. پس از تجزیه و تحلیل، انتخاب ها مقایسه می گردند و پیشنهاد می شود که کدام یک می تواند به صورت موضوعی خوانش عرفانی متن اصلی را ارایه کند.

Keywords [Persian]

هرمنوتیک
نی نامه
ترجمه ادبی
شعر
کل گرایی

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Translation of Poetry from a Hermeneutical Perspective: A Case Study of Rumi

References

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Aqili, M., & Samakar, S. (2008). A comparative study of Molavi’s "The Song of the Reed" And its English translation. Retrieved September 30, 2016 from the World Wide Web:http://www.translationdirectory.com/articles/article2104.php

Arberry, A. J. (1964). Aspects of Islamic civilization: Depicted in the original texts. London: Routledge.

Barks, C. (2004). The essential Rumi, new expanded edition. New York: HarperCollins.

Frost, W. (1969). Dryden and the art of translation. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Kharmandar, M. A. (2016). A re-version of 'the fundamentals of constructing a hermeneutical model for poetry translation.' Available at SSRN. Retrieved September 21, 2016 from http://ssrn.com/abstract=2794477.

Moghaddam, A., & Madani, D. (2014). A comparative analysis of Hafiz's Diwan and its English translation by Dr. Allaeddin Pazargadi: Emphasis on gnostic words. Enjoy Teaching Journal, 2(1), 74-78.

Venuti, L. (2004). The translation studies reader. London and New York: Routledge.

Whinfield, E. H. (1887). Masnavi Manavi, the spiritual couplets of Maulana Jalalu-D'-Din Muhammad Rumi: Translated and abridged. Cornell University Library.

Volume 9, Issue 2 - Serial Number 18
October 2021
Pages 217-234

Translation of Poetry from a Hermeneutical Perspective: A Case Study of Rumi

References

References

Aqili, M., & Samakar, S. (2008). A comparative study of Molavi’s "The Song of the Reed" And its English translation. Retrieved September 30, 2016 from the World Wide Web:http://www.translationdirectory.com/articles/article2104.php

Arberry, A. J. (1964). Aspects of Islamic civilization: Depicted in the original texts. London: Routledge.

Barks, C. (2004). The essential Rumi, new expanded edition. New York: HarperCollins.

Frost, W. (1969). Dryden and the art of translation. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Kharmandar, M. A. (2016). A re-version of 'the fundamentals of constructing a hermeneutical model for poetry translation.' Available at SSRN. Retrieved September 21, 2016 from http://ssrn.com/abstract=2794477.

Moghaddam, A., & Madani, D. (2014). A comparative analysis of Hafiz's Diwan and its English translation by Dr. Allaeddin Pazargadi: Emphasis on gnostic words. Enjoy Teaching Journal, 2(1), 74-78.

Venuti, L. (2004). The translation studies reader. London and New York: Routledge.

Whinfield, E. H. (1887). Masnavi Manavi, the spiritual couplets of Maulana Jalalu-D'-Din Muhammad Rumi: Translated and abridged. Cornell University Library.

Volume 9, Issue 2 - Serial Number 18October 2021Pages 217-234

Volume 9, Issue 2 - Serial Number 18
October 2021
Pages 217-234