Translation Criticism 2022 2/2

Abstract: This paper focuses on the nature of Slovak translations of short stories and novellas written by the Russian modernist writer Leonid Andreyev. The author of the paper compares the source texts and translations and analyses the adequacy of translated texts with regards to the preserved (or omitted) level of expressiveness and semantic adequacy. The research is carried out by means of qualitative analysis, comparative analysis, and synthesis. The main goal of the paper is to further extend the current knowledge about the nature of Slovak translations of Andreyev’s works. Its conclusions suggest that Slovak translators of Andreyev’s works can be divided into two generations based on the quality criteria.

Abstract: This article focuses on the interpretation of literary translation. Interpretation is considered one of the most important operations within the translation process as such. Literary translation is a complex field of literary and cultural importance. The article perceives literary translation from different points of view and emphasizes the close connection between theoretical knowledge of interpretation and its practical usage. The novel interpreted is Ian McEwan’s Nutshell (2016), translated by Katarína Jusková (V orechovej škrupinke, 2017). The key focus of the article is on an interpretation framework that includes theoretical knowledge practically applied to the interpretation of literary translation.

Abstract: This study deals with the issue of so-called critical editions of older literature, which are characterized by a rigorous reconstruction of the original text with notes, commentaries and afterwords. They appeared in European countries around the beginning of the 19th century, in the Slovak cultural space first in the publication of original literature. In translation and publishing practice, critical editions began to be systematically published after the Second World War, especially in connection with the demands of the Slovak school of translation and the annotated translations of older literature, initiated especially by Jozef Felix (François Villon, Dante) and others. In a cross-section spanning from historical forms, through important Slovak editions of older literature in translation, and up to the present day, the study reflects on the meaning and form of critical editions and, using examples mainly from French literature, it seeks to show their contemporary forms.

Abstract: This paper explores the concept of translation commentary as a method to encourage self-reflection and discusses the relevance of commentary writing in translator training, which provides a space for reflection and articulation of procedures, allowing translators to justify their translation choices. The paper highlights the importance of increasing one’s awareness of one’s own method of translation and strategies in guiding the translator’s choices of style and presentation. Additionally, the author reviews the strengths and weaknesses of this approach and explores the need to promote the ability to articulate procedures and strategies that may be taken for granted. The paper also considers the potential of commentaries to improve translation mastery and enable translators to argue their point or give advice to commissioning agents.