%0 Journal Article
%T Barbarzyńca w lapidarium
%A Łukaszewicz, Adam
%J Przekładaniec
%V 2007
%N Numer 18-19 – Antiqua ac nova
%P 261-269

%@ 1425-6851
%D 2008
%U https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/przekladaniec/artykul/barbarzynca-w-lapidarium
%X 
	A barbarian among ancient texts
	After a brief account of his personal experience as a translator, the writer (a professor
	of classics, papyrology and archaeology at Warsaw University) investigates problems
	and traps which a translator encounters in his work. Errors are human, but a special
	gift and genuine education are indispensable to become a good translator. The author
	emphasizes the importance of classical studies. Latin and Greek, much neglected in
	our days, still belong to the foundations of the Western culture. Major historical
	events in European history were often influenced by ideas inspired by the ancient
	heritage. In a society largely ignorant of Greek, and even Latin, the translator of ancient
	texts is not only a furnisher of caviar to the general but may sometimes indirectly
	become a maker of history. The author comments on the current reception of classics
	in Poland, taking into consideration the translators’ achievements in the past (for
	example, the great poet Jan Kochanowski of the 14th century) and nowadays. Fidelity
	is a necessary condition of acceptable translations. To conclude, the author calls for
	respect for linguistic freedom of the translator as a writer and artist, whose talent may
	sometimes rise above the common linguistic rules imposed on texts by the editors.
	Translators should, however, be aware of their responsibility and they should not
	forget that they are supposed to be skilful and meticulous craftsmen, always ready to
	accept criticism of their readers.