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Eros with a Veneer: Translating Erotica in Ancient Comedy

Publication date: 05.11.2013

Przekładaniec, Issues in English, Special Issue 2013 – Selection from the Archives, pp. 47 - 55

https://doi.org/10.4467/16891864ePC.13.036.1453

Authors

Ewa Skwara
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Wieniawskiego 1, 61-712 Poznań, Poland
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Translators

Anna Kowalcze-Pawlik Orcid

Titles

Eros with a Veneer: Translating Erotica in Ancient Comedy

Abstract

Using Plautus’ comedies as an example, the article shows how the translation
of erotica has varied depending on the dominant habits and customs of a given period.
It underlines two opposite trends: one allows an increasing license to evoke fantasy;
the other inhibits the graphic and vulgar side of the texts (especially in the choice of
language). If an erotic pun in the original evokes only sexual associations and allusions,
translators often feel obliged to be bold in their rendering of the text. But there can be
no consenting to the use of vulgar language. On the one hand, translators are hindered
by the conviction that language of the characters in ancient plays should not appear too
modern. On the other hand, dictionaries offer a practically biblical (or merely archaic)
vocabulary when it comes to the obscene. In effect, erotica usually tends to sound more
archaic than the rest of the text.

References

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––– 2003. Komedie [Comedies]. Trans. J. Ławińska-Tyszkowska. Warsaw: Prószyński i S-ka.

Barańczak, S. 1992. “Mały lecz maksymalistyczny manifest translatologiczny” [A Small But Maximalist Translatological Manifesto]. Ocalone w tłumaczeniu. Szkice o warsztacie tłumacza poezji z dołączeniem małej antologii przekładów [Saved in Translation: Sketches from a Poetry Translator’s Workshop, with a Supplement]. Poznań: Wydawnictwo a5. 13–62.

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Plautus. 1873. Komedye Plauta. Aulularia – Mostellaria – Trinummus – Capteivei [Plautus’ Comedies: Aulularia – Mostellaria – Trinummus – Capteivei]. Trans. J. Wolfram. Poznań: Nakład Biblioteki Kórnickiej.

––– 1888. T.M. Plauta komedyj pięciu parafrazy [Paraphrases of T.M. Plautus’ Five Comedies]. Trans. J. Kraszewski. Złoczów: Nakładem i drukiem O. Zukerkandla i Syna pod zarządem Wilhelma Zukerkandla.

––– 1890. Dwie komedye [Two Comedies]. Trans. Jan Wolfram. Warsaw.

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––– 2002, 2003 and 2004. Komedie [Comedies]. Trans. E. Skwara. Warsaw: Prószynski i S-ka.

Skwara, E. 1996. Plaut w polskich przekładach [Plautus in Polish Translations], Eos LXXXIV, 325–343.

Spyrka, L. 1994. “Tłumaczyć przemilczane. O polskim przekładzie słowackiego erotyku” [Translating the Unsaid: On the Polish Translation of a Slovak Erotic Poem]. Topika erotyczna w przekładzie [Translation and the Erotic]. Ed. P. Fast. 1994. Katowice: Śląsk. 121–129.

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Information

Information: Przekładaniec, Issues in English, Special Issue 2013 – Selection from the Archives, pp. 47 - 55

Article type: Original article

Titles:

Polish:

Eros with a Veneer: Translating Erotica in Ancient Comedy

English:

Eros with a Veneer: Translating Erotica in Ancient Comedy

Authors

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Wieniawskiego 1, 61-712 Poznań, Poland

Published at: 05.11.2013

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Ewa Skwara (Author) - 100%
Anna Kowalcze-Pawlik (Translator) - 0%

Article corrections:

-

Publication languages:

English

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Number of downloads: 1747

<p> Eros with a Veneer: Translating Erotica in Ancient Comedy</p>