Literary Translation Portfolio Don Quixote Through Time and Space M.Phil
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Literary Translation Portfolio Don Quixote through Time and Space M.Phil. in Literary Translation Isabel Puente Lozano 16336811 May 2017 Portfolio Standard Brief (500 words max) 16336811 Primera parte del Ingenioso Hidalgo de la First part of the Adventurous Gentleman Don Mancha Quixote of La Mancha 1605 Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra English Spanish 1912 1222 This novel represents the highlight of Spanish I decided to translate for school children aged 10 literature in the Golden Age. Published in two to 13 years old living in Ireland in the 21st parts, 1605 and 1615, it has become the most century. This is a text that celebrates the 400th influential work in Spain. It was written as a anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes mockery of the chivalry writing. It is addressed to which was celebrated in 2016. Besides, Don the literate teenagers-adults in the Spanish Quixote is a well-known book in Irish culture so context of the XVII century. kids are familiar with it. The novel is written in Spanish archaic language, Since the aim of my translation is different from which makes it challenging for a modern reader. the aim of the source text, the formal features There are a lot of references of writers, heroic changed a lot throughout the process. There are figures, and mythology. It is written in a low smaller sentences and omissions, and the change middle-class and in a humours tone. Cervantes of references was done constantly in order to was the precursor of this type of register, trying adjust the context. As well, I included to make a parody of the high register in which explicitation in order to explain names such as literature was written at that time. “Dulcinea del Toboso” to convey the sweetness of “dulce”. Furthermore, modern English was used. Although there are thousands of translations and adaptations of Don Quijote de la Mancha into English, there is not a translation of the whole first chapter for children in an Irish context, and I think it’s relevant since it is the process in which Don Quixote experiences the transformation into a child; his fantasy replaced the reality. For this reason, I consider it appealing for children. I used John Ormsby’s English translation as a guidance and as an aide for some words I doubted, since the archaic Spanish is challenging for a modern reader. 2 Portfolio Standard Brief (500 words max) As mentioned before my main strategy for this translation was making the first chapter of this novel suitable for children from 10 to 13 years old in an Irish context. There are many adaptations and translations with the skopos of children’s literature in the market about Don Quijote de la Mancha, but only reflecting the most adventurous and interesting parts of the book such us the windmills adventure. I chose not to look at these translations since I did not want to be influenced by their style. However, I used John Ormsby’s English translation as a guidance and as an aide as mentioned before. As well, I used some articles on the translation of Don Quijote throughout time, such as (b)1. In particular, it was difficult to adapt the references, since Irish children are not acquaintance with the Spanish ones mentioned in the original. Other secondary resources that I have used are children’s style guides, Irish mythology and old Spanish sayings and vocabulary. Overall, I consider that my translation can be read and enjoyed by children of this age in an Irish context. 1 Stavans, Ilan and Diana de Armas Wilson. 2016. Translating Don Quixote: A Conversation. Taylor & Francis Online Stavans. vol: 94 (1) pp: 1-10. Last access: 21-05-2017. 3 Primera Parte del Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha Capítulo 1: Que trata de la condición y ejercicio del famoso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha. En un lugar de la Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero acordarme, no ha mucho tiempo que vivía un hidalgo de los de lanza en astillero, adarga antigua, rocín flaco y galgo corredor. Una olla de algo más vaca que carnero, salpicón las más noches, duelos y quebrantos los sábados, lentejas los viernes, algún palomino de añadidura los domingos, consumían las tres partes de su hacienda. El resto della concluían sayo de velarte, calzas de velludo para las fiestas con sus pantuflos de lo mismo, y los días de entre semana se honraba con su vellori de lo más fino. Tenía en su casa una ama que pasaba de los cuarenta, y una sobrina que no llegaba a los veinte, y un mozo de campo y plaza, que así ensillaba el rocín como tomaba la podadera. Frisaba la edad de nuestro hidalgo con los cincuenta años; era de complexión recia, seco de carnes, enjuto consumido, gran madrugador y amigo de la caza. Quieren decir que tenía el sobrenombre de Quijada o Quesada, que en esto hay alguna diferencia en los autores que deste caso escriben; aunque por conjeturas verosímiles se deja entender que se llama Quijana. Pero esto importa poco a nuestro cuento; basta que en la narración dél no se salga un punto de la verdad. Es, pues, de saber, que este sobredicho hidalgo, los ratos que estaba ocioso -que eran los más del año-, se daba a leer libros de caballerías con tanta afición y gusto, que olvidó casi de todo punto el ejercicio de la caza, y aun la administración de su hacienda; y llegó a tanto su curiosidad y desatino en esto, que vendió muchas hanegas de tierra de sembradura para comprar libros de caballerías en que leer, y así, llevó a su casa todos cuantos pudo haber dellos; y de todos, ningunos le parecían tan bien como los que compuso el famoso Feliciano de Silva, porque la claridad de su pro sa, y aquellas intrincadas razones suyas le parecían de perlas, y más cuando llegaba a leer aquellos requiebros y cartas de desafíos, donde en muchas partes hallaba escrito: La razón de la sinrazón que a mi razón se hace, de tal manera mi razón enflaquece,que con razón me quejo de la vuestra fermosura. Y también cuando leía: … los altos cielos que de vuestra divinidad divinamente con las estrellas se fortifican, y os hacen merecedora del merecimiento que merece la vuestra grandeza. 4 First part of the adventurous gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha Chapter 1: That deals with the nature and deeds of the famous gentleman Don Quixote of la Mancha. In a place of la Mancha, and I don’t want to remember the exact name, a gentleman lived not so long ago, one of those with a spear above the door, an old shield, a bony horse and a fast greyhound. He spent 3 quarters of his weekly income on a stew with more beef than mutton, meat medley the other nights, scraps on Saturdays, lentils on Fridays and some other pigeon on Sundays. The rest of the money he spent on fancy clothes like velvet shoes for the weekends, and other fine clothing for the weekdays. He shared his house with a housekeeper in her 40s, his niece of almost 20 and a farm boy, who would do everything he was asked. This famous gentleman was around 50; he was lanky and bonny, an early riser and he liked hunting. It is said that his surname was Quijada o Quesada, it is not a clear matter; although my own, very likely, conclusions lead me to believe that they called him Quejana. However, this is not important to our tale; it is enough that this story tell the truth and nothing but the truth. It is important to know then, that this gentleman read chivalry novels, poetry and other literature during his free time, which was most of the year, with such passion and pleasure that he almost forgot go hunting and to run the finances of his house. His curiosity was such that he sold much of his own land to buy literature read; and so, he brought home all the writings and books he could find. Among all of them, Jon Milton’s were his favourites, for no one had a clearer verse than him, and he loved all his metaphors and complicated riddles, like these ones: “Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; Till, as a signal given, the uplifted spear of their great Sultan waving to direct their course”. 5 Con estas razones perdía el pobre caballero el juicio, y desvelábase por entenderlas y desentrañarles el sentido, que no se lo sacara ni las entendiera el mismo Aristóteles, si resucitara para sólo ello. No estaba muy bien con las heridas que don Belianis daba y recibía porque se imaginaba que por grandes maestros que le hubiesen curado, no dejaría de tener el rostro y todo el cuerpo lleno de cicatrices y señales; pero con todo alababa en su autor aquel acabar su libro con la promesa de aquella inacabable aventura, y muchas veces le vino deseo de tomar la pluma, y darle fin al pie de la letra como allí se promete; y sin duda alguna lo hiciera, y aun saliera con ello, si otros mayores y continuos pensamientos no se lo estorbaran. Tuvo muchas veces competencia con el cura de su lugar (que era hombre docto graduado en Sigüenza), sobre cuál había sido mejor caballero, Palmerín de Inglaterra o Amad ís de Gaula; mas maese Nicolás, barbero del mismo pueblo, decía que ninguno llegaba al caballero del Febo, y que si alguno se le podía comparar, era don Galaor, hermano de Amadís de Gaula, porque tenía muy acomodada condición para todo; que no era caballero melindroso, ni tan llorón como su hermano, y que en lo de la valentía no le iba en zaga.