The Poetics of Translation: History, Theory, Practice

A translator and poet as well as a professor of comparative literature at Indiana University, Barnstone ( The Other Bible ) establishes the central thesis of his latest book in its first section: translation is not a mechanical transcription from one language to another, but a vital interpretive process. That is, the translator is as creative as the author. Barnstone views translation as a paradigm for how people negotiate generally: ``We are forever making a metaphor with its related differences. We are reading and translating ourselves and the world.'' He covers the broad spectrum between literalist translators and imitators or adapters, concluding that all ``originals'' are translations and all ``translations'' are, in spirit, originals. The dicta and ``parables'' of various translators serve as signposts along the way. The book's second part is a study of the translation of the Bible, including its vast historical background. Later, Barnstone discusses theory and his own ``ABC of Poetry Translation.'' Although some of his principles are more clever than useful (``Eve has given the world her gift of translation''), his book contains many insights of interest to translators, readers and critics. (Apr.)