Europe et traduction

« Some reflections on the history of medieval translation »

SOME REELECTIONS ON THE HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL TRANSLATION Joaquin RubioTovar« Literary history can no longer be conceived in terms of a linear arrangement of literary works that keep influencing one another and seem to be on thé way to an as yet undisclosed telos. » (Wolfgang ISER) I nterest in médiéval translations is not new but fortunately, it bas experienced significant growth in récent years. Below this interest lies a wide compréhension of literature (to which translation is not to be considered inferior), thé need to explain texts from an extensive theory about intellectual production, and thé need to consider thé reasons of thé spread, réception and transformation of many texts. From my point of view, ail thèse interests will affect thé théories and thé construction of literary history. The objective of this paper is then to offer some reflections on thé difficulties that a history of translation involves. I hâve opted for a rather extensive approach without getting into spécifie problems1 . Writing about thé history of such a complex phenomenon, which is connected to many orner disciplines, is a difficult task, but an unavoidable goal. Texts are translated in several periods of thé Middle Ages, from différent originals (it was not infrequent that thé same text was translated from copies belonging to différent manuscript traditions) and from texts that 1 I hâve carried out at length thèse matters in another paper entitled : « Algunas caracteristicas de las traducciones médiévales», Revista de Literatura Médiéval (1997) 9, p. 197-243. 38 JOAQUÎN RUBIO TOVAR include commentaries or are fiill of glosses. Moreover, translations do not always corne from thé language in which thé original works were written. The problems thé historian of translation will hâve to cope with involve différent degrees of complexity, and are extraordinarily varied in their forms. When a work is translated, numerous factors enter thé picture. As Margherita Morreale said, what differs between translations is :« la distancia entre la lengua original y la receptora, el género y estilo de las obras que han de verterse, la habilidad de los traductores, su propôsito, el publiée al cual se dirigen. Hasta una misma obra, en sucesivos trasiegos, adquiere sabores distintos y aun cambia de marca »2 . (Morreale 1959 :1, 16) It is possible that a relation exists between thé kind of translation and thé subject that is translated, and also between thé literary genre and thé type of translation that is carried out. It was attempted to translate accurately scientifïc discussions from Latin or Arabie, but fiction was translated with extrême freedom among thé différent Romance languages. In some cases it can be said that translation becomes an agent who depending on thé audience to which thé work is addressed, depending on thé capabilities and intentions of thé translater, and on thé resources available, can even transform thé genre of thé translated work. A scholarly discourse may reappear as a dialogue and a dramatic text will become a collection of moral sentences. 1) Translation usually does not play a prominent rôle in literary history manuals, and this is due to deeply rooted opinions that are not always apparent. The interest is centered on thé original work, a work written in a language that expresses thé literature of a country, and thé translation remains a minor production that does not contribute substantial éléments to thé knowledge of a work of a given author in a given period. The phenomenon in question does not only affect thé MiddleAges but also other periods. I consider that under a theory and practice that has not always attributed much importance to Médiéval translations, lies a theory of thé study of literature that puts a premium on national aspects. But a study of Médiéval translations cannot be dealt with unless it is from a Romanesque approach, 2« [...] thé distance between thé original and thé récipient language, thé genre and style of thé works to be rendered, thé skill of thé translater, his purpose, thé public to whom thé work is directed. Even so one particular work, in successive transfers, acquires distinct flavours. » SOMË REFLECTIONS ON THE HISTORYOF MEDIEVAL TRANSLATION 39 that is to say, based on various languages and varions literatures, and on thé communication among them which means a communication among...