Notes on the theory and practice of translation in Central-Europe: The confrontation of translation approaches in the Czech and Hungarian translations of The Raven by Edgar Alan Poe and its position in the Czech and Hungarian literary context

Abstract

The study focuses on Czech and Hungarian translations of the poem, The Raven. It also discusses the relation of these translations to the theory of translation, in selected Czech and Hungarian translations of The Raven. It confronts both with the contemporary translation usage (e.g. the role and subjectivity of the translator), and within the context of the target literature, literary traditions, as well with their implementation in the translation practices. Translations of The Raven have been published since the mid-19th century in both Czech and Hungarian languages; contemporary translations are no exception. At the present moment, more than 20 translations of the poem are available in both languages. The national aspect has, ever since Romanticism played an important role in the formation of the Czech and Hungarian literature, been significantly promoted even in translation practices. However, in the Hungarian environment there appears to be a more significant element, as a consequence of several external factors. In terms of language, there is a factor of linguistic differences obviously in contrast to the Slavic world and to the other Slavic literature. However, this is contradicted by certain tendencies in the translations of The Raven, since in the translated texts, compared to Hungarian translations, we see the national tradition and context more explicitly and powerfully present in the Czech variants.