Dialect in poetic translations: The case of Robert Burns' poetry in Russia and in Slovenia

Abstract

Razprava osvetljuje prevod škotskega narečja v pesmih znamenitega škotskega pesnika Roberta Burnsa v ruščino in slovenščino. Burns je namreč v svojem pesniškem opusu spretno združil dve jezikovni tradiciji, pogovorno škotščino in knjižno angleščino, s čimer je med prvimi ustoličil pomen škotskega narečja kot sredstva za izražanje v književnosti. Avtor ruskega prevoda je Samuil Marshak, slovenskega pa Janez Menart. Izsledki analize kažejo, da se je Marshak v svojem prevodu skoraj popolnoma izognil rabi narečja ali narečno zaznamovanih besed, da bi ponazoril Burnsovo značilno prepletanje narečnih izrazov s knjižnimi, medtem ko Menart v svojem prevodu pogosto uporablja narečne in pogovorne izraze, pri čemer se poslužuje strategije kompenzacije.

The following paper examines the translation of the Scottish dialect in translations of the most famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, into Russian and Slovene. Burns skilfully blended two linguistic traditions, vernacular Scottish and poetic Standard English, as the vehicle for poetic expression and became one of the first poets who established the significance of the Scottish dialect in literature. Burns’ poetry was translated into Russian by Samuil Marshak and into Slovene by Janez Menart. The results of the analysis show that Marshak omitted the dialect, markers of dialect and even unmarked linguistic expression to illustrate Burns’ characteristic blending of standard and non-standard speech. On the other hand, Menart often used non-standard and colloquial speech, implying the strategy of compensation.