Ye F.

Comparative analysis of methods of translating classical Chinese poetry into Russian (using materials of ancient Chinese female poets). Pp. 119–133.

UDC 821.581-1

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2024.84.3.014

 

Abstract. The lyrics of Old Chinese poetesses are an integral part of classical Chinese literature. At present about 300 poems by 70 Old Chinese poetesses have been translated into Russian. The most significant Russian translators who have addressed these works are M. I. Basmanov, S. A. Toroptsev and others. In the course of analyzing the translations, the article investigates the methods used to translate the lyrics of Old Chinese poetesses, compares their advantages and disadvantages on the basis of studying the artistic and aesthetic effect and cultural and communicative significance of different methods. It is found out that the main methods of translating the lyrics of Old Chinese poets include free translation (M. I. Sizova and Y. M. Klyuchnikov), image translation (M. I. Basmanov), equilinear translation (V. F. Pereleshin and S. A. Toroptsev), as well as the translation method developed by Academician V. M. Alekseev and practiced by I. S. Smirnov and L. N. Menshikov. Among the methods mentioned, free translation implies greater orientation to the target language text and the language of the receiving culture, while the methodology of Alekseev’s school implies orientation towards the source text and the language of the transmitting culture. The history of translation of Old Chinese female authors into Russian in general demonstrates the tendency of transition from methods oriented to the translated text to methods oriented to the original. Free translation and image translation with an orientation towards the translated text often lead to distortion of the meaning and poetic features of the original, but can result in greater poeticism and conformity of the translation to the principles of Russian poetry. Equilinear translation and Alekseev’s school of translation allow Russian readers to perceive the content and genre features (regulation of the number of lines and characters, rhyme, rhythm, etc.) of classical Chinese poetry and, at the same time, bring new creative elements into the Russian poetic space, thus confirming the significance of translation as one of the most important forms of intercultural communication.

 

Keywords: lyrics of Old Chinese female poets, translation methods, free translation, image translation, equilinear translation, Alekseev’s translation methodology.

 

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