Translating the Untranslatable: Strategies of the Translators of the Thousand and One Nights

Keywords: Thousand and One Nights, translation, untranslatable, strategies, dowsing, targeting

Abstract

The aim of this contribution is to examine the strategies employed by translators Antoine Galland and Joseph-Charles Mardrus in their efforts to render into French elements of The Thousand and One Nights that were, a priori, untranslatable. First, it addresses the challenge of translating terms and expressions related to modesty, which required the translators to be creative in finding equivalents while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original work. Next, it highlights the difficulty of translating licentious scenes, where the translators had to navigate between respecting artistic integrity and adapting to the sensibilities of their audience. Finally, it discusses how both translators adopted strategies that oscillated between strict fidelity and selective adaptation, along with the choice of whether or not to include translation notes..

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Published
2024-12-19
How to Cite
El-Himer M. (2024). Translating the Untranslatable: Strategies of the Translators of the Thousand and One Nights. Thélème. Revista Complutense de Estudios Franceses, 39(2), 271-280. https://doi.org/10.5209/thel.95106
Section
Varia