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 TRANSLATION CAFÉ 

CTITC
CENTER FOR THE TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE CONTEMPORARY TEXT

MTTLC
MA Programme for the TRANSLATION OF THE CONTEMPORARY LITERARY TEXT

TRANSLATION

CAFÉ

Review of Contemporary Texts in Translation and E-Learning

                                                       Nr. 6/April 15, 2007

Director: LIDIA VIANU

© CTITC
    MTTLC

ISSN 1842 – 9149

Issue Editors: ALEXANDRU POPA , MONICA MANOLACHI and LIDIA VIANU

These translations are an online seminar of literary translation, part of Lidia Vianu’s course [Guide to Contemporary Literature and Its Translation], and a session of E-Learning in the MA Programme for the Translation of the Contemporary Literary Text, directed by Lidia Vianu.
The texts have also been discussed in translation group at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/translationcafe/  

Guest Writer: IOANA IERONIM

THE WORLD OF POETRY WITHOUT BORDERS

One poem by W.B.Yeats, Chosen, has been chosen to be translated at the Translation Café in Bucharest for the present edition of their online review. This lyrical gem, devoted to the permanence, splendour, and cosmic sense of love, has been spelled out by fourteen young Romanian voices and re-uttered in their mother tongue. It is indeed a most interesting and touching experience to read these many Romanian reflections of the original text, with its far-reaching connotations and economy of expression. The Romanian versions are different from one another, and still they are true to the original and insightful – because of the different kinds of beauty and meaning reflected in the eye of the beholder. There is always a promise of novelty and surprise in re-reading classics. And translation is one of the deeper ways to read, arguably even the most profound. I can see this exercise and accomplishment – translating from Yeats – as the work of joy and camaraderie. The joy of intellectual and creative involvement, the happy, enriching contemplation of something in the sphere of durable values – at this time of historical speed that keeps people breathless, but should not leave them impoverished at the end of the day. I had the privilege to be part of one this group’s reunions and I remember that moment fondly. Now, these words brought into virtual space keep some of the sense of sharing that I remember.

I wish to congratulate Professor Lidia Vianu for her wonderful initiative, and the young students and writers, who have answered her generous invitation to become active in literary translation, and make their own such meaningful and inspired texts.

This issue also comprises a poem by Monica Manolachi, the program’s young writer in residence, which translates a vision of exotic horizons into the lyrics’ here and now. Having written the poem in English shows that this young Romanian author feels truly at home in English.

Ioana Ieronim