The main topic of this work is the imposed silence on women in translation, an activity that had always been the only intellectual activity that was considered suitable for them.
The first chapter wanted to define the concept of "translation" in all its facets and all historical and cultural tendencies. Particularly, it was observed that translation was suitable for women because of its intellectual inferiority, and because of this was the only academical activity suitable for them. But, in the course of history, it became just another tool at the service of the dominant part in society, the male part, that used it only to oppress women. To affirm this all the attempts made by women to break the silence imposed to them were considered, starting form the history of the feminist movement and all other ideologies that contributed to create and support the stereotypes imposed on women.
The second chapter analyses the first English translation of the Odyssey by the Greek poet Homer made by a woman, Professor Emily Wilson. In fact, all the available English translations of this text were made by men, that succeded in reducing women to silence. This was an innovative text, and to demonstrate this, the relevant passages featuring the female protagonists of the book were compared with the version by Peter Green, in the attempt to find the main differences, not only stylistic, but also the ones given by the different gender of the translator. Also, it was possible to find the sexism that had already been present in the book, but was reinforced in all translations. Key tool for this analysis was Skopos Theory, that puts in the first place the functionality of translation and, most of all, considers the importance of the cultural aspect in the definition of every translated text.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CHAPTER ONE
2.1 What does it mean “to translate”?
2.2 An attempt to define this term
2.3 Culture: what lies beneath translation
2.4 Is it ideology the cause of women's oppression?
2.5 Authoship is for men, translation ONLY is for women
2.6 On language and masculinity
2.7 Women as authors (or translators): was it even seen as a taboo?
2.8 The first acts of rebellion from all ideologies
2.9 Translation as an attempt of oppression?
2.10 Les belles infidèles: women stereotypes in translation
3. CHAPTER TWO
3.1 Skopos Theory or functional translation?
3.2 Translation and equivalence
3.3 Decision-making in translation
3.4 Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey: is the glass ceiling finally broken?
3.5 A man invading “the woman's place” again: Peter Green's translation
3.6 Odysseus: has the god turned into a normal man?
3.7 Calypso and Circe: the “fair-tressed” nymphs that deceive men
3.8 Nausicaa and Penelope: an example of feminine devotion and fidelity
3.9 The female slaves: an attempt to eradicate sexism
Research Objectives & Themes
This thesis examines the historical and cultural marginalization of women within the field of translation, exploring how gender ideologies have influenced both the practice of translating and the scholarly perception of female translators. By analyzing specific case studies, most notably the translations of Homer's The Odyssey, the work investigates how female translators are reclaiming their agency and breaking the silence historically imposed by patriarchal structures.
- Historical exclusion of women from intellectual authorship and translation.
- The intersection of ideology, gender, and power in translation studies.
- Feminist approaches to challenging traditional translation norms.
- Comparative analysis of male and female translational choices in classical texts.
- The role of the translator as a mediator or oppressor in cultural representation.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 What does it mean “to translate”?
Babel. This term is one of the appropriate definitions that can be used to describe the complexity of contemporary world, but above all to relate to the variety of languages on Earth. In fact, every population speaks a different language: it's also common to observe the contrasts that are originated by the presence of different idioms, even in the same region or area. But why are there so many languages spoken on the planet?
The response to this question can be found again in this term, that can be traced in the first printed book in the history of mankind: the Bible.
“Tutta la terra aveva una sola lingua e le stesse parole. Emigrando dall'oriente gli uomini capitarono in una pianura nel paese di Sennar e vi stabilirono. Si dissero l'un l'altro: 'Venite, facciamoci mattoni e cuociamoli al fuoco'. Il mattone servì loro da pietra e il bitume da cemento. Poi dissero: 'Venite, costruiamoci una città e una torre, la cui cima tocchi il cielo e facciamoci un nome, per non disperderci su tutta la terra'. Ma il Signore scese a vedere la città e la torre che gli uomini stavano costruendo. Il Signore disse: 'Ecco, essi sono un solo popolo e hanno tutti una lingua sola; questo è l'inizio della loro opera e ora quanto avranno in progetto di fare non sarà loro impossibile. Scendiamo dunque, e confondiamo la loro lingua, perchè non comprendano più l'uno la lingua dell'altro'. Il Signore li disperse di là su tutta la terra ed essi cessarono di costruire la città. Per questo là si chiamò Babele, perchè là il Signore confuse la lingua di tutta la terra e di là il Signore li disperse su tutta la terra.”
This is only one of the many biblical episodes that emphasize one of the most common desires since the beginning of human history: the quest to knowledge. But the aim in this case is even more ambitious: it is the desire to know more than God, symbolized by the tower of Babel.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: The introduction outlines the foundational role of translation as an intellectual activity and introduces the core theme of the thesis: the historical association of women with translation as a means of domestic limitation and imposed silence.
CHAPTER ONE: This chapter establishes the theoretical and historical framework, defining translation and exploring how ideologies, patriarchal structures, and language itself have historically functioned to marginalize women's voices in literature and translation.
CHAPTER TWO: This chapter applies the theoretical concepts to the practical case study of The Odyssey, comparing translations by Emily Wilson and Peter Green to analyze how gendered approaches shape the representation of female characters and the overall narrative.
Keywords
Translation, Gender Studies, Feminist Translation, The Odyssey, Emily Wilson, Ideology, Patriarchy, Literary Translation, Cultural Studies, Skopos Theory, Female Agency, Language, Equality, Silence, Appropriation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this thesis?
The thesis fundamentally explores the intersection of gender and translation, investigating how women have historically been marginalized in the intellectual sphere and how this is reflected and challenged in translation practices.
What are the primary thematic areas?
Key themes include the history of female translation, the influence of ideology on linguistic choices, the role of gender in authorship, and the modern feminist efforts to break traditional male-dominated translation norms.
What is the central research goal?
The primary goal is to analyze how women have transitioned from a state of enforced silence in translation to reclaiming their own voice, particularly through the example of re-translating canonical classical texts.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study utilizes a qualitative methodology, combining theoretical research from translation studies (such as Skopos Theory) with comparative textual analysis of specific literary translations to evaluate shifts in meaning and power dynamics.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body traverses the etymology and definition of translation, analyzes how ideology dictates cultural power, and provides a detailed comparative study of how different translators render female characters in The Odyssey.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Core concepts include translation, feminist translation, ideology, gender studies, patriarchal structures, agency, and cultural representation.
How does the work address Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey?
The author highlights Wilson's translation as a revolutionary act that challenges the "glass ceiling" in classics, using her unique stylistic and gender-aware choices to provide a modern, more inclusive interpretation of the epic.
What is the author's conclusion regarding the role of women in translation?
The author concludes that while translation was historically used as an instrument to keep women silenced and confined to the domestic sphere, contemporary developments show a paradigm shift where women are successfully reclaiming their agency and reshaping translation as a tool for liberation.
- Quote paper
- Sofia Govoni (Author), 2018, All the "spellbinding words" and "melodious songs". Women and their imposed silence in "The Odyssey" translations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/471235
