Yataghan inscription translation please

Yannis · 3rd February 2008, 08:23 PM

Who was that guy who said that

"translations are like women; the more beautiful the less faithful"

Aleksey G. · 21st January 2009, 02:26 PM

Yannis, I think it was Yevgeny Yevtushenko, a russian poet and novelist.

Original quote I think was:
"Translation is like a woman. If it is beautiful, it is not faithful. If it is faithful, it is not beautiful."

He might've meant something else when he repeated "If it is faithful, it is not beautiful.", maybe his own conflict and faith, he was a traveling poet and a creative person who was not afraid to speak his mind during the soviet regime, so KGB reported some "anti-soviet" activity on his part, by that they probably meant his ability to talk about things that are not exactly in line with the popular at the time.

I like your version better, shorter.

Absolutely true and applies here perfectly

21st January 2009, 02:26 PM	#2
Aleksey G. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 70	Yannis, translation quote origin Yannis, I think it was Yevgeny Yevtushenko, a russian poet and novelist. Original quote I think was: "Translation is like a woman. If it is beautiful, it is not faithful. If it is faithful, it is not beautiful." He might've meant something else when he repeated "If it is faithful, it is not beautiful.", maybe his own conflict and faith, he was a traveling poet and a creative person who was not afraid to speak his mind during the soviet regime, so KGB reported some "anti-soviet" activity on his part, by that they probably meant his ability to talk about things that are not exactly in line with the popular at the time. I like your version better, shorter. Absolutely true and applies here perfectly

3rd February 2008, 08:23 PM	#1
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Who was that guy who said that "translations are like women; the more beautiful the less faithful"