On how to cook a translation?

 Robert Bly's essay "The Eight Stages of Translation" provides a comprehensive overview of the translation process, particularly focusing on the challenges and complexities involved in translating poetry. Bly outlines eight stages, which range from creating a literal version of the poem to capturing its tone and sound in the target language. While his essay offers valuable insights, it also has some limitations.

One strength of Bly's approach is his emphasis on understanding the poem's meaning and cultural context. He argues that translators need to explore the nuances of the poem and consider the poet's intentions. Bly’s analysis of Rilke's "Sonnets to Orpheus" illustrates the necessity of taking cultural assumptions and historical context into account. However, his focus on cultural context may lead to overinterpretation; for example, his interpretation of "frohliche Erde" and its connection to Freya appears somewhat speculative.

Bly's emphasis on spoken language and "sentence sound" is another significant contribution. He believes that translators should aim to capture the rhythms and tones of spoken language to keep the translation vibrant. But, the distinction between spoken and written language can be ambiguous, and an over-reliance on spoken language may result in a loss of the poem's formal qualities.

Bly's focus on the translator's personal connection to the poem is also insightful. He suggests that translators should only work on poems that resonate with their own feelings and experiences. While this approach can lead to more authentic translations, it raises questions about objectivity and the translator's role. Should translators prioritize their own feelings over the original intent of the poem?

Overall, Bly’s eight-stage process provides a useful framework for translation, but it might be overly rigid and linear. While he acknowledges that the stages often overlap, the structure of the essay may give the impression that translation is a more systematic process than it actually is. 


~Ibrahim