When Retranslation Is a Norm: Polish Shakespeare Translations in the 20th and 21st Century

peer-reviewed article

Anna Cetera-Włodarczyk

a.cetera@uw.edu.pl
University of Warsaw (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5711-4867

Abstract

This article deals with retranslation practice on the example of Polish Shakespeare translations in the 20th and 21st century. The aim of the article is (1) to define retranslation in the context of centuries-long, intense critical and theatrical reception of European canonical drama, (2) to discuss the profile of Polish Shakespeare translations in the 20th and 21st century, particularly with regards to (re) translation strategies and modes of promotion/dissemination of translations in the target culture, (3) to account for the co-existence of numerous retranslations given the strong diversification of patronage and the growing importance of digital resources. Special attention is given to the specificity of retranslation practice when Shakespeare’s plays are fully assimilated into Polish literary and theatrical culture, the retranslation dynamics depends on theatrical and ideological factors, and translators combine retranslation with their own literary agendas. The article concludes with a discussion of the impact of digital resources on translation canonicity and possible decline of logocentric drama translation theories.

Supporting Agencies

This article presents the results of research conducted within the framework of the National Science Centre grant Repository of Polish translations of William Shakespeare's plays in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: Resources, strategy and reception no. 2017/27/B/HS2/00853 (2018-2024)

Keywords:

William Shakespeare, retranslation, drama translation

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Published
2024-12-13

Cited by

Cetera-Włodarczyk, A. (2024) “When Retranslation Is a Norm: Polish Shakespeare Translations in the 20th and 21st Century”, Pamiętnik Teatralny, 73(4), pp. 13–33. doi: 10.36744/pt.2638.

Authors

Anna Cetera-Włodarczyk 
a.cetera@uw.edu.pl
University of Warsaw Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5711-4867

Anna Cetera-Włodarczyk - Ph.D., Professor at the Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw, Shakespeare scholar. She is the editor of the critical edition of new translations of Shakespeare by Piotr Kaminski (six volumes have been published since 2009). Between 2016 and 2024, she directed two NCN projects: Polish Shakespeare translations in the nineteenth century: resources, strategies, reception and Polish Shakespeare translations in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: resources, strategies, reception, which resulted in the creation of the digital repository Polish Shakespeare UW (https://polskiszekspir.uw.edu.pl), providing access to translations and discussions of translators' profiles, translation strategies and reception. Member of the European Shakespeare Research Association (ESRA) and the International Shakespeare Association (ISA).



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