Candide
Analysis of Two Translations of CandideCandide, a book of satire of which the author, Voltaire, criticizes the thoughts of people and the ways of life in the world during the early 1700's, has been translated by different people. Since the original book was written in French, this work of art needed to be translated so the people of other languages could understand the composition. Translators Lowell Bair and Donald M. Frame put a significant amount of effort in interpreting the humorous woven tapestry of Candide. But, because translations can never be exactly the same depending on how the interpreter wants to rewrite the piece, translations seem to have slightly different meanings. Through differences in diction, syntax, and position of emphasis, the use of Irony is more effective in Frame's translation than Bair's translation causing Frame's translation to be more humorous. The two translations of a quote in Candide are as written:Candide, having served in a Bulgar regiment, went through the Bulgar drills in front of the general of the little army with such grace, speed, skill,
In the world today, there are many statements that people have feelings about. This irony makes the translations humorous, yet the effectiveness of irony depends on diction, syntax, and position of emphasis, of which the two translations differ. he was placed in command of a company of infantry" (Bair 40) while the end of Frame's translation is written as, ". (Bair 40)Candide, having served with the Bulgarians, performed the Bulgarian drill before the general of the little army with so much grace, celerity, skill, pride, and agility, that they gave him and infantry company to command. To begin with, there are differences in diction or word use between both translations. Different elements change the perceptions of such statements making the comments either humorous or not humorous. Therefore, irony is present in both translations because one would not expect Candide to be given a company of command because Candide was whipped 2000 times. In Bair's translation, "company of infantry" ends the quote, while in Frame's translation, "an infantry company to command" ends the quote. Both translations describe how Candide is given a company of infantry to command because Candide is able to perform the Bulgarian drills in front of the general exceptionally well. The end of Bair's translation is written as, ". Next, there are differences in syntax or word order, and position of emphasis between both translations. they gave him an infantry company to command"(Frame 34).
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