The labyrinth of translating poetry: The case of the translator's self in Darwīsh's 'In the Presence of Absence'

Abstract

The pervasiveness of poetry in most cultures is crystal - clear. Connoisseurs of poetry in the Arab World, for instance usually enjoy a higher status in society. The paramount importance of poetry in cultures neccessitates meticulous attention to the transference from one language into another. Many translation theorists and practitioners take cog nisance of the labyrinth of translating poetry. The present article aims to touch on the dilemma of the translation of the ʻselfʼ in Sinan Antoon’s translation of Ma ḥ mūd Darwīsh’s masterpiece (2011) “In the Presence of Absence”. A potpourri of examples is analysed demonstrating the subdued presence of the translator’s self and the impact this exerts on the translation of some allusions, and the determination of the meaning of specific ambiguous signifiers (i.e. words, phrases and sentences). The findings sh ow t hat Antoon’s translation is a rip - off of the apex of Darwīsh’s creativity.