How can I politely explain to people that Shakespear was written in English and a translation is pointless?
People keep asking me to suggest good translations of Shakespear’s works. They don’t understand that Shakespear is modern English and insist that a translation is necessary to understand the plays.
First of all, Shakespeare’s works are written in what is referred to as Shakespearean English. Which is in large part because he actually lived between the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. For him, the language he wrote was modern English. The English that is present in modern day texts is a modernized version of what he wrote in. Simply because it would be next to impossible for the average person to read the actual form of English that Shakespeare wrote in, without formal training in the different stages of English, but especially Middle English, which is what Chaucer wrote in.
So, the real problem that people have is that they are not recognizing the references that are made within the texts. These references were often to actual events that were present at the time, as well as, the fact that the society was more oral than scribal, so the language of the plays had to be stylized and devoted to rhyming.
A good aid to it is a contemporary guide to Shakespeare, there are several on the market. Including the Bedford Companion to Shakespeare by Russ McDonald. It has the kind of historical references that make it easier to understand Shakespeare’s works.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
That’s correct. However a modernization of the text or a copy with notes can help with understanding. While his work is in English some of the phrases are not eactly what we’re used to using in daily life.
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
You have a point and they have a point. Shakespeare may be in English but his language is often very flowery and people may need help in understanding it. What you should be pointing out to them is that any summary of his work loses the original genius. Take this, for instance: ‘To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end them?’ Translation: do you just accept what fate has given you or do you try to change it? Shakespeare’s language is just so beautiful. Remind people of that.
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
You should say instead that translation gives a poor knowledge about the book, and that understanding is not as well as if you read it in English.
Even though a lot of people try to understand in English (even though they are a native speakers)is it harder to understand in other languages because in the translation lost the feelings. Because the translators are translators not artist in poetry or literature.
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
First of all, Shakespeare’s works are written in what is referred to as Shakespearean English. Which is in large part because he actually lived between the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. For him, the language he wrote was modern English. The English that is present in modern day texts is a modernized version of what he wrote in. Simply because it would be next to impossible for the average person to read the actual form of English that Shakespeare wrote in, without formal training in the different stages of English, but especially Middle English, which is what Chaucer wrote in.
So, the real problem that people have is that they are not recognizing the references that are made within the texts. These references were often to actual events that were present at the time, as well as, the fact that the society was more oral than scribal, so the language of the plays had to be stylized and devoted to rhyming.
A good aid to it is a contemporary guide to Shakespeare, there are several on the market. Including the Bedford Companion to Shakespeare by Russ McDonald. It has the kind of historical references that make it easier to understand Shakespeare’s works.
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Shakespear is ‘old english’ true english. What we speak today is just slang. Don’t bother to explain to them, they’re not worth your time! lol
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Anyone who needs to understand Shakespear need only lie back in a warm tub, listen to very soft music, preferably the flute, and relax. After 15 minutes of this, they will understand what they read.
Try it.
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
You have to tell them that Shakespear’s works are in old English and that is how the present English has evolved from. Tell them that people back then speak, write and express themselves in a manner of pure gallantry and Eminence. IF they would only read Shakespear’s works they will see that what stated may not always mean what they could read. They have to dig deeper into every words for them to understand what he wants to point out particularly in his sonnets.
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
i would suggest certain movies to watch, movies where the actors read the sentences all the way through the lines. the problem with most people is they look for packets of meaning in each line, as opposed to reading, as olivier said, through the line, that is, through the entire sentence, even if it rolls across three or four lines. actors who do that – kenneth branagh is one, anthony hopkins is another – make the work leap to life. suddenly it all makes sense. i’d tell them to start there so they can see it in action, and then they won’t worry about it so much…
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Suggest, politely, to get a good annotated book (that’s usually all a non-native speaker of English need) of Shakespeare’s play of their choice AND get a translation of it in their own language so they can recourse to it when they get entangled in shakespeare’s turn of language… But try to persuade them to give it a try in original language, as it will enrich their own English beyond compare… And, by the way, many translations are masterpieces in their own right – while you may take away some from the original language, you add it in the target language
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Tell them to read an annotated text, or to attend classes in English literature.
Shakespeare made so many elaborate metaphors, puns and plays on words that the layers are incredible when they are revealed. It is a voyage of discovery indeed!
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
If you want to be polite and make them happy (is not like they are a lot into reading and learning if they want "a translation") just tell them to get a summary, there are plenty of them, and they are a lot of fun.
References :
February 11th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
without answering…if you answer be rude….no need to explain such a thing…it is not necessary for such people to understand if they don want to make research on …
References :