Translatorial Landscapes From My Country: Nâzım Hikmet in English

Abstract The present study delves into the translation of poetry, with a specific focus on the work of Mutlu Konuk and Randy Blasing, who translated Nâzım Hikmet's Memleketimden İnsan Manzaraları (1966) as Human Landscapes From My Country: An Epic Novel in Verse (1982). Translating poetry is a multifaceted endeavor due to the diverse directions a poem can take in its source language. This often necessitates a trade-off between prioritizing content or form. Nâzım Hikmet's fusion of prose, poetry, regional idioms, and folk sayings presents substantial hurdles for translators. It is precisely here that the present study aligns with Francis Jones' notion of "valency," aiming to convey, or more accurately, recreate the features of the source text within a new language and cultural context. The achievable goal is not a flawless replica, but a correspondence on multiple levels, which forms the foundation for the study's analytical framework. In essence, this study contributes to the field of translation studies by delving into the intricacies of translating poetry, particularly a work that amalgamates diverse linguistic elements. It highlights the challenges confronted by translators in capturing both the form and content of the source text while accommodating the constraints and nuances of the target language and culture. Through a meticulous analysis of specific excerpts, the study sheds light on the strategies employed by Konuk and Blasing to convey the essence of Nâzım Hikmet's work to an audience unfamiliar with the original language and cultural context.