Whose Pirandello? : analysis and comparison of variant English translations of Luigi Pirandello's six characters in search of an author.

Abstract

This thesis explores the transformations that a text undergoes in translation. Three English translations of Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author (a play originally written in Italian) were studied and compared in order to indicate what happens to the meaning, style, and voice of the original text. Even though a comparison, this thesis does not attempt to evaluate the translations with the aim of designating a standard translation--such a concept is shown to be unattainable and even undesirable. The following analyzes variances between these three translations, points at which the original text has been substantially modified, and idiosyncratic choices of the translators. This text also touches upon the contexts in which the translations were completed, as well as theoretical assumptions about translation, and draws conclusions from these about the factors that influence translation. Also included are chapters on the major textual versions of the original play, and the history of the play's translation in Britain and the United States. The study suggests that translation, by its nature, is an important modification of the original; the nature of this modification is shown to be a combination of a translator's approach to his or her craft, and expectations of the text's intended audiences.