In:
PMLA/Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Modern Language Association (MLA), Vol. 80, No. 1 ( 1965-03), p. 51-61
Abstract:
For almost two centuries the nature and significance of Samuel Johnson's work in the translation of Lobo's Voyage to Abyssinia have been obscured. Both James Boswell and Sir John Hawkins denied that any traces of Johnson's style exist in the translation, and, following their lead, most scholars have been willing to accept at face value Johnson's explanation of what he had done: In this Translation ( if it may be so call'd ) great Liberties have been taken, which, whether justifiable or not, shall be fairly confess'd, and let the Judicious part of Mankind pardon or condemn them. In the first part the greatest Freedom has been used, in reducing the Narration into a narrow Compass, so that it is by no Means a Translation but an Epitome, in which whether every thing either useful or entertaining be comprised, the compiler is least qualified to determine. In the Account of Abyssinia, and the Continuation, the Authors have been follow'd with more exactness, and as few Passages appeared either insignificant or tedious, few have been either shortened or omitted. The Dissertations are the only part in which an exact Translation has been attempted, and even in those, Abstracts are sometimes given instead of literal Quotations, particularly in the first; and sometimes other parts have been contracted.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0030-8129
,
1938-1530
Language:
English
Publisher:
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Publication Date:
1965
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2439580-8
detail.hit.zdb_id:
209526-9
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2066864-8
SSG:
7,11
SSG:
7,24
SSG:
7,12
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