Retranslating or revising ? A study on fuzzy borders
What is it about?
The paper presents an overview of the results of our study decade-long study into retranslations and their backgrounds. We argue that retranslation should be studied with large data sets and in connection with other phenomena such as revision of older translations. The cases presented here include Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, Nikolai Gogol’s Dead Souls and Selma Lagerlöf's Gösta Berling's Saga in Finnish translations.
Why is it important?
There is a wealth of insightful studies on retranslation, but very few research projects where a number of different retranslations are studied in conjunction and with the relevant context, including publishing house practices. This study presents both an overview of the situation in Finland and a closer look at the textual practices of retranslating and revising.