பக்கம்:திருவாசகம்-ஆங்கில மொழிபெயர்ப்பு-1.pdf/20

I am happy that Dr. Srinivasan's English translation of Tiruvachagam serves as complementary to Prof. TPM.'s classic of a research paper. It is futile to compare it with other learned translations in English for a discussion of that topic may be lost in “wandering mazes”. This rendering has its eminent justification in that it is simple and straight-forward. I do not pretend that Dr. Srinivasan has made conscious use of theories of translation especially in a country where it is little unerstood, that translation is an art not a mechanical or impressionistic rendering but a painstaking transcription through the application of theories. Foe example, if the original is in verse, it should also be rendered into verse. Fortunately there is no unanimity among the authorities. Many of the Homeric translations in this century were rendered in prose especially by Mr. E.V. Rieu and Mr. TE. Lawrence and their defence was that the prose versions were as eminently readable as novels. Normally there are types of translation, according to Drydon : “Metaphrase” close rendering word by aword and line by line; “Paragraphs” taking liberties with the language of the original without sacrificing sense; and “imitation” which is deliberate alteration of language and sense. In the English translation of Tiruvachakam, both the target language and the medium of translation are matured idiomatic languages. It is difficult to convey the linguistic nuances in renderings. By adopting contemporary English, the translator has brought the text nearer to his readers. The mellifluous quality of the tamil verse cannot be packed, in a modern language like English though it is the most expressive of languages. I am happy to say that Dr. C. Srinivasan who has established his reputation as an interpreter in English of St. Ramalingar has pressed into service his maturity of Tamil XY