Appearances: Character description as a network of signification in Russian translations of Jane Eyre
Abstract
This article re-evaluates the theoretical import of networks of signification, one of Antoine Berman’s twelve deforming tendencies in translation. Taking Jane Eyre as a case study, the article considers character description as an example of a Bermanian network and traces the physical appearance of the novel’s characters across its six Russian translations. Character description represents a network that is traceable, depends on the reader’s ability to construct a visual mental image over the course of a narrative, has a tangible impact on characterisation, and remains relevant throughout a novel. It thus offers a concrete illustration of the relevance of networks of signification as a model for the systemic interpretative potential of translation variation. This analysis paves the way for further study of Bermanian networks and the ultimate integration of this concept in translation practice.
Keywords:
Publication history
Character description is not a common focus in translation studies, but it is uniquely suited to studying translation variation. In character description, very few words bear an unusually heavy semantic load and remain relevant to interpretation for as long as the character in question remains pertinent to the narrative. It is logical to assume that, should these words acquire, or lose, shades of meaning in translation, the impact will be particularly high. The visual nature of character description makes it especially valuable as a demonstration of the power of translation variation to subtly guide interpretation in prose. The potential effect extends far beyond the literal meaning of the words, generating variation in readers’ imaginative and interpretative patterns, as well as in illustrations and adaptations.
Jane Eyre in Russian (chronological order)
April 1849, summary with translated excerpts:
Anon
1849 “Литературные новости в Англии: Дженни Иръ: Автобиография [Literary news
in England: Jane Eyre: Autobiography].” Библиотека для
чтения [Library for
reading] 94 (2), Seg. 7: 151–172.
May 1849, first translation by Irinarkh Vvedenskii (5 parts):
Vvedenskii, Irinarkh
1849 Дженни Иръ: Романъ [Jane Eyre: A
novel]. By Charlotte Brontë. Отечественные записки [Annals of the fatherland] 64 (6), Seg. 1: 175–250; 65 (7), Seg. 1: 67–158; 65 (8): 179–262; 66 (9), Seg. 1: 65–132, 66 (10), Seg. 1: 193–330.
1850, second summary:
Anon
1850 “Джен Эйръ, роман Коррер Белля [Jane Eyre: Currer Bell’s
novel].” Sovremennik 21/6, Seg. 4: 31–38.
1852, third summary with translated excerpts:
Druzhinin, Aleksandr
1852 “Корреръ Белль и его два романа: ‘Шэрли’ и ‘Дженъ-Иръ’. [Currer Bell and his two novels: ‘Shirley’ and ‘Jane Eyre’].” Библиотека для
чтения [Library for
reading] 116: 23–54.
1857, translation by Sof’ia Ivanovna Koshlakova, from “Jane Eyre. Mémoires d’une gouvernante, Imité par Old-Nick [Jane Eyre: Memoirs of a governess, imitated by Old-Nick],” pseudonym of Paul-Émile Daurand-Forgues. Brussels: Meline, Cans et compagnie, 1849:
Koshlakova, Sof’ia
Ivanovna
1857 Дженни Эйръ,
или записки гувернантки [Jane Eyre, or notes of a
governess]. By Charlotte Brontë. Библиотека для дач, пароходов и железных дорог [Library
for summer retreats, steamboats and railways]. St.
Petersburg: Типография императорской академии
наук.
1893, translation by V. D. Vladimirov (pseudonym of Vladimir Dmitrievich Vol’fson):
Vladimirov, V. D.
1893 Дженни Эйр (Ловудская сирота). Роман-автобиография в 2х частях [Jane Eyre (The orphan of Lowood): Novel-autobiography in 2
parts]. By Charlotte Brontë. St.
Petersburg: M.M. Lederle & Ko.
1889, translation of the German play Die Waise aus Lowood by Charlotte Birch-Pfeiffer (1853):
Мансфельд, Дмитрий Августович
1889 Ловудская сирота: Жан Эйр [The orphan of Lowood: Jane
Eyre]. By Sh. Birkh-Pfeifer. Moscow: Литография
Московской театральной библиотеки Е.Н. Рассохиной.
1901, abridged for a youth audience:
Anon
1901 Джени
Эйр, история моей жизни [Jane Eyre, the story of my
life]. By Charlotte Brontë. Abridged
translation from English. Юный читатель, журнал для детей старшего
возраста [Young reader, magazine for older
children] 3, 5.
1950, canonical Soviet translation by Vera Stanevich:
Stanevich, Vera
1950 Джен Эйр [Jane
Eyre]. By Charlotte Brontë. Moscow: Гослитиздат (Leningrad: 2ia
fabrika det. Knigi Detgiza).
1990, Vera Stanevich’s translation with censored passages restored:
Stanevich, Vera
1990 Джен Эйр [Jane
Eyre]. By Charlotte Brontë. Omissions
in the text reconstructed by Irina
Gurova. Moscow: Художественная
литература.
1999, translation by Irina Gurova. The 1999 edition includes two novels under one cover (also Рождество в Индии by Barbara Ford, translated by V. Semenov. The 2005 edition used for page references in this article is a reprint of the 1999 edition:
Gurova, Irina
1999 Джейн Эйр [Jane
Eyre]. By Charlotte Brontë. Moscow: AST.
2005 Джейн Эйр [Jane
Eyre]. By Charlotte Brontë. Moscow: AST.
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