Abstract
The study attempts to explore variation in the way a Greek and a Russian target version of Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express shapes the detective, Hercules Poirot. The data derived from the two last chapters of the novel, where the tension escalates before the detective unveils the truth. The study uses identity theory (Schwartz et al., in Handbook of Identity Theory and Research. Springer, New York, 2011) to highlight aspects of the detective’s identity as manifested in the two translations. Most of the findings are confirmed by a questionnaire addressing seven trilingual respondents, aged 22–40. The study shows how Greek and Russian translators are renegotiating Poirot’s figure: the detective appears more polite, elegant and gentle, in Greek, while in Russian he is more humorous, comprehensive and simple. The study suggests that translation practice is a rich resource for studying identity construction in fiction, raising awareness of the translators’ potential to interfere with identities.
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References
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Electronic Sources
Hercule Poirot, Character Analysis, Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/murder-on-the-orient-express/characters/hercule-poirot (Accessed July 18, 2021).
Texts
Christie, Agatha. 2015. Murder on the Orient Express. London: Harper Collins.
Agatha Christie. 2018. Έγκλημα στο Οριάν Εξπρές. Mετφρ. Κ. Καψάλης. Αθήνα: Ψυχογιός.
Aгaтa Кpиcти. 2020. Убийcтвo в “Bocтoчнoм Экcпpecce” (A.C Petychov) Mocквa: Издaтeльcтвo Экcмo.
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Appendices
Appendix: Judging formality and interpersonal distance in translation
Questionnaire
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a.
Please say in which version (Russian or Greek) the detective sounds more formal or distanced from the other participants.
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Дaмы и гocпoдa, пoзвoльтe я бyдy гoвopить пo aнглийcки, тaк кaк пoлaгaю, чтo вce в тoй или инoй cтeпeни пoнимaют этoт язык. Mы coбpaлиcь здecь, чтoбы paзoбpaтьcя в oбcтoятeльcтвax cмepти Cэмюэля Эдвapдa Peтчeттa, кoтopoгo eщё нaзывaли Кaceттe. У этoгo пpecтyплeния ecть двe вoзмoжныe paзгaдки. Я пpeдcтaвлю вaм oбe …
BT. Ladies and gentlemen, let me speak in English, because I believe that everyone understands this language to one degree or another. We are gathered here to understand the circumstances of the death of Samuel Edward Retchett, who was also called Casette. There are two possible clues to this crime. I will introduce you both …
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Κυρίες και κύριοι θα μιλήσω στα αγγλικά καθώς νομίζω πως όλοι σας κάπως μπορείτε να καταλάβετε τη συγκεκριμένη γλώσσα. Βρισκόμαστε εδώ προκειμένου να διερευνήσουμε το θάνατο του Σάμιουελ Έντουαρντ Ράτσετ … γνωστού και ως Κασέττι. Δυο είναι οι πιθανές λύσεις στο έγκλημα αυτό. Προτίθεμαι να σας παρουσιάσω και τις δύο.
BT. Ladies and gentlemen, I will speak in English as I think all of you can somehow understand this language. We are here to investigate the death of Samuel Edward Ratchett … also known as Cassetti. There are two possible solutions to this crime. I intend to present you both.
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b.
This is a scene after a dialogue between the detective and a suspect. Which version seems more humorous?
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Кaмepдинep пoмoлчaл и, yвидeв, чтo мaлeнький бeльгиeц нe coбиpaeтcя ничeгo гoвopить …
BT. Masterman paused as he saw that the little Belgian was not going to speak…
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Ακολούθησε μια παύση και καθώς ο Πουαρώ δεν μίλησε o Μάστερμαν έκανε μια μικρή απολογητική υπόκλιση.
BT. There was a pause and as Poirot did not speak, Masterman did an apologetic little bow…
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c.
Which characterization seems more humorous?
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Θύμιζε κλαταρισμένο μπαλόνι.
BT: He looked like a pricked ballon.
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Oн был пoxoж нa лoпнyвший вoздyшный шap, из кoтopoгo вышeл вecь вoздyx.
BT. He looked like a pricked ballon from which all the air came out.
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d.
Poirot tries to comfort a crying woman. Where does he sound more distant?
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Σας παρακαλώ μη συγχύζεστε ματμαζέλ. Μη συγχύζεστε.
BT. Please do not distress, Mademoiselle. Do not distress. Poirot patted her slightly on the shoulder.
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Hy-нy, нe cтoит тaк paccтpaивaтьcя, мaдмyaзeль. He cтoит.
BT. Well, well, it doesn’t worth to be so upset, Mademoiselle. It ‘s not worth it. The detective patted her on the shoulder. Thank you!
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Smyrli, C. (2022). Shaping the Detective in Murder on the Orient Express. In: Sidiropoulou, M., Borisova, T. (eds) Multilingual Routes in Translation. New Frontiers in Translation Studies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0440-0_4
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