Translating poetry: Russian translations of Georgian poetry in the 20 century

Abstract

Translators of literary texts play the role of a bridge between the two nations. Literary translation remains the process of creativity that totally depends on the translator’s talent and erudition. Literary translation has a worthy role as a bridge for transfering values between different cultures. A poem can express complex or deep feelings. Its shape does not limit the writer. Russian translators of Georgian poetry have different attitudes to the original. Some of them show only the poem’s mood and try to reproduce its musical or euphonic structure; some translations that attain maximum closeness to the original are interesting. The article pays special attention to the translations of Galaktion Tabidze’s poetry by the famous Russian poet Bella Akhmadulina and her attitude to the original. The article also focuses on the Russian poet and translator, Vladimir Poletaev, and his translations of Georgian literary works as well as the attitude of the young translator to the translation process. Translators of poetry meet too many contradictions, but their work helps to break cultural boundaries, expand relations and build cultural bridges with various countries, with people of different cultures and religions.