The pitfalls of a literal translation of the Russian exclamation Ба!: using examples from “The Master and Margarita” and other literary works Cover Image

Pułapki dosłownego tłumaczenia rosyjskiego wykrzyknika Ба! na przykładach z „Mistrza i Małgorzaty” oraz innych dzieł literackich
The pitfalls of a literal translation of the Russian exclamation Ба!: using examples from “The Master and Margarita” and other literary works

Author(s): Anna Styrcz-Przebinda
Subject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Applied Linguistics
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PIGONIANUM
Keywords: The role of exclamation marks in translation; copying vs. faithful translation; the appropriateness of expressing emotions; Bulgakov’s “The Master and Margarita”; Gogol’s “Dead Souls”; Dostoevsky

Summary/Abstract: The text deals with the problem of translating exclamation marks and the appropriateness of conveying the emotions they convey. Numerous quotations illustrate the meaning of the Russian word Ба!, which in the original refers to surprise, amazement at the sight of someone/something, especially at an unexpected encounter. A literal translation in such situations is not justified in Polish, as the Polish unit ba – which is not identical to the Russian one – functions differently. It falls into the category of apposition or metatextual commentary, always referring to the content of the earlier context.

  • Issue Year: 6/2023
  • Issue No: 6
  • Page Range: 87-100
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: English, Polish