Sztuka przekładu wobec badań semantyki form wierszowych (analiza dwóch wersji Psalmu 42 – tłumaczenia wersetem biblijnym i adaptacji wierszem sylabicznym)
The Art of Translation and the Study of the Semantics of Metric Forms (analysis of two translations of Psalm 42)

Summary/Abstract: The article concerns the selection of equivalents of verse forms in translation and refers to versological research devoted to the sign function of metric forms („metametric function” proposed by Svetozar Petrović and Polish research on semantics of verse forms). The use of the form of a poem acts as a kind of filter regulating the use of various linguistic elements, so it affects the stylistic value of the text and introduces a certain excess of meaning. Such considerations were illustrated by the analysis of two versions of Psalm 42 – translated by Jan Kochanowski (who used the Saphic stanza, thus incorporating the psalm into the native song tradition coinciding with certain forms of Latin poetry) and by Czesław Miłosz (who translated the psalm with a biblical verse, emphasising its connection with Hebrew culture). A detailed juxtaposition of Kochanowski’s and Miłosz’s texts shows significant differences in the scope of linguistic material used. The regular form of rhyming syllabic verse used by Kochanowski required the use of many additional words to maintain the rhythm. The function of these rhythmic additions is performed primarily by adjectives, and these added epithets modify the stylistic form of the text, which becomes more illustrative. In turn, the psalm translated by Miłosz is characterised by a much more numerous use of possessive pronouns, which resulted from the faithful imitation of the form of the original and emphasized the distinctiveness of the archaic biblical style.

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