1
The Shakespeare Industry
5 October 2020
1303 words
Assignment 4
Shakespeare & Translation
Briefly describe the difference between Interlingual, Intralingual and Intersemiotic
translation.
Interlingual translation is the translation between two languages; this form of translation
occurs, for example, when you translate a text from Dutch to Danish. Interlingual translation,
on the other hand, is the translation that takes place within one well-defined language.
Intratextual translation occurs when you, for example, translate Hamlet from Early Modern
English to Modern English. Here, Shakespeare is turned into the modern language.
Intersemiotic translation takes place when one sign system is transferred to another. This
form of translation takes place when the written words of the play are transferred into
gestures and into a performance. Another way in which this translation takes place is when
the words are converted into sign language or when spoken words are being sung.1
Some 140 different translations exist of the first 5 words of Sonnet 66 (“Tired with all
these...”). How do translation specialists explain the phenomenon?
The first five words of Sonnet 66 have, in German, been translated into about 140 different
versions which we all recognise as the simple words meaning ‘being tired every day’. The
reason why there may have been so many different translations could be that a translation has
become old or one of the words outdated and thus not used anymore. There might be a wider
variety of words in the target language that have approximately the same meaning of the
word in the source language and therefore cause more possible translations. Another reason
might be that our knowledge of either language has become greater, meaning that translators
1 All information retrieved from Hoenselaars. “Shakespeare and the Translator.”
, 2
are able to uncover more nuances and subtleties that were hidden in the text and are now
recognisable, and thus are able to translate words more accurately to what they mean in the
source language.2
What may be observed about the word “translate” as it occurs in Shakespeare? What
are some of the meanings this verb may have?
Nowadays when we think of translating, we think of language, something going from
language a to language b, but that was not the case during the Renaissance. Shakespeare uses
the word ‘translate’ in two different ways. The first definition of translation means
explaining. In Hamlet Claudius tells Gertrude to translate her gestures into words; in other
words, he is asking her to communicate the truth to him, she must explain what is happening
(Shakespeare Hamlet III.iv.219-220). The second definition of translation involves change,
most often changing your appearance; they do not deal with language when it comes to
translation but rather with the notion of change. An example in which change can be found is
in A Midsummer Night’s Dream where Nick Bottom is given the head of a donkey in the
forest and is then asked by his scared friends behind the trees what change they have been
going through (Shakespeare A Midsummer Night’s Dream III.i.105).3
Describe three characteristic qualities of The Oxford English Dictionary.
The Oxford English Dictionary has three characteristic qualities. The first, and perhaps the
most well-known characteristic, is that the Oxford English Dictionary is a 20 volume edition
which contains every word in the English language. There are often multiple sets of
definitions which are very accurate. The second characteristic is that it contains historical
examples of words that help you understand the meaning of a particular word at a specific
moment of time in history. The final, and perhaps for students most convenient feature, is that
2 All information retrieved from Hoenselaars. “Shakespeare and the Translator.”
3 All information retrieved from Hoenselaars. “Shakespeare and the Translator.”
The Shakespeare Industry
5 October 2020
1303 words
Assignment 4
Shakespeare & Translation
Briefly describe the difference between Interlingual, Intralingual and Intersemiotic
translation.
Interlingual translation is the translation between two languages; this form of translation
occurs, for example, when you translate a text from Dutch to Danish. Interlingual translation,
on the other hand, is the translation that takes place within one well-defined language.
Intratextual translation occurs when you, for example, translate Hamlet from Early Modern
English to Modern English. Here, Shakespeare is turned into the modern language.
Intersemiotic translation takes place when one sign system is transferred to another. This
form of translation takes place when the written words of the play are transferred into
gestures and into a performance. Another way in which this translation takes place is when
the words are converted into sign language or when spoken words are being sung.1
Some 140 different translations exist of the first 5 words of Sonnet 66 (“Tired with all
these...”). How do translation specialists explain the phenomenon?
The first five words of Sonnet 66 have, in German, been translated into about 140 different
versions which we all recognise as the simple words meaning ‘being tired every day’. The
reason why there may have been so many different translations could be that a translation has
become old or one of the words outdated and thus not used anymore. There might be a wider
variety of words in the target language that have approximately the same meaning of the
word in the source language and therefore cause more possible translations. Another reason
might be that our knowledge of either language has become greater, meaning that translators
1 All information retrieved from Hoenselaars. “Shakespeare and the Translator.”
, 2
are able to uncover more nuances and subtleties that were hidden in the text and are now
recognisable, and thus are able to translate words more accurately to what they mean in the
source language.2
What may be observed about the word “translate” as it occurs in Shakespeare? What
are some of the meanings this verb may have?
Nowadays when we think of translating, we think of language, something going from
language a to language b, but that was not the case during the Renaissance. Shakespeare uses
the word ‘translate’ in two different ways. The first definition of translation means
explaining. In Hamlet Claudius tells Gertrude to translate her gestures into words; in other
words, he is asking her to communicate the truth to him, she must explain what is happening
(Shakespeare Hamlet III.iv.219-220). The second definition of translation involves change,
most often changing your appearance; they do not deal with language when it comes to
translation but rather with the notion of change. An example in which change can be found is
in A Midsummer Night’s Dream where Nick Bottom is given the head of a donkey in the
forest and is then asked by his scared friends behind the trees what change they have been
going through (Shakespeare A Midsummer Night’s Dream III.i.105).3
Describe three characteristic qualities of The Oxford English Dictionary.
The Oxford English Dictionary has three characteristic qualities. The first, and perhaps the
most well-known characteristic, is that the Oxford English Dictionary is a 20 volume edition
which contains every word in the English language. There are often multiple sets of
definitions which are very accurate. The second characteristic is that it contains historical
examples of words that help you understand the meaning of a particular word at a specific
moment of time in history. The final, and perhaps for students most convenient feature, is that
2 All information retrieved from Hoenselaars. “Shakespeare and the Translator.”
3 All information retrieved from Hoenselaars. “Shakespeare and the Translator.”
