Abstract
Interlinear translations from Arabic into Malay and Javanese have been produced in Southeast Asia since at least the sixteenth century. Such translations included an Arabic original with its lines spaced out on the page and a word for word translation appearing between the lines, attempting to replicate the Arabic down to the smallest detail. This essay engages with the theme of World Literature and translation by (1) considering the interlinear text as microcosm: A world of intent and priorities, of a transfer of meaning, of grammar and syntax in translation, of choices and debates, and (2) by thinking of Arabic writing during an earlier period as a world literature sought after in many regions, whose translation in diverse forms and tongues had a vast impact on languages and literary cultures.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 68-80 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Journal of World Literature |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jan 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016 Copyright 2016 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Keywords
- Arabic
- Interlinear translation
- Javanese
- Literary culture
- Malay
- Southeast Asia
- Translation metaphors
- Van ronkel