Translating Ingmar Villqist’s “helver’s Night” into Yakut: an analysis of a translation experience

Abstract

The article analyses one of the most difficult issues of artistic translation: the process of translating theatrical works. The relevance of this research lies in the paucity of fundamental theoretical research specifically dedicated to the translation of theatrical works. The purpose of the study is to analyse the creative process of theatrical translation based on the own practice of translation. The article provides a detailed analysis of the characteristics of this type of texts  from the linguistic perspective, including the structural features and the specifics of the  theatrical text design. The primary focus of this study is on translation strategies. The work “Helver’s Night” by the Polish playwright Ingmar Villqist is the object of analysis. The play was chosen due to the complex and unusual plot structure, as well as the fact it is a translation of a translation. The study provides a summary of the play and information about the main  characters. The article includes examples of the most difficult translation issues and suggests the author’s options. Furthermore, the translator’s decisions are explained, as well as the  transformations in the process of working on the text. The author concludes that the translation  of dramatic works at the intersection of artistic and theatrical discourse requires an  interdisciplinary approach. Thus, the most effective translation strategy, in this case, is  considered to be comprised of interpretation, concretisation and adaptation.