GHEORGHE ELENA CECILIA, R-E, GRUPA 40106, AN III

COMAPARISON

Fragment 1.

EIGHT years before he had seen his friend off at the North Wall and wished
him godspeed. You could tell that at once by his travelled air, his well-cut tweed suit,
and fearless accent. Few fellows had talents like his and fewer still could remain
unspoiled by such success. Gallaher's heart was in the right place and he had deserved
to win. It was something to have a friend like that. (James Joyce, p. 81)

Cu opt ani n urm l condusese pe prietenul su la Gara Northwall i-i urase

noroc. Gallaher ajunsese cineva. Vedeai asta numaidect dup aerul lui de om umblat prin
lume, dup croiala hainei de tweed, dup sigurana cu care vorbea. Puini aveau talentele
lui, i nc i mai puini fuseser n stare s rmn neschimbai n ru de asemenea succes.
Gallaher era un om inimos, merita s reueasc, nsemna ceva s ai un asemenea prieten.
(Frida Papadache)

Cu opt ani n urm, i condusese prietenul la North Wall i-i urase drum bun.
ntre timp, Gallaher ajunsese cineva. i ddeai seama imediat, dup aerul lui de om
umblat, dup costumul de tweed bine croit i dup accentul de om sigur pe sine. Puini
erau cei care aveau caliti comparabile cu ale lui, i nc mai puini cei crora nu li se
urca la cap asemenea success. Gallaher era un om de isprav i meritase s ctige. Nu
era de colea s ai un prieten ca el. (Radu Paraschivescu, p. 85)

As it can be seen, Frida Papadache and Radu Paraschivescu translated the book
into Romanian, using different but similar words and expressions, almost conveing the
same meaning. They also used slang as a form of connection directed towards the reader,
Paraschivescu turning to it more often than Papadache. In the first fragment, extracted
from the original book, Joyce uses words like godspeed, talents, unspoiled, or
expressions like heart was in the right place to express his ideas. The word godspeed
essentially holds the intention of a personal blessing, which the autor expresses, and it is
translated by Frida Papadache as noroc, using a more evasive and general term, as in
good luck in life, and by Radu Paraschivescu with drum bun, a Romanian phrase
thats a lot more clear and concise, his choice saying that the character wishes to his
friend to have a safe trip home. Frankly, reading only the authors text I understand that
the character wishes to his friend to be well in the future, not only on the road, so I
believe that Frida was closer to Joyces meaning than Paraschivescu.

The word unspoiled used by the irish writer reflects the idea that someone
remains level-headed, regardless of his ahievements. The Romanian female translator
chooses to translate it with neschimbai n ru, as in someone lingering around the
same level of positive psychological vibrations, whereas Paraschivescu uses the slang
nu li se urca la cap, as in something going to ones head, or someone staying grounded,
resulting that he was the one closer to Joyces meaning.

Heart was in the right place is used to express the idea that someone has a
kind, well-intended spirit, and both of the Romanian translators convey the same
meaning by using terms as om inimos and om de isprav. Later on we see that Radu
Paraschivescu uses the Romanian slang de colea for translating Joyces phrase it was
something (to have a friend like that). Frida uses almost the literal meaning of the
English words, saying nsemna ceva (s ai un asemenea prieten). But, all of the writers
voice the same idea, that something (the characters friendship) has a certain amount of
value.

Fragment 2.

The friend whom he had known under a shabby and necessitous guise had
become a brilliant figure on the London Press. (James Joyce, p. 81)

Prietenul pe care-l cunoscuse cu o nfiare jerpelit i nevoia devenise o

figur strlucit n presa londonez. (Frida Papadache)

Prietenul pe care-l cunoscuse pe vremea cnd era zdrenros i ca vai de el

devenise o figur strlucit la London Press. (Radu Paraschivescu, p. 85)

The friend with a shabby and necessitous guise describes someone with a
disheveled look, a poor, destitute person. Frida chooses when translating this phrase to
use o nfiare jerpelit i nevoia the romanian slang jerpelit and the usual
nevoia succeeding to convey Joyces meaning in a tactful way, Radu is a lot harsher
with his choise of slang words like zdrenros and ca vai de el, as if using words like
wretched and deplorable. He is also using these expressions as if the reader is a
simple, vulgarian man that uses them in his vocabulary on a daily basis, trying to make
the book accessible to everyone, regardless of their social, intellectual, or financial
status. Nevertheless, both of translators succeed to communicate to the reader the same
message the original author does.

Fragment 3.
 I met some of the old gang today, said Ignatius Gallaher. OHara seems to
be in a bad way. Whats he doing?

Nothing, said Little Chandler. Hes gone to the dogs.

But Hogan has a good sit, hasnt he? (James Joyce, p. 82)

L-am ntlnit azi pe unul din vechea gac, pe O'Hara, continu Ignatius
Galaher. Pare s fie la ananghie. Ce face?

Nimic, zise Micul Chandler. S-a dus pe copc.

Dar Hogan are o situaie bun, nu-i aa? (Frida Papadache)

M-am vzut azi cu civa tipi din vechea trup, spuse Ignatius Gallaher.
OHara pare la pmnt. Ce face?

Nimic, spuse Micul Chandler. S-a cam zis cu el.

Dar Hogan o duce bine, nu? (Radu Paraschivescu, p. 90)

In this fragment we first encounter the saying gone to the dogs, which in
english may mean that someone is either having mental problems or behavioral
problems, or both. Papadache translates it in romanian with the slang s-a dus pe copc,
as in a person losing his mind, and Paraschivescu uses the romanian slang s-a cam zis
cu el, as if saying it is a gone case with somene specific. Either way, they both remain
close to the meaning of Joyces words, and do not stray far away from each other either.
We also see the phrase a good sit translated into o situaie bun by Papadache and
into o duce bine by Paraschivescu, the last tone being a slang often used by romanian
native speakers, meaning that someone has a good material situation, as Frida exactly
points out in her choice of terms.

Concluding, it can be seen that both of the romanian translations of James

Joyces Dubliners contain a various number of slang words, and not only, some of Radu
Paraschivescu being a lot more harsh, common and strong, sometimes even raw. Frida
used a lot more polished phrases and terms, smoother than Radu, but I consider both of
the versions channel the same message as the author himself, not even once destroying
the pattern of the artistical pictures created through slang. Paraschiescu also uses slang
stronger than Papadache due to the fact that he had the freedom to express himself, one
that the woman translator never had access to during the Communism.