Translation Analysis of Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian Editions of the Flowers of Evil / Analiza prijevoda Cvijeća zla na bosanskom/hrvatskom/srpskom jeziku

Abstract

This paper deals with different methods and approaches in translating Les Fleurs du mal by Charles Baudelaire and shows relevant elements of poetry translation through a detailed comparative analysis of the versions of three Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian translators. The author presents difficulties in transferring certain poetic figures due to syntactic and phonetic differences in languages. In each chapter, the author analyzes different elements (extralinguistic, semantic, and of conveying the right tone). The work shows advantages and disadvantages of each of the analyzed elements, especially if a translator chooses to neglect all the others for the sake of keeping only one. The author suggests that for translating Baudelaire, one needs to have a specific sensibility and imagination, but should also be theoretically acquainted with Baudelaire’s poetics.