Moving Beyond: The Translator as Poet

Abstract

This paper explores the movement between ＂the Self＂ and ＂the Other＂ in translation, that involves discovering and determining implicit meanings. In the process of moving beyond, the (sometimes self-proclaimed) identity of the translator may affect the perception and translation of the Other. The present case study investigates the influence of the self-proclaimed identity of a poet by Dutch Sinologist Henri Borel (1869-1933) who translated Chinese literature into Dutch and wrote prolifically on China. His poethood is primarily rooted in European Romanticism, as he makes mention of reading the works of Romantic writers in his letters and diaries. At the same time, there is also evidence of influence of Chinese poetics, as Borel quotes Chinese poets to explain the status of poets in China. He claims that Chinese culture cannot be understood by mere intellect only, but that intuition and spiritual insight were essential too. He believed that as a poet, he could understand the implicit meanings that many other writers/translators were unable to discover. As the findings show: the self-image of the translator as a poet affects the movement from Self to Other and results in the visibility of the translator. Ultimately, this paper will hopefully contribute to a better understanding of the influence of the translator`s identity on the movement beyond, as well as the image of China in the perception of the reader.