Translating personal letters: Theory and Practice

Abstract

The following article examines a little-explored field, i.e. the translation of personal letters, which actually have features that make them at times difficult to interpret. Induced, the main problem discussed, and the one that should be stressed in the teaching of translation, is the need to place the texts of the letters in their co-text and context, and to find all the information required in order to interpret, and thus translate, them correctly. In the second part of the article letters by Gramsci, Pasolini and Saba are taken into consideration, with comments on those aspects of them that may present difficulties for students of translation. Some general remarks on the art of translating conclude the essay.