The descriptive analysis of paratextual elements in the case of poetry translation

Abstract

Paratextual elements are significant for the construction of meaning in textual analysis. In this context, the role of paratextual elements in poetry translation, which are believed to be challenging or even impossible, is worth analyzing. Delving into the functionality and efficacy of paratextual elements, this study aims to unravel the translation choices within the light of paratextual uses in the field of poetry translation. Through the case study of Cem Yavuz’s translation of T. S. Eliot’s poetry, the study qualitatively analyzes the types of paratextual elements that are mainly provided at the notes section, the preface and a YouTube interview. Commenting on T. S. Eliot's poetic profile, Cem Yavuz emphasizes the concepts of dramatic monologue and objective correlative and bases his translation approach on these concepts. The findings acquired from the poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock reveal that paratextual elements such as religious, mythological, historical and technical notes are presented to enlighten the intertextual references, enhance reader engagement and awareness, and discover the authentic linguistic and emotional richness in the source. The examples extracted from the study show that the translator not only uses elegant language to sound poetic and natural, but also gives the paratextual elements a teaching role.