as maçãs das ilhas

15:28 May 18, 2011 

I’d say the goal is that the translation be as transparent/opaque (no more, no less) as the original, obviously taking into account the target audience. Achieving such entails sometimes adding words not in the original and sometimes apparently jettisoning words that appear in the original.

15:20 May 18, 2011 

It's not my intention to be controversial here, just would like to get feedback from our peers on this. How much of a literary/artistic license does a Translator have, when it comes to adding specific names of places as in this example here. The source text does not mention the Islands’ name and unless that name was mentioned somewhere else in the entire text, I would have some hesitation to name something where it may just be a guess. Any thoughts fellow translators ??

14:57 May 18, 2011 

I would have to delete and re-post and it really is/was a guess after a bit of research...

14:48 May 18, 2011 

Thanks to both of you. I think I will use the name Hesperides though, otherwise whoever reads this in English may have the same reaction as I did...what apples? what islands? I love this work because I learn something every day!

14:43 May 18, 2011 

I don't see a need for you to do it in your translation. Anyway, just as side note, this is what I found in the Wikipedia PT articles about Hesperides:
"O jardim das Hespérides é situado ainda, com determinante autoridade, pelo Camões épico, no arquipélago de Cabo Verde."

14:16 May 18, 2011 

Thanks Catarina...but then I wonder why islands is in the plural - maçãs das ilhaS..?

14:10 May 18, 2011 

As it's a spiritist text my guess is that it refers to the apples of the island of Avalon (from Arthurian legend) Avalon means island of apples... sorry just noticed you already mentioned this...

14:08 May 18, 2011 

Thanks Gilmar. I know what 'quais' means. I just don't understand what apples?? what islands??? why use that allegory to describe snowflakes?? Doesn't make any sense - unless someone can tell me that apples come from an island near Portugal. I'm trying to find a connection with Avalon (Ilha das Maçãs), but so far no luck.