Beowulf: A New Translation • Hacker News Board

Re: Beowulf: A New Translation

#71

Post by pmiller2 » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 2:20 AM UTC

Blikkentrekker wrote: post #64

pmiller2 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People do still write it, for fun: https://ang.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heafodtramet Here's a more fluent reading, if you like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CpKlEiahtI Enjoy it, don't enjoy it, hop in your time machine and go back to the 9th century to enjoy it; whatever floats your boat. Personally, I enjoy it, "pretentious" or not.

And can you claim to have Sprachgefühl for 900s English and be able to feel the difference between a poetic phrasing an an ordinary phrasing in that language?

I don't know. Can you claim not to be "prætentious," while throwing around words like "Sprachgefühl", as if this isn't a forum for communicating with ordinary people in plain English?

PS, 9th century is from 801-900 CE. Might want to set the dial correctly when you hop in that time machine to get some Sprachgefühl.

Re: Beowulf: A New Translation

#72

Post by Glanford » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 5:48 AM UTC

Rebelgecko wrote: post #69

Glanford wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's important to remember that modern translations exist because language and cultural contexts change over time, this is true for both classical and more recent texts. A classic example would be Homer and his wine-dark seas or green honey, to change the descriptions of colour would absolutely be introducing a modern bias but it's a necessary one if you're not going to explain why ancient people had less descriptive…

The video would've been marginally more interesting if he had actually looked at the original text instead of just various 19th century translations. I'm actually vaguely curious about which interpretation is more accurate, but if the guy making the video doesn't bother doing the legwork I don't think I will either.

That's what I was thinking as well, it's not uncommon to find translations of the Icelandic sagas along side original manuscripts or even Beowulf for that matter, but it's understandable if his class was one on Aristotle or politics rather than ancient Greek.

Re: Beowulf: A New Translation

#73

Post by Blikkentrekker » Sat, Jan 02, 2021, 6:21 PM UTC

pmiller2 wrote: post #71

Blikkentrekker wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And can you claim to have Sprachgefühl for 900s English and be able to feel the difference between a poetic phrasing an an ordinary phrasing in that language?

I don't know. Can you claim not to be "prætentious," while throwing around words like " Sprachgefühl ", as if this isn't a forum for communicating with ordinary people in plain English? PS, 9th century is from 801-900 CE. Might want to set the dial correctly when you hop in that time machine to get some Sprachgefühl .

Sprachgefühl is a completely normal English word, used all the time, not only that, much like Schadenfreude there is no alternative that captures the meaning.

But that response was simply an attempt to dodge the issue raised.

Re: Beowulf: A New Translation

#74

Post by scottlocklin » Mon, Jan 04, 2021, 4:51 PM UTC

dang wrote: post #62

tptacek wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think there might be a good HN comment hidden in the sentiment that we should evaluate Beowulf translations by the physical appearance of their writers? I can't imagine that I could be reading that right.

No, that part was gross. I feel embarrassed right now.

That's taking entirely the worst interpretation of what I said. I assume Thomas is sensitive about his appearance, took the worst interpretation possible and flagged all my posts. Which seems at least as shitty as noticing.

It's not like I'm making fun of the lady for having a big nose. She's simply completely ignorant in life experience, and even possible life experience to do justice to the source material.

I think it's also a damn shame my comments are seen as "toxic." I realize America is collapsing into a foment of witch hunts, statue topplings and city burnings, but if you really consider my writing on HN to be .... even "spicy" -the end can't be far off. God help you all.

Best of luck to both of you, Happy New Year, and apologies for rustling your jimmies.

Re: Beowulf: A New Translation

#75

Post by dang » Wed, Jan 06, 2021, 4:42 AM UTC

scottlocklin wrote: post #74

dang wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, that part was gross. I feel embarrassed right now.

That's taking entirely the worst interpretation of what I said. I assume Thomas is sensitive about his appearance, took the worst interpretation possible and flagged all my posts. Which seems at least as shitty as noticing. It's not like I'm making fun of the lady for having a big nose. She's simply completely ignorant in life experience, and even possible life experience to do justice to the source material. I think…

Given what you say here, I have to think you don't realize your own strength, or how caustic and frankly brutal a lot of your stuff comes across. I tried to explain that here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25350749, but I suppose it wasn't enough.