Translator's Voice in Harmony with the Poet's Voice Traced via Paratexts

Abstract

In this study, the English translation of Kıyı Kitabı (Book of the Edge), a poetry book by Ece Temelkuran is analysed through paratexts, where the translator's and the poet's voices become obvious and a great deal about the translation in terms of both process and a product is revealed. The translator, Deniz Perin, has written a preface, which includes information about the poet, the socio-political context, and translation strategies she used including the close cooperation with the author. It is followed by an interpretation of the poems based on political and spiritual themes. Socio-political focus and gender sensitive translation decisions draw attention, which are in line with Temelkuran's articles and books. In the translation, in addition to the translator's preface, there is also a foreword formed of a poem from the poet in her native language, where the voice of the source text writer is heard apart from the translated text. This can be assumed as a cooperation, contribution and support. In the study, these issues are discussed with a sociological perspective and by tracing the voices in the paratexts the journey of two different texts, two different languages and two different authors to become "one" through translation is examined.