Competence in literary translation in the past and today. With reference to two specific examples covering a period of 40 years in Hungary
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15633/sce.01104Keywords:
Élet és Irodalom, PETRA-E Framework of Reference, literary translation research, literary translation competence, literary translation trainingAbstract
Literary translation remains a debated topic within translation studies. While consensus exists for technical translation regarding competence and training, opinions differ for literary translation. This research places the concept of literary translation competence in historical context by analyzing two examples spanning 40 years. In 1975, István Bart initiated a discussion in the Hungarian magazine Élet és Irodalom on the status of literary translation and translators in Hungary. The study reviews contemporary ideals from that period. It then presents the PETRA-E Framework, a recent project outlining the knowledge, skills, and attitudes expected from literary translators at different career stages. As both a competence model and educational guide, PETRA-E defines qualification criteria for evaluating translation competence. The aim is to summarize evolving views on literary translation competence through these two case studies.
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