An Original English Translation of Carlos Fuentes's "Calixta Brand," With Critical Introduction Público

Benevento, Joseph (2017)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/z029p568j?locale=es
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Abstract

"Calixta Brand," a 36-page short story from Carlos Fuentes's 2004 collection Inquieta

compañía, has never been published in English translation. The first chapter of this thesis

contrasts Fuentes's overall reputation as one of Mexico's greatest authors with the general

disregard for his 21st-century works, and then explains why "Calixta Brand" merits the attention

of English-language readers. By examining points of contact among "Calixta Brand," Fuentes's

earlier work, literary works by other authors, religious tradition, and social and political

conflicts, the chapter not only signals the story's complexity, but also introduces many of the

issues inherent in its translation. The second chapter of the thesis articulates and justifies my

translation strategy. It explains the differences between foreignizing and domesticating

translation, especially as advocated by Lawrence Venuti and Anthea Bell, respectively, and then

explains my decision to combine the two methods, against the advice of Friedrich

Schleiermacher. In particular, it highlights aspects of the story that demand a foreignizing

translation due to their deliberate attention to cultural difference, and aspects that require

domestication to convey complex emotional dynamics, wordplay, or poetry. The third chapter

focuses on a handful of specific translation decisions, explaining translation challenges that

required an extra measure of ingenuity. The fourth and final chapter is the English translation

itself.

Table of Contents

1. Calixta in Context: Background and Justification for My Translation.....1

2. Translation Theory and My Translation Strategy..............................11

3. My Strategy in Action: Selected Decisions of Detail.........................21

4. English Translation of "Calixta Brand"............................................29

5. Bibliography..............................................................................62

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