PhD candidate Davide Pafumi will travel internationally to Boston to present his research. His paper, “Translating Translation”: A Computational-Linguistic Analysis of Modern English Translations of the Beowulf Tradition,” utilizes token-type ratios and vectorization to map semantic similarities among different Beowulf translations. His analysis demonstrates the translators of Beowulf respond to one another, often implicitly yet profoundly and that each of the translation maps onto the broader patterns of history of translation. This important work is being showcased at the centennial conference for the Medieval Academy of America from March 20-22, hosted at Harvard University.
Abstract: "Translating Translation: A Computational-linguistic Analysis of Modern English Translations of the Beowulf Tradition"
This paper explores the evolving interpretation of Beowulf through an analysis of its numerous Modern English translations. By examining 33 representative translations, the study operationalises Matthew Reynold’s concept of “prismatic translation” to show how translations create a constellation of works that resonate with and expand upon the original and each other.
Using a two-fold computational linguistic approach (measuring lexical richness through Token-Type Ratio and employing 3D vector space modelling) the paper identifies significant trends and shifts in translation strategies among different authors across three centuries from the 1800s onwards. The paper reveals how the understanding and portrayal of Beowulf have varied over the years, highlighting the dynamic interplay between fidelity to the source text and the translators’ creative engagement. This underscores the evolving interrelatedness of the translators, their strategies, and the interpretation of Beowulf itself.
Conference Information:
Theme: Celebrating 100 Years
Location: Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Dates: March 20-22, 2025
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