The differences between Desmond Costa, Lionel Casson, and Bryan Reardon’s translations of section 1.22 in Lucian’s True Histories provide the reader with different interpretations of how reproduction takes place on the moon. Costa and Reardon are more familiar and conversational in their translations; their translations sound like anecdotes. On the other hand Casson’s translation is more formal which gives the work the qualities of a scientific account.
The diction of these three translations allows the reader to truly see the differences between these authors’ accounts. Casson uses words that have specific meanings and have a scientific tone. For instance, when Casson describes the reproductive process of the Moonmen he uses the word “embryo” …show more content…
Casson uses a style of sentence, which removes the reader from the action taking place in the account. This is fitting when one considers his more formal word choice and overall factual tone. For instance, when discussing how the Moonmen’s babies are brought to life, he translates θέντες δ᾽ αὐτὰ πρὸς τὸν ἄνεμον κεχηνότα ζῳοποιοῦσιν (1.22.14-15. Lucian) as “Life is induced by placing the child, mouth wide open, toward the wind” (1.22.14-15. Casson). This sentence employs the passive voice to give it a dethatched and factual sense, a feature common of scientific discourse. This type of style also prevents the reader from being as fully immersed in the story as a conversational tone. The directness found in Casson’s other sentences also keeps the reader at a distance. When he introduces his account of the Treemen he starts with “I will now describe…” (1.22.17. Casson), which is less conversational and appears to be implying a more factual account than either of “And I’ll tell you…” (1.22.17. Costa) or “But I shall tell you…” (1.22.17. Reardon). Reardon and Costa’s translations also correspond to the tone set by their diction and are more typical of normal conversation. Reardon translates the phrase from lines 14-15 as “… [a lifeless body,] which they lay out with its mouth wide open facing the wind and bring to life” (1.22.14-15. Reardon) while Costa says “They then bring it [the baby] it to life by holding it up to the wind with its mouth open” (1.22.14-15. Costa). In both cases, the sentence is translated as active, which is how one would usually recount a story and draw the reader into the story more
The diction of these three translations allows the reader to truly see the differences between these authors’ accounts. Casson uses words that have specific meanings and have a scientific tone. For instance, when Casson describes the reproductive process of the Moonmen he uses the word “embryo” …show more content…
Casson uses a style of sentence, which removes the reader from the action taking place in the account. This is fitting when one considers his more formal word choice and overall factual tone. For instance, when discussing how the Moonmen’s babies are brought to life, he translates θέντες δ᾽ αὐτὰ πρὸς τὸν ἄνεμον κεχηνότα ζῳοποιοῦσιν (1.22.14-15. Lucian) as “Life is induced by placing the child, mouth wide open, toward the wind” (1.22.14-15. Casson). This sentence employs the passive voice to give it a dethatched and factual sense, a feature common of scientific discourse. This type of style also prevents the reader from being as fully immersed in the story as a conversational tone. The directness found in Casson’s other sentences also keeps the reader at a distance. When he introduces his account of the Treemen he starts with “I will now describe…” (1.22.17. Casson), which is less conversational and appears to be implying a more factual account than either of “And I’ll tell you…” (1.22.17. Costa) or “But I shall tell you…” (1.22.17. Reardon). Reardon and Costa’s translations also correspond to the tone set by their diction and are more typical of normal conversation. Reardon translates the phrase from lines 14-15 as “… [a lifeless body,] which they lay out with its mouth wide open facing the wind and bring to life” (1.22.14-15. Reardon) while Costa says “They then bring it [the baby] it to life by holding it up to the wind with its mouth open” (1.22.14-15. Costa). In both cases, the sentence is translated as active, which is how one would usually recount a story and draw the reader into the story more