Translating the Passive Voice in Works by Shakespeare: a Comparison Between Translations by Župančič and Jesih

Plut, Jure (author), Lipovšek, Frančiška (mentor), Kranjc, Simona (mentor)

This thesis explores how the passive voice is translated in four Shakespeare's plays by Župančič and Jesih. Passive constructions, predominantly associated with scientific and legal texts, pose a particular challenge for translation. First, because they are much less common in Slovene than in English, and second, because they tend to be stylistically a less desirable option. To establish the typology for their categorisation, we relied on a modified version of the passive scale as presented by Quirk et al. and eight reasons or functions for using them. The qualitative part of the research consisted of categorising passive constructions and commenting on their use. Considering the characteristics of Early Modern English, we identified that Shakespeare had used the passive voice not only within the usual participle form be + -ed, but also with infinitival constructions, imperatives, and the subjunctive. The translators, on the other hand, relied on pseudo-passives, impersonal and nominal constructions, verbs in the first- or third-person plural form, and other active forms. We pointed out examples when the meaning of the passive construction was left out, concluding that this could alter the interpretation of the plot and the perception of the characters. From the quantitative part, we found that Shakespeare used passive constructions in 3.7% of all verbal forms, and that they were translated into Slovene in less than 20% of the cases. In both languages, the most common reason for using them was to put emphasis on the verb's action. The general change in attitude towards the passive voice from the 1960s on did not seem to affect Jesih's choices on translating it, as he used it slightly less frequently than Župančič.

• Language: English
• Keywords: literary translation, passive voice, William Shakespeare, Oton Župančič, Milan Jesih
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: [J. Plut]
• Year: 2022
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-137951
• COBISS.SI-ID: 114283523
• Publication date in RUL: 07.07.2022

PLUT, Jure, 2022, Translating the Passive Voice in Works by Shakespeare: a Comparison Between Translations by Župančič and Jesih [online]. Master’s thesis. Ljubljana : J. Plut. [Accessed 17 May 2025]. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=137951

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Prevajanje trpnika v Shakespearjevih delih: primerjava Župančičevih in Jesihovih prevodov

Abstract

Magistrsko delo obravnava Župančičevo in Jesihovo prevajanje trpnega načina pri štirih Shakespearjevih delih. Trpne oblike, navadno povezane z znanstvenimi ali pravnimi besedili, predstavljajo za prevajanje poseben izziv. Prvič, ker so v slovenščini veliko manj pogoste kot v angleščini, in drugič, ker so stilistično po navadi manj želena izbira. Tipologijo za razvrščanje oblik smo osnovali na podlagi prilagojene Quirkove lestvice trpnikov in osmih razlogov oz. funkcij za njihovo uporabo. Kvalitativni del raziskave je zajemal kategorizacijo trpnih oblik in komentar njihove rabe. Ob upoštevanju značilnosti zgodnje moderne angleščine smo prepoznali, da je Shakespeare poleg običajne oblike s pomožnikom be in deležnikom na -ed trpnik uporabljal tudi z nedoločnimi strukturami, velelnikom in subjunktivom. Prevajalca sta se nasprotno zanašala na opisne trpnike, brezosebne in samostalniške zveze, glagole v prvi ali tretji osebi množine in druge tvorne oblike. Izpostavili smo primere, ko je bil pomen trpnikov izpuščen, kar lahko vpliva na razumevanje zgodbe in karakterizacijo likov. Kvantitativni del kaže na to, da je Shakespeare trpne oblike uporabil v 3,7 % primerih glede na vse glagolske oblike in da se jih je v slovenskih prevodih ohranilo nekaj manj kot 20 %. Pri obeh jezikih je bil najpogostejši razlog za uporabo trpnika poudarek na glagolskem dejanju. Videti je, da splošna sprememba v odnosu do trpnika, kot se kaže od 1960 naprej, na Jesiha ni vplivala, saj ga je uporabil v nekaj primerih manj kot Župančič.

• Keywords: literarno prevajanje, trpnik, William Shakespeare, Oton Župančič, Milan Jesih