Translating and creating: an example of translation by Rui Pires Cabral

Abstract

This text intends to, through the comparative analysis of some fragments of the poem “Landscape” by the American poet Louise Glück in its original language and of its versions in Portuguese language created by the Portuguese poet and translator Rui Pires Cabral, demonstrate how, during the act of translation, the act of creation simultaneously takes place, being the latter influenced by the poetical work of the translator when he or she is also a poet or writer. In this sense, some characteristics of the poet’s style spill over into the translator’s choices and end up appearing in the translated texts when they are confronted with the original ones, as we can see in the example brought by this article.