Comments on the translation into French of the short story “Elogio da vaidade” by Machado de Assis (published in 1878)

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1980-4237.2013n14p267Dans la nouvelle : « Elogio da vaidade » Machado de Assis nous propose un scénario inhabituel et entrainant, où l’on retrouve la Vanité affrontant la Modestie dans une joute verbale pour conquerir le public. A l’occasion de la première traduction en français de ce texte de 1878, nous présentons dans le commentaire qui l’accompagne quelques éléments de reflexion sur les choix effectués. Nous expliquons notamment comment nous essayons d’amener le lecteur français vers Machado de Assis, dans un effort de préservation de son style, et exposons quelques-unes des difficultés rencontrées lors de la traduction.ABSTRACTIn the short story “Elogio da vaidade”, Machado de Assis proposes an unusual and intriguing scenario in which we find Vanity facing off against Modesty in a debate to win over the public. In the accompanying commentary to this new annotated translation, we present some reflections about the translational choices made in the first French translation of this text in 1878. We also explain, for example, how we introduce the French reader to Machado de Assis by attempting to preserve the author’s style, and we expound certain difficulties encountered over the course of the translation.Keywords: Machado de Assis; Annotated translation; French; Elogio da VaidadeIn the short story “Elogio da vaidade”, Machado de Assis proposes an unusual and intriguing scenario in which we find Vanity facing off against Modesty in a debate to win over the public. In the accompanying commentary to this new annotated translation, we present some reflections about the translational choices made in the first French translation of this text in 1878. We also explain, for example, how we introduce the French reader to Machado de Assis by attempting to preserve the author’s style, and we expound certain difficulties encountered over the course of the translation