The paratexts of the translations of Petrarch’s Canzoniere published in Spain (1983-2016) as a space for reflection on the challenges of intertemporal translation

Abstract

Paratexts constitute a privileged space from which the translator reflects on the main qualities of the text he or she is presenting. Taking as a basis this approach, this study analyses the theoretical considerations present in the paratexts of the four complete translations of Petrarch’s Canzoniere published in Spain between 1983 and 2016: the two Spanish translations by Ángel Crespo and Jacobo Cortines, the Galician translation by Darío Xohán Cabana and the Catalan one by Miquel Desclot. In these works, the nature of the translated poetic text will be investigated in order to trace the degree of appropriation and paternity of the translators over the final result, based on their actions with regard to three aspects related to intertemporal translation: rhyme and the linguistic and content difficulties present in the source text.