The Translator in the Spotlight

Personal Remarks in Translators’ Footnotes

Abstract

It is often said that the translator ought to remain in the shadow of the author and limit themselves to enabling successful and undisturbed communication between author and reader. The translator is not allowed to add their own voice to a literary work. However, it turns out they actually do. The aim of the article is to examine unconventional footnotes where the translator overtly speaks with their own voice. First, a few examples of literary works making interesting use of footnotes are presented. The similarities among the translators’ footnotes are highlighted, with a special focus on the issue of the translator’s power. Then, particular categories of translators’ footnotes are discussed, wherein translators express their opinions, show their emotional involvement or share stories from their private lives. It turns out that the footnote becomes a unique channel of direct communication between the translator and the reader, sometimes even involving competition with the author. A question is asked as to what may possibly encourage translators to assert their presence in the text in this way.