When Less Is More, or the Art of Choice: The Poetics of Atwood’s “Surfacing” and Its Transfer in the Russian and Latvian Translations
When Less Is More, or the Art of Choice: The Poetics of Atwood’s “Surfacing” and Its Transfer in the Russian and Latvian Translations

Summary/Abstract: The paper is focused on discussing poetics and considerations related to the requirement of equivalent effect in literary (prose) translation. In order to properly analyze the poetic features of Margaret Atwood’s "Surfacing" and their processing in the Russian and Latvian translations, the concept of literary text and the theory of text poetics are briefly outlined as these are essential aspects of the balance and interaction of explicit/implicit information in Atwood’s text, which may be represented both in the micro-level units and through their integration into the text’s macrostructure. In the context of translator’s decision making procedures, the importance of close reading and competence of translators are emphasized. Respectively, poetics of the novel is described which is, alongside theoretical ideas, further used for translation quality assessment by paying special attention to poeticity and the balance of implicit/explicit information. The study shows that the Russian translation in particular features changes or additions which, though acceptable in general circumstances, are arguable in view of the specific criteria set by the novel’s poetics. Applicability of a relatively literal (close) translation is examined by providing insights into the actual aspects of the technique and criteria for its use. Meanwhile, some translation units indicate the impact of ideological restrictions and censorship.

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