Abstract

Although translation studies and discourse analysis are in a perpetual process of expansion and refinement and are constantly acquiring new interdisciplinary milestones, little attention has been given to exploring the connections between these two fields and the category of constructed languages, thus overseeing the ever-growing popularity conlangs have experienced over the past few decades. By following Christiane Nord’s translation typology, as presented in Translating as a Purposeful Activity (1997) and Andrew Chesterman’s classification of translation strategies, as taken from Memes of Translation: The Spread of Ideas in Translation Theory (1997), this paper strives at showcasing a less conventional type of discourse analysis by guiding potential readers through the stages preceding the elaboration of a documentary, interlineal translation analysis, focusing on the communicative function of the source text. This study shall zero in on KálmánKalocsay’s Esperanto poem, Somernokto, translated into English as Summer Night by A. Z. Foreman. This should not be considered a paltry task, since the translation of poetry demands both special critical abilities and exceptional writing skills. The resourcefulness and freedom characterizing the translation of prose no longer apply when attempting to translate conlang poetry because the translator becomes somewhat restricted with regard to the appropriateness of stylistic devices and elements of prosody.