Characteristic features of translation activity of the time

Translation in the eighteenth century

The eighteenth century proved decisive in the development of translation in Russia. Peter the Great's political reforms greatly expanded Russia's economic and cultural contacts with European countries. This created a demand for numerous translations of scientific and technical texts, as well as works of fiction. Translators were now expected to produce work to higher standards. Tsar Peter issued a special decree on translation demanding a faithful rendering of the original sense. This was a period during which the Russian language began to develop its own literary models and many enlightened Russians saw translation as a means of enriching their language and of asserting its originality and its expressive potential. Mikhail LOMONOSOV, the great Russian scientist and poet, played an outstanding role in this process. Lomonosov and other prominent writers during this period, such as A.P. Sumarokov and V.K. TREDIAKOVSKY, produced many translations, predominantly of poetry. They often supplemented their translations with theoretical discussions, explaining why they rendered the source text the way they did and emphasizing the great value of the translator's work and its creative nature.

A new stage in translation activity began to develop in three directions. First, translation began to be institutionalized. New structures emerged to organize and supervise the work. A group of translators were assembled in Tsar Peter's Foreign Collegium, and in 1735 the St Petersburg Academy of Science established the Russian Assembly, which was the first professional organization of translators. The Assembly selected books for translation, laid down some rules and principles and produced critical reviews of the work performed. It was also involved in training future translators. The Academy set up a language school whose graduates often became official translators. The general requirement at the time was that a translator had to be able to translate from at least three languages: Latin, German and French. Some students were sent by the Academy to study 'languages and sciences' abroad. Examinations were held to assess the professional performance of translators. The Academy also tried to stimulate public interest in translation. In 1748 its President announced an order from the Tsarina Elisabeth to step up the translation of non-religious (secular) books. Later, the Academy Chancery published an appeal to the 'gentlefolk and people of other ranks' to produce translations. It was during this period that translators began to receive regular remuneration for their work.

In 1768, the Society for the Translation of Foreign Books was established with 114 members; among them were such eminent personalities as Trediakovsky, Sumarokov and Radishchev. The Society existed for 14 years and produced many literary translations; it also stimulated discussions on the theoretical problems of translation.

The second dimension of this new stage of translation activity involved a change in terms of the selection of books to be translated. At the turn of the century, translations of classical authors began to be supplemented by a great number of books of a pragmatic nature; these were needed to support the age of reform. The process was accompanied by a change in the source languages: Polish texts now lost their popularity and the emphasis gradually shifted to modern European languages – mainly French, German and English. Technical translations later lost their predominant position and literary translations came to occupy their place. Social reforms stimulated cultural life, and local literature was not yet at a stage when it could fulfill the cultural needs of Russian society. Literary translations were expected to fill the gap and to meet important social and cultural needs. Translators regarded their work as a service to their country, and they expressed this belief in forewords and prefaces to their translations. They believed that their mission was to enlighten and instruct their compatriots, to set moral standards and to create a new Russian literature. From that time on literary translations always enjoyed a high status in Russian culture. This new awareness of the social importance of translation and translators constituted the third characteristic feature of the period. Translation was now considered a kind of creative writing, no less worthy of respect then original literature. The translator was regarded as a rival of the source-text author. The translated text were expected to aspire to higher standards and even to surpass the source text in terms of artistic quality.

The eighteenth century also witnessed the emergence of poetry translation in Russia, which later developed into a highly esteemed activity. Especially numerous and varied were LOMONOSOV'S translations from Latin, German, French and Greek, in which he showed remarkable skill both in rhymed and free verse. As Russian poetry of the time was not highly developed and was still based on the distribution of syllables, Lomonosov's innovations helped to enrich it and to establish new forms and traditions in the genres and metres of Russian verse.

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