CHALLENGES IN TRANSLATING POETRY: A STUDY OF LINGUISTIC, CULTURAL AND AESTHETIC COMPLEXITIES

Translation is an act of linguistic and cultural mediation, but when it comes to poetry, this task becomes immensely challenging. Unlike prose, which primarily communicates ideas and information, poetry operates through rhythm, imagery, sound, emotion, and structure. Translating poetry requires more than transferring words from one language to another; it involves recreating an artistic experience. This paper explores the multifaceted challenges that arise in the process of translating poetry, focusing on linguistic, semantic, cultural, aesthetic, and emotional dimensions. It also examines the historical development of poetry translation, the theoretical frameworks proposed by scholars, and the strategies employed by translators to negotiate between fidelity to the source text and creativity in the target language. By examining both classical and modern examples, the paper demonstrates that poetry translation is not merely an act of reproduction but one of recreation. It ultimately argues that the translator of poetry must be both a linguist and a poet—capable of preserving the original’s spirit while rendering it intelligible and resonant in another language.