Using poetry translation in language and literature education: Insights from Agolli’s translation of burns’ A Red, Red Rose

Abstract

This study analyses the challenges of translating poetry, focusing on the Albanian translation of Robert Burns’ “A Red, Red Rose” by Dritëro Agolli. By employing Systemic Functional Grammar and Relevance Theory, this study examines linguistic, cultural, and poetic challenges encountered in the translation process. It evaluates strategies to preserve the poem’s form, meaning, and emotional resonance in the target language and culture. Through a detailed analysis of Agolli’s translation, this research highlights the difficulties of poetry translation, and the creative strategies translators employ to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps. The analysis reveals that Agolli’s translation successfully maintains the original poem’s central metaphor and emotional depth. However, certain linguistic and cultural nuances are inevitably lost. This highlights the inherent limitations of translation, particularly in poetry, where form and meaning are deeply intertwined. Ultimately, these findings contribute to the field of translation studies by providing a deeper understanding of the art and science of poetry translation, emphasising the importance of making cultural adaptations to make literary works accessible across languages.