History of Translations
May 29th, 2009
The Renaissance is known as the great age of translations. The growth of Humanism inspired translators from different European countries to interpret several texts, including the ancient ones, and to develop translations into the English language.
Latin is the universal intellectual language and it is the best way of reading texts throughout Europe; for those authors who wrote in Flemish, Czech, or Dutch, Latin is essential in the distribution of these texts. If some authors were not fluent in Latin during those times, translators were hired to interpret a certain foreign work into the vernacular, which was considered as a noble challenge, as well as a contribution to the national treasure. The translations became widespread in the 16th century.
Greek text translations appeared during the English Renaissance in England, but a few were derived from translations of translations. Others were also translated from Greek to Latin. The Greek texts were revived during the 15th century in Italy. They were stimulated by the production of brand new manuscripts coming from the East. In Venice between 1495 and 1515, many Greek printed editions were done by Aldus Manutius.
England’s growing curiosity in Greek texts came mainly from travel and trade with Italy. Manutius produced an outstanding Greek text from Plato’s works, and two French refugees achieved influential translations at that time as well. Plato’s texts were available in England during the 16th century, but those were in Latin, which were also translated by foreign intellectuals.
In England, the growing interest in Plato’s work increased especially for his novels and plays about love, which continued to be an important part of Stuart literature. In the 19th century, translations of Plato’s works were entirely translated from Greek to English.