Translated Texts
If the focus of a paper is the translations of a literary work or works, lead with the translators on the works cited page, like this sample from the MLA Handbook 8th ed. (23):
Pevear, Richard, and Larissa Volokhonsky, translators. Crime and Punishment. By Feodor Dostoevsky,
Vintage eBooks. 1993.
Then, it will be expected that the parenthetical reference will refer to the translator(s). Establish the name of the work (with its abbreviation) and the author at some point early on, perhaps in the thesis.
Feodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment (CP) resonates quite differently in dramatic effect and tone depending upon the translation.
Reference the work, author, or translator leading in to the quote. If addressing only one work, you may do this:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation, “XXXXXXXX” (178), suggests XXXXXXXXXX.
If you are writing about multiple translated works, add the work in some type of lead-in, perhaps like this:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation (CP), “XXXXXXXX” (178), suggests XXXXXXXXXX.
Or put the name of the author in the parenthetical reference to differentiate this work from others. In this sample, you have already distinguished the translators in the lead-in, so it works:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation, “XXXXXXXX” (Dante 178), suggests XXXXXXXXXX.
Depending upon how long the quote/sentence is, MLA prefers the page number at the end of the sentence:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation (CP), “XXXXXXXX,” suggests XXXXXXXXXX (178).
When it is obvious what work you are writing about before the quote, you may do this:
“XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX” (Pevear and Volokhonsky 176).
SAMPLES BELOW COME FROM MLA Handbook 8th ed. (90):
Option 1
At the opening of Dante’s Inferno, the poet finds himself in “una selva oscura” (“a dark wood”; 1.2; Ciardi 28).
Option 2
At the opening of Dante’s Inferno, the poet finds himself in “una selva oscura” ‘a dark wood’ (1.2; Ciardi 28).
John Ciardi is one of many translators of Dante’s Inferno; therefore, MLA puts the translator in the parenthetical reference.
You do NOT have to provide the original language quote with the translation when you do not have the original text at your disposal or if your instructor does not require it.
________________________________
What if YOU translate the text?
SAMPLES BELOW COME FROM THE MLA Handbook 8th ed. (90):
Option 1
Sévigné responds to praise of her much admired letters by acknoledging that "there is nothing stiff about them" ("pour figées, elles ne le sont pas"; my trans.; 489).
Option 2
Sévigné responds to praise of her much admired letters by acknoledging that "there is nothing stiff about them" 'pour figées, elles ne le sont pas' (my trans.; 489).
If you translate many quotes, following your first translation, set up an endnote describing which translations are yours. Then, omit "my trans." in the parenthetical references.
Use your own name in the "Other Contributors" section of your works cited entry (MLA Handbook 91).
To view the citation template (aka the container page), click here.
Pevear, Richard, and Larissa Volokhonsky, translators. Crime and Punishment. By Feodor Dostoevsky,
Vintage eBooks. 1993.
Then, it will be expected that the parenthetical reference will refer to the translator(s). Establish the name of the work (with its abbreviation) and the author at some point early on, perhaps in the thesis.
Feodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment (CP) resonates quite differently in dramatic effect and tone depending upon the translation.
Reference the work, author, or translator leading in to the quote. If addressing only one work, you may do this:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation, “XXXXXXXX” (178), suggests XXXXXXXXXX.
If you are writing about multiple translated works, add the work in some type of lead-in, perhaps like this:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation (CP), “XXXXXXXX” (178), suggests XXXXXXXXXX.
Or put the name of the author in the parenthetical reference to differentiate this work from others. In this sample, you have already distinguished the translators in the lead-in, so it works:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation, “XXXXXXXX” (Dante 178), suggests XXXXXXXXXX.
Depending upon how long the quote/sentence is, MLA prefers the page number at the end of the sentence:
Pevear and Volokhonsky’s translation (CP), “XXXXXXXX,” suggests XXXXXXXXXX (178).
When it is obvious what work you are writing about before the quote, you may do this:
“XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX” (Pevear and Volokhonsky 176).
SAMPLES BELOW COME FROM MLA Handbook 8th ed. (90):
Option 1
At the opening of Dante’s Inferno, the poet finds himself in “una selva oscura” (“a dark wood”; 1.2; Ciardi 28).
Option 2
At the opening of Dante’s Inferno, the poet finds himself in “una selva oscura” ‘a dark wood’ (1.2; Ciardi 28).
John Ciardi is one of many translators of Dante’s Inferno; therefore, MLA puts the translator in the parenthetical reference.
You do NOT have to provide the original language quote with the translation when you do not have the original text at your disposal or if your instructor does not require it.
________________________________
What if YOU translate the text?
SAMPLES BELOW COME FROM THE MLA Handbook 8th ed. (90):
Option 1
Sévigné responds to praise of her much admired letters by acknoledging that "there is nothing stiff about them" ("pour figées, elles ne le sont pas"; my trans.; 489).
Option 2
Sévigné responds to praise of her much admired letters by acknoledging that "there is nothing stiff about them" 'pour figées, elles ne le sont pas' (my trans.; 489).
If you translate many quotes, following your first translation, set up an endnote describing which translations are yours. Then, omit "my trans." in the parenthetical references.
Use your own name in the "Other Contributors" section of your works cited entry (MLA Handbook 91).
To view the citation template (aka the container page), click here.