The Issue of Equivalence of Aphorisms in the English Translations of Shota Rustaveliʼs “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”1 (Based on One Aphorism)

Abstract

Shota Rustaveli's The Knight in the Panther’s Skin is an exceptional work within medieval Georgian literature, renowned for its profound cultural and literary significance. The epic has been preserved in over 160 manuscripts and translated into 58 languages, including multiple English versions. The richness of Rustaveli’s language and the depth of his aphorisms present unique challenges for translators. This article investigates the complexities and nuances involved in translating aphorisms from The Knight in the Panther’s Skin into English, focusing on the works of Marjory Scott Wardrop (1912), Venera Urushadze (1968), and Lyn Coffin (2015). By analysing the aphorism „ოდეს ტურფა გაიეფდეს აღარა ღირს არცა ჩირად~ (“When the lovely is cheapened, it is no longer worth even dried fruit”), the article highlights the diverse approaches and strategies employed by these translators.