Abstract:
The research topic of the present paper is the trends in the development
of literary translation under the Soviet Union and in the post-Soviet
(postcolonial) era. It explores the role of censorship and the attempts of the Soviet Empire to, on the one hand, keep pace with the world literary processes
and on the other, insulate the Soviet reader from “harmful” tendencies
of modernist literature. In addition, the paper deals with the challenges
facing modern Georgian translation school and the practicing translators;
it discusses their individual approaches to the process of translation
and the role of publishing houses in translating foreign literature as well as
difficulties caused by the lack of the state policy on translation. The paper
also explores the reasons determining the choice of the genres of the translated
literature. It is clear that the choice, more often than not, is dictated by
commercial considerations and the publishers avoid translating comercially
risky books which may not be liked or understood by the mass market.
Another problem facing the Geogian publishers is a relatively small Georgian
market. In conclusion, the paper states that the modern Georgian translation
school is undoubtedly on the rise due to the refinement of the publishers’
attitude to the transalted works and the endavours of different generations
of experienced, educated and highly qualified translators who treat their
work with a high sense of responsibility.
