Turkish Shahnameh Translations and the Transformation of Zoroaster in Translations

Abstract

When translating, changes are inevitable between the target and source texts. These changes are often due to the cultural differences, capabilities, and features of the two languages. In addition, the author's point of view, the target audience of the translation, the purpose of the translation or some necessities brought by the conditions of the period may also affect the style and content of the translation. The transformation of the character of Zoroaster in Shahnameh translations, especially in Sharifi's version, is an example of this situation. While Zoroaster, who is understood differently in terms of Islamic and Iranian histories, is presented as a positive personality in the source text, Shahnameh, he appears as a negative character in some Turkish translations. In this study, by determining the personality of Zoroaster in Shahnameh and its translations, the differences are revealed, and the factors that are effective in the translation decisions on the subject are examined. Six Shahnameh translations are examined, and some pieces of information about them and their copies are corrected.The examined translations include theverse translation by Serifi; the translation by an unknown translator and on the order of Murad II; the translation by Dervis Hasan who goes by the pseudonym Medhi and on the order of Osman II; another translation by an unknown translator registered with the numbers TY6131-6133 in the IU Rare Works Library; a third translation by an unknown translator registered as no. 101 in IBB Library Muallim Cevdet Section; and the translation registered as no. 370 in the Suleymaniye Library Husrev Pasha, recorded as belonging to Eyup Sabri Pasha.