… WHICH WORDS, MY LOVE, CAN I FIND THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN DESECRATED BY IMPOSTURE?. IN SEARCH FOR THE WORDS TO TRANSLATE THE UNTRANSLATABLE: REFLEFLECTIONS ON THE ALLA BURCHIA SONNETS BY “IL BURCHIELLO” AND FOSCO MARAIN

Abstract

This article addresses the contentious issue of the translatability of works by two authors whose writings have been labelled “untranslatable” by critics. While it will include some illustrative references to other works and authors traditionally considered “untranslatable”, such as Lewis Carroll’s (1832-1898) The Hunting of the Snark and various English limericks, the primary focus is on an analysis of the sonnets by Domenico di Giovanni, known as “Il Burchiello”, and the fànfole, a humorous linguistic invention by the multifaceted writer Fosco Maraini. From a translation studies perspective, this paper examines how both works intentionally manipulate language, engaging the reader in deciphering a unique linguistic system governed by its own rules, much like a riddle.