Abstract:

This article aims to refer to the scientific and literary translations rendered by Avan-zâde Mehmed Süleyman who stands out in our nation‟s scientific, cultural and literary history thanks to his various aspects as well as his diverse social identities and also to analyse him in terms of his identity as a translator in the context of translation studies regarding the prefaces and epilogues he wrote for his translations. He succeeded to be one of the leading intellectual figures who came into prominence in Meşrutiyet (Constitutional) Period not only by producing a wide variety of original works including literary works such as novels and stories; scientific works on pharmacy, which was his own profession, and on other branches of science along with some other works on various fields namely typology, history, literary history, astrology, etc., but also by publishing journals and newspapers and carrying out translations, as well. In addition to the literary translations he made from the works of renowned authors in Europe such as François Coppée, Ponson du Terrail, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo; he also translated numerous anonymous scientific and literary works. Joint translations which were a characteristic of the specified era can also be found among these very translations by Avan-zâde Mehmed Süleyman. The fact that there has hitherto been a lack of specific academic study on Avan-zâde‟s identity as a translator, who has more than fifty translations some of which are joint translations made together with some of the leading translators of the time such as Süleyman Tevfik, İskender Ferari and Sisak Ferid, who are among the prominent names in Turkish translated literary history and also that the enlightening and informative texts like prefaces and epilogues he wrote for his works are of much value in regard to the context of translation studies have been the prime motives to initiate this very academic study. As a theoretical framework, this very article is based on the Skopos Theory by the German translation studies theorist Hans J. Vermeer, in which the theoretical concepts such as “skopos”, “commission”, “commissioner” are of the essence.

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