La imagen del vikingo a través del análisis de la terminología meta en las traducciones de textos en inglés antiguo al inglés moderno

Abstract When comparing an ancient original text with its translations into a modern language, one may be surprised by the considerable variety of terms chosen by different translators in target texts, which is manifested not only in a lexical variety between synonyms, but also in a certain type of lexical variety that can be subjectively influenced by translators’ interpretations. With regard to the latter, this study analyzes to what extent this variety can affect the depiction of the Viking that is transmitted through translations into Modern English, deviating from what the original texts may be transmitting in Old English. For this purpose, the present study undertakes a qualitative and comparative analysis of thirteen different translations of poetry anthologies in Old English with texts in which the Vikings are mentioned, such as The Battle of Maldon, The Battle of Brunnanburh, Widsith, the Sermo Lupi ad Anglos (Wulfstan), as well as the Passion of Saint Edmund (Ælfric). Among the conclusions it is worth highlighting, in addition to a great lack of lexical uniformity, a generalization of terms such as Viking and pirate in translations, which can distort the image of the Viking in the original texts.