D. Pedro II as translator: an analysis of the creative process

Abstract

This paper investigates the translation work of D. Pedro II. Throughout his life he showed great interest in languages. He spoke German, Italian, Spanish, French, Latin, Hebrew and Tupi-Guarani. He read Greek, Arabic, Sanskrit and “Provençal”. He translated from Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, French, German, Italian and English. The aim of this research is to delineate the creative process of the translator through the Genetics Critics and the Descriptive Studies of Translation, because both of them privilege the process in relation to the final product. The main documentary sources on which this research is based on are autograph manuscripts of direct translations from Arabic, Italian, Spanish, French and Sanskrit, the Emperor's diary, in addition to letters and books from his personal library. The paper intends to rebuild not only the translator profile of D. Pedro II, his ideas and attitudes towards the translation  activity, but also the study of the unique network of contacts, readings and influences proceeding from many cultures, not only Europeans, that the Emperor was able to intertwined.