“Forms effect meaning”. Éditions et traductions

Abstract

Inspired by the work of D.F. McKenzie, this article identifies five reasons that
determine the plurality of texts in a “single” work: the regime of attribution
between authorship and anonymity, between the author’s name and the writer’s
identity; variations in text across editions; changes in materiality across publication
forms; migrations between languages and genres produced by translations;
readings and interpretations of works. The article does so by examining the publishing
history of Castiglione’s Libro del Cortegiano, tracing the transformations
of this work in its Italian editions and its translations into Spanish, French, and
English during the sixteenth century. In particular, the article focuses on the
challenge posed by translating that “nova parola” that defines the courtier’s grace:
“sprezzatura” as opposed to “affettazione”.