NOCTUA
La tradizione filosofica dall’antico al moderno
History of Philosophy from the Ancient to the Modern Age
Autore / Author: Fabio Bulgarini
Affiliazione / Author affiliation: Universität zu Köln, Universität Siegen
Titolo / Title: A Translator’s Tale. Hermannus Alemannus as Transcreator of Ibn Rušd’s Middle Commentary on the Poetics
Abstract: The transmission of Aristotle’s Poetics into Latin through Hermannus Alemannus’ translation of Ibn Rušd’s Middle Commentary marks a pivotal stage in the transformation of the text across cultures. Rather than a passive intermediary, Hermannus emerges as an active translator whose interventions reshaped, and at times distorted, the work to suit a Latin readership – creating what contemporary translation theory would term a process of transcreation. Taking as a starting point Roger Bacon’s often underrated claim that Hermannus did not play the principal role in his translations, this study challenges two historiographical misconceptions: first, that Hermannus was merely a docile and literal transmitter of Ibn Rušd’s text; and second, that he single-handedly accomplished his translation of the Commentary. Drawing on textual analysis and Bacon’s testimony, I argue that Hermannus was a far freer translator than is usually acknowledged, deliberately adapting his source to make it more accessible to his Latin contemporaries. To accomplish this, he relied on collaboration with cultural mediators versed in Arabic and (arguably) Hebrew. Reassessing his translation strategies and collaborative context, the paper highlights Hermannus’ creative agency in the complex process of transmitting to the Latin West a deeply reworked version of Aristotle’s Poetics.
Keywords: Ibn Rušd; Aristotle’s Poetics; Hermannus Alemannus; transcreation.
DOI: 10.14640/NoctuaXIII1
Rivista / Journal: Noctua
ISSN: 2284-1180
Anno / Volume: XIII
Fascicolo / Issue: 1
Pagine / Pages: 1-52
Ricevuto / Submitted: 30/09/2025
Accettato / Accepted: 10/12/2025
Pubblicato / Published: 31/05/2026
Licenza / Licence: CC BY
Permalink: https://dx.doi.org/10.14640/NoctuaXIII1
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ISSN 2284-1180