MLA: Citing different versions of a translated work by the same translator?

[harpyemma]

Sorry, i know this doesn't really relate to applications but i figured that you folks would be my best bet for an answer--and i can't find it anywhere... and it seems such a trivial problem to contact my tutor over.

I'm writing a paper and i want to cite two difference versions of a poem in translation--both of which are by the same translator. I can't find in the MLA guidelines how to do this in-text--can you help?

Having not been able to find an official answer myself, i was thinking that the most intuitive way to do it, given how MLA treats in-text citations for two works by the same author (and this is a similar issue), would be to go "Poem Title" (trans. Trans Lator Where Translation Appears) when i first mention it and then for the citation 'after i quote a phrase' (Where Translation Appears line number); and then when i'm citing the alternative version do much the same thing--"Poem Title" (trans. Trans Lator Source of Other Version). 'Quote from poem' (Source of Other Version line number).

Can anyone confirm/deny/improve on that?

Edited September 16, 2011 by harpyemma

[lolopixie]

I was under the impression that you do not cite the translator in text, you cite the author. For example, Lacan's works are translated and when citing those in text I always cited Lacan not the translator. In my thesis the same translator translated several of the works.

(Lacan, Ecrits 4) for the first and then (Ecrits 5) for subsequent.

(Lacan, Feminine Sexuality 3) then subsequent (Feminine Sexuality 5)

I never cited the translator in text, just on the works cited page.

I would think it would go the same for your question, even though it is the same work just a different translation, clarification will be shown in your works cited.

(Author, First text you are citing name 5-8) and then subsequent citations (First text you are citing name 8-9)

(Author, Second text you are citing name 7-11) and then (Second text you are citing name 11-15) *using line numbers in place of page number for the poetry

Did they appear in the same text/anthology that you are working out of? A footnote may prove useful for clarification that you are reviewing two different translations in text and if they are in seperate texts unless you are clarifying this within your work by comparing the two translations. I'm not exactly sure what you are writing about, so you may not need a footnote, but I always like those in sticky situations

Edited September 18, 2011 by lolopixie

[cafeomuerte]

I have a similar problem. I'm in the process of adding pages to one writing sample and since one of the books that I quote the most was taken from the library by someone else, I had to borrow a different edition. I have absolutely no idea how to quote. I think I've seen somewhere year:pages (1975:163), but I'm not really sure.

Do you guys know?

Thanks in advance!

[cocojambo]

A poem has a technical way to cite it using MLA 7th edition. Here is the format I found:

• Name of Author. "Title of Poem." Title of book. Place of Publication, Title of Website, Date. Sponsoring Organization, Date Accessed. <URL>.
  
• Mulligan H. James. "In Kentucky (1902." Lexington Reader. Kentucky, 1902. University of Kentucky, May 2011. <http://www.uky.edu/KentuckyCulture/in-kentucky.html>.
  
• Source: http://www.mla-format-works-cited.com
  

It also says, If you use an online source to quote information that misses page numbers, you can omit this information from the parenthetical reference. You should however quote the paragraph or section number if available.

[Venti White Choc. Mocha]

Poems what...? Yes I ran into a similar problem with Ecritis and The Formation of the I blah blah. I was almost positive that there is a time when you have to cite the translator over the actual author, like when mutiple translations conflict and the text is well known. HM....

[cocojambo]

A poem has a technical way to cite it using MLA 7th edition. Here is the format I found:

• Name of Author. "Title of Poem." Title of book. Place of Publication, Title of Website, Date. Sponsoring Organization, Date Accessed. <URL>.
  
• Mulligan H. James. "In Kentucky (1902." Lexington Reader. Kentucky, 1902. University of Kentucky, May 2011. <http://www.uky.edu/K...kentucky.html>.
  
• Source: http://www.workscitedformat.com
  

It also says, If you use an online source to quote information that misses page numbers, you can omit this information from the parenthetical reference. You should however quote the paragraph or section number if available.

Kindly note the above resource is updated.