Orixeren itsu-mutila - Pedro Iturrioz

The figure of NicolasOrmaetxea, "Orixe"(1888-196l)is one of the keys necessary to the interpretation of modern Basque literature in the fields of both literary creation and literary translation for two reasons. Firstly, because of his work and secondly because of the dynamic surrounding his personality in the pre and post-war years.

The author analyzes in this case the translation made of Lazarillo de Tormes into the Biscayan dialect which was published in 1929.

The author points out the moral paternalism which led the translator to change words which he considered offensive and to even suppress the last chapter of the book completely and rewrite it according to his own moral dictates.

Besides this rather distinctive moral criteria the author gives an account of the stylistic and literary thought of Orixe, widely shared by the literary figures and translators of his time. Although syntactical simplifications and changes of style were numerous in Orixe's translations, they were neither the result of a lack of ability nor a lack of knowledge of the language but moreover due to his theoretical convictions. "Une belle infidele", "belle" certainly, paradoxically "infidèle".

The writer thus recognizes the magisterial quality of the work of Orixe, including that of his translations, in the later development of Basque literature.