Coleman Barks' versions of Masnavi of Mevlana and ethics of translation

In this study called "Coleman Barks' Versions of Masnavi of Mevlana and Ethics of Translation", versions of Coleman Barks are examined as he is claimed to play an important role in introducing Rumi to Americans. In the course of this examination, information about Mevlana's life and works is provided. Masnavi translations, their popularity in the West are emphasized. Views about the versions of Coleman Barks who is the major reason of this popularity are included. Twenty one couplets which is subject to this work take place in the first volume of Masnavi and in all translations examined. These couplets were chosen because they were translated by all six translators chosen. As the source text is in Persian and the examination can not be done in that language, to be able to appraoch to the source text more objectively, three English and two Turkish translations are aslo included to the examination. Examinations are centered on Barks's versions. Barks' versions and Nicholson's translations are compared as he based his versions on Nicholson's translations. Methods he uses in this process are presented and it is intended to be explained to what extent his versions are suitable for ethical norms. Keywords: Mavlana, Mesnevi translations, Ethics of translation, Coleman Barks.